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St. Peter's Basilica

Duomo di Firenze

St. Peter's Basilica, the heart of Christianity, stands majestically as one of the grandest buildings in the world and the most distinguished of the papal Basilicas.

Its history dates back to the 4th century when Emperor Constantine ordered its construction on the burial site of Saint Peter, who was martyred between 64 and 67 AD.

After a long period of neglect for nearly 1200 years, in 1506 Pope Julius II initiated the construction of the current Basilica.

The work, which lasted for nearly 120 years and spanned 20 pontificates, involved the most illustrious architects of the Renaissance, including Raphael Sanzio (1483-1520), Antonio da Sangallo (1485-1586), Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564), who designed the dome we see today, and Carlo Maderno (1556-1629), who completed the facade between 1608 and 1612. In the 17th century, Gian Lorenzo Bernini designed the grand St. Peter's Square, symbolically embracing the Basilica. Despite different architectural plans and solutions, the construction of the Basilica always maintained the tradition of having the tomb of Saint Peter at its center.

Access to the Basilica is through 5 doors:

  • Porta della morte (Door of Death): used for funeral processions

  • Porta del bene e del male (Door of Good and Evil)

  • Porta centrale or Porta del Filarete (Central Door or Filarete Door)

  • Porta dei Sacramenti (Door of the Sacraments)

  • Porta Santa (Holy Door): the last one on the right, opened only during Jubilee years.

The interior of the Basilica houses priceless masterpieces, including Michelangelo's Pietà, Bernini's Baldacchino, and the Chair of Saint Peter. With an area of 23,000 square meters, a length of 218 meters, and a height of 45 meters at the vaults (and 133 meters at the dome), the Basilica is a true treasure trove of art and spirituality.

In 1984, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site.

St. Peter's Dome
St. Peter's Basilica
Michelangelo's Pieta
Piazza Vaticano
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