Lentorama 2026: Hic es: aedificia Vaticani 

Day 40: Basilica di San Pietro, Piazza San Pietro

The present day basilica was built on the site of the original basilica, which was built on the site of the Circus of Nero (previously the Circus of Caligula, built by the family of his mother Agrippina the Elder). That first basilica was built in the forth century, started by Constantine the Great. It took 40 years to build, and grew both in size and in power over the next 1200 years.

Time and the Avignon papacy saw the original basilica fall into disrepair. Nicholas V started a reconstruction program (one of his sources for building material was the Colosseum, which he ordered to be demolished). When Julius II took over as pope he made the decision to raze the existing building and construct an all-new basilica.  Coincidentally, Julius had also commissioned Michelangelo to design his tomb, which would sit in the new basilica.

Construction of the new basilica would take three times as long as that of the original, and covered the reigns of 21 popes. The financing of the building was partially done by selling indulgences, which means that the creation of the world's best-known Catholic church helped spur the Protestant Reformation. 

A number of different architects worked on the building, and some of the plans submitted for the original design competition can still be seen at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Among the notable names who helped design the basilica are Donato Bramante (who won the original competition) Raphael, and Michelangelo. Bernini designed towers for the building that were eventually demolished, but put his stamp on the interior, most notably the baldacchino, a monumental canopy that may be the largest piece of bronze in the world.

Over the ensuing 400 years, St. Peter's has become synonymous with the Vatican and the pope, both through his celebration of Mass during holiday seasons and for his audiences outside in the piazza. 

There you have it, another Lentorama in the books. See you next year.