Science Fair Project Encyclopedia St. Peter's Basilica St.
Peter's Basilica (Italian San Pietro in Vaticano) is a Catholic
major basilica in Vatican City, an enclave of Rome. This
building is often described as the largest church ever built (it
covers an area of 23,000 m² and has a capacity of over 60,000)
and one of the holiest sites in Christendom. Construction on St.
Peter's was begun in 1506 and finished in 1626. Tradition says
it was built at the place where St. Peter, one of the apostles
of Jesus and considered the first pope, was crucified and
buried. The church hosts the tomb of St. Peter under the main
altar. Other popes are also buried in the basilica, as well as
below it. The current location is likely the site of the Circus
of Nero in the first century AD. After Emperor Constantine
officially recognized Christianity he started construction in
324 of a great basilica in this exact spot, which had previously
been a cemetery for pagans as well as Christians. In the
mid-15th century it was decided tha