A Guide to St Peter's Basilica
St. Peter’s Basilica is the largest church in the world. It stands above the spot where St Peter is thought to have been buried. The basilica is the second church to have been erected here; the first was built by Emperor Constantine the Great (r. 306-337) between 324 and 329.
Constantine’s basilica stood for more than a thousand years until Pope Julius II (r. 1503-13) instructed the architect Donato Bramante (1444-1514) to design and build a new church. The first stone was laid on April 18th 1506, and 120 years later, on November 18th 1626, the new basilica was consecrated by Pope Urban VIII (r. 1623-44).
Constantine’s basilica stood for more than a thousand years until Pope Julius II (r. 1503-13) instructed the architect Donato Bramante (1444-1514) to design and build a new church. The first stone was laid on April 18th 1506, and 120 years later, on November 18th 1626, the new basilica was consecrated by Pope Urban VIII (r. 1623-44).
The facade, which is 114.69 metres (376.3 ft) wide and 45.55 metres (149.4 ft) high, was designed by Carlo Maderno (1556-1629) and built between 1608 and 1612, during the reign of Pope Paul V (r. 1605-21). It is emblazoned with a long inscription, which proclaims, in letters one-metre high: IN · HONOREM · PRINCIPIS · APOST · PAVLVS · V · BVRGHESIVS· ROMANVS · PONT · MAX · AN · MDCXII · PONT · VII (In honour of the Prince of Apostles, Paul V, Borghese, Roman, Pontifex Maximus, the year 1612, the seventh of his pontificate).
Christ the Redeemer flanked by St John the Baptist and St Andrew
Christ the Redeemer by Cristoforo Stati
The facade is crowned with thirteen colossal statues, which were executed by an assortment of sculptors between 1612 and 1614. From left to right they are: St Thaddeus (Carlo Fancelli), St Matthew (Bernardino Cennini), St Philip (Simeon Drouin), St Thomas (Simeon Drouin), St James the Great (Egidio Moretti), St John the Baptist (Simeon Drouin), Christ the Redeemer (Cristoforo Stati), St Andrew (Carlo Fancelli), St John the Evangelist (Antonio Valsoldo), St James the Less (Cristoforo Stati), St Bartholomew (Egidio Moretti), St Simon (Bernardino Cennini), St Matthias (Giuseppe Fontana).
Benediction Loggia
In the centre of the facade is the Benediction Loggia. Twice a year, at Easter and at Christmas, the Pope steps out onto the balcony to deliver his blessing Urbi e Orbi (to the City and to the World).
Christ Consigning the Keys to Peter (1612) by Ambrogio Buonvicino
The relief beneath the balcony depicts Christ Consigning the Keys to Peter (1612) and is the signed work of Ambrogio Buonvicino (c. 1552-1622). The scene illustrates the words of St Matthew's Gospel: "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (16:19, KJV)
North clock
South clock
The two elaborately ornate clocks, at either end of the facade, were designed by the Roman architect Giuseppe Valadier (1762-1839) and added in 1790.
The Interior
