St Peter’s Basilica is the world’s largest basilica of Christianity, located in the heart of Vatican City. It has a surface area of 22,000 square meters and can hold a capacity of 20,000 people. Emperor Constantine ordered the construction of the Basilica in 320 AD near the circus of Nero where Saint Peter had been martyrized. For thousands of years the basilica has grown and has even withstood pillaging by barbarian hordes. In 1506 the indigenous St Peter’s Basilica was taken down by Pope Giulio II to build a new basilica and it was not until 1626 that the new basilica was consecrated. Many famous names worked on the new Basilica including Rafael, Michelangelo, Bernini, and many other great minds. When walking inside the basilica most tourists are surprised with how big the basilica really is and because of its dimensions everything is made to be ten times as big as it would appear to be from a distance. St Peter’s Basilica is also an amazing museum which holds many priceless works of art. Every year more than 4 million tourists make their way to St Peters Basilica, some of them for spiritual reasons and others for cultural or sightseeing purposes.
"- St. Peter's Basilica -." St. Peter's Basilica, Rome Italy. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2013.
"St Peter's Basilica (Basilica Di San Pietro)." Rome.info St Peter's Basilica in Vatican. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2013.
"- St. Peter's Basilica -." St. Peter's Basilica, Rome Italy. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2013.
"St Peter's Basilica (Basilica Di San Pietro)." Rome.info St Peter's Basilica in Vatican. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2013.