Introduction

Panoramic view of St. Peter’s Basilica

Nguồn: Google Map

Saint Peter’s Basilica, also known as the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter is a famous Catholic church built during the Renaissance period.

Located to the west of the Tiber River, near Janiculum Hill and Hadrian’s Mausoleum, the basilica stands within Vatican City, an independent city-state situated inside Rome, Italy.

The church was completed in the 17th century under Pope Urban VIII. According to Catholic tradition, the area beneath the main altar of the basilica is the burial site of Saint Peter, the Bishop of Rome and the first Pope. For this reason, early popes, cardinals, and bishops were also buried here during the formative period of Christianity. It is also believed to be the place where Saint Peter was martyred.

The basilica is the most important seat of the Catholic Church and one of the four major papal basilicas in Rome. It is considered a masterpiece of Renaissance art and Baroque architecture.

When viewed from above, the entire structure resembles a keyhole — a symbol closely associated with the story of Saint Peter with its roof shaped like a cross, a distinctive feature commonly found in Christian church architecture.