History of St. Peter's Basilica | Timeline, Facts & More
St. Peter's Basilica
None of the city's magnificent cathedrals can compare to St Peter's Basilica, Italy's largest, richest, and most stunning basilica. It was consecrated in Rome in 1626 after 120 years of construction on top of a 4th-century church. Its opulent interior has a plethora of spectacular works of art, including some of Italy's most renowned masterpieces by Bernini and Michelangelo. More than anything else, St Peter's Basilica is steeped in history. Read on to delve deeper into its rich past.
333 - 1505: During the Middle Ages, Old St. Peter's Basilica flourished and became the most important pilgrimage site in the Western world.
1505: The old church was demolished under the orders of Pope Julius II. He decided to built a new church in the place of the old one.
1506: Construction of the new St. Peter's Basilica began.
1626: The new church was officially established at the heart of Vatican City.
History of St. Peter's Basilica Explained
Circus of Nero
Around the year 64 CE, there was a massive fire in Rome that destroyed the majority of the city. Many historians claim that Emperor Nero was behind the fire. Nero, however, blamed the Christian sect for the fire. He believed that their refusal to worship the Roman Gods was what led them to start the fire. This led to a horrible series of persecutions of innocent Christians. Nero held these executions at the Circus, for the public to see and be entertained. During this time, Saint Peter was conducting his sermons in Rome which led to his crucifixion on the orders of Emperor Nero. The Circus of Nero existed where St. Peter’s Square is today.
Death of Saint Peter
The most widely held Christian belief is that Saint Peter was crucified in Rome upside-down. According to a legend, when Saint Peter was sentenced to death, he asked to be crucified on an inverted cross. He made the request. The Saint allegedly did not think he was worthy of dying like Jesus because he had denied his Lord. Saint Peter's death was foretold by Jesus, maybe to prepare him for the conditions he would encounter now that his Lord had been resurrected and would no longer be physically present. His crucifixion was ordered by Emperor Nero and took place at the Circus of Nero.More about Saint Peter
Trophy of Gaius
The site of St. Peter’s Tomb became a famous area visited by many pilgrims over the years. To mark the spot of the Apostles Tomb, members of the Church decided to build a prominent structure above it. This structure was known as the Trophy of Gaius. The name Gaius refers to a Christian scholar from Rome, who allegedly argued that Rome was the center of Christianity. He believed that there was something special about Rome that made it a Holy land. The Trophy of Gaius was large enough to allow for a plan to stand on top of it. Many sermons were held inside the Necropolis using the Gaius as a platform.More about the Vatican Necropolis
Old St. Peter’s Basilica
326 - 333 AD
Old Saint Peter's Basilica is the original basilica of St. Peter's in Rome, a five-aisled basilica-plan cathedral with an apse transept at the west end. It was built on the orders of the Roman emperor Constantine between 326 and 333 and completed around 30 years later. Historical records claimed that the structure was constructed on the place where St Peter was buried between 64 and 67 CE. Old St. Peter’s Basilica hosted papal coronations, and other religious ceremonies. It was here that Charlemagne was crowned as the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire there in 800. This was in an era when the old St Peter’s Basilica was at the top of its religious significance.More about Old St. Peter's Basilica
Collapse & Rebuilding of the Basilica
Old St Peter's Basilica, like many medieval churches, eventually fell into disrepair. Nearly 1,200 years after its completion, Old St. Peter's Basilica was in a horrible state after serving as one of Rome's most prominent churches. One of the building's side walls was said to be tilting about 6 feet off the wall, indicating that it was on the edge of collapsing. Many Popes attempted to restore parts of the basilica during the next few years to preserve the priceless edifice, but all of their attempts failed. Finally, Pope Julius II, who reigned from 1503 to 1513, decided to demolish the structure and replace it with a new basilica.
Construction of the New Basilica
18th April, 1506
Pope Julius II and his successors had the vision to build a splendid new basilica in the same place as the previous one, which was named St. Peter's Basilica. St. Peter's Basilica, designed by Michelangelo, Bernini, and other notable Renaissance architects, is by far the most spectacular piece of Renaissance architecture. It is one of the world's largest churches, as well as the most important in all of Christendom. Under the command of Pope Paul V, construction on the basilica began in 1506 and lasted until 1615. The basilica has a lot of history within its walls, in addition to its beautiful architecture.More about St. Peter's Basilica
The Era of Construction
It took about 120 years to complete the construction of the new St. Peter's Basilica. The original design of the basilica was crafted by renowned architect Donato Bramante. Inspired by the Roman Pantheon, Bramante incorporated all the traditional aspects of a church. After his death, Giuliano da Sangallo, Fra Giocondo, and Raphael continued to work on the construction of the basilica. In 1547, Michelangelo came on board and enhanced the original design, creating the magnificent structure that exists today. He was responsible for many aspects of the church, including the iconic Dome. In 1602, Carlo Maderno was appointed by the Pope and added the nave and facade of the basilica. Finally, Gian Lorenzo Bernini completed the final additions to the basilica including the Baldacchino and Chair of St. Peter. Bernini was also responsible for designing St. Peter's Square outside the basilica.More about the architecture of St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter’s Basilica Today
Today St. Peter's Basilica is the most important church building in Christendom. Carefully crafted over many decades by the best visionaries in Rome, the basilica is regarded as a significant architectural achievement.
Due to its magnificence and importance, the basilica annually welcomes visitors from all over the world who come to enjoy a work that has taken centuries to complete.Visit St. Peter's Basilica
Frequently Asked Questions About the History of St. Peter's Basilica
A. St. Peter was buried on Vatican Hill.