St. Peter's - tips by travel authority Howard Hillman

St. Peter's Basilica

travel wonder in the Vatican City

Why St. Peter's

Basilica is special

Basilica di San Pietro is the mother church of the world's 500 million Roman Catholics. This Vatican City house of worship is one of mankind's supreme artistic-architectural accomplishments.

St. Peter's Basilica -

tips & insights

St. Peter's Basilica was erected some 500 years ago over the foundations of the old St. Peter's Basilica, which was built in the 4th century over the tomb of St. Peter.

Many great minds in the first 100 years (beginning in 1506) designed St. Peter's Basilica, yet the composite result is so elegantly harmonious that it seems to be the inspiration of a single genius.

Of all its creators, Michelangelo made the most significant contributions.

Not only did Michelangelo sculpt the graceful Pieta marble statue and designed the stunning 133-meter (435-foot) high dome, he served for nearly two decades as the chief architect of St. Peter's Basilica.

Another key contributor was Bernini. He designed the magnificent altar canopy as well as the authoritative frontal facade of St. Peter's Basilica.

The quadruple colonnades that stylishly line St. Peter's Square (actually an ellipse) were also Bernini's creation.

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