St. Peter's Basilica

At a glance

St. Peter's Basilica facts that matter

Names, makers, dates, and context before the story opens up.

Italian name	Basilica di San Pietro
What it is	Church
Where	Rome, Lazio
Known for	Michelangelo's dome; Maderno's façade; Michelangelo's Pietà; Saint Peter's Square; Vatican Grottoes
Period	Renaissance and Baroque; built 1506–1626, 1506
Maker	Bramante; Raphael; Michelangelo; Giacomo della Porta; Carlo Maderno

The story

What you're looking at

The current Basilica of Saint Peter was built from 1506 to 1626, replacing the earlier Constantinian basilica. It is the accumulated work of Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, Giacomo della Porta, Carlo Maderno and other architects; Michelangelo designed the dome to its drum, while Maderno completed the façade. The basilica is a living place of worship, cared for by the Fabbrica di San Pietro, with distinct related sites including Saint Peter's Square, the Vatican Grottoes and the Vatican Necropolis.

The principal basilica of Vatican City, built over the Constantinian church in a century-long Renaissance and Baroque project and still maintained by the Fabbrica di San Pietro.

Verified details

Each statement below is linked to the record or institution that supports it.

The current St. Peter's Basilica was built from 1506 to 1626, replacing the earlier Constantinian basilica of the fourth century. Pope Julius II laid its first stone on 18 April 1506.¹

The basilica was a succession of Renaissance and later projects, involving Bramante, Raphael, Giuliano da Sangallo, Antonio da Sangallo, Peruzzi, Michelangelo, Vignola, Giacomo della Porta and Carlo Maderno. Maderno completed the façade in 1608–1612.¹

Michelangelo conceived the dome and built it up to the drum. After his death, Giacomo della Porta and Domenico Fontana completed it between 1588 and 1590.²

St. Peter's Square is a related, distinct urban work: Gian Lorenzo Bernini designed it for Pope Alexander VII, and it was completed in 1667.²

The basilica's official account places the Tomb of Saint Peter beneath the main altar. The Vatican Grottoes are a separate lower level of vaults built in 1590–1591 to support the Renaissance floor, while the Vatican Necropolis is lower still and has its own access conditions.²

Michelangelo's Pietà was carved in 1498 for the tomb of French Cardinal Jean de Bilhères Lagraulas in a chapel of the earlier basilica. It is now housed in a chapel of the present basilica.²

Sources and citations (2)

Fabbrica di San PietroThe BasilicaOpening paragraphsRead source
Fabbrica di San PietroSt. Peter's Basilica | A masterpiece to exploreThe DomeRead source

Plan your visit

Before you go

Booking: Walk-up friendly
Maker: Bramante; Raphael; Michelangelo; Giacomo della Porta; Carlo Maderno
Period: Renaissance and Baroque; built 1506–1626 · 1506
Accessibility: Security, worship access, tours and accessibility conditions vary; check the Basilica's official visitor information before visiting.

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