St. Peter's Basillica (Designed by Bramante) Term Paper

St. Peter's Basillica (Designed by Bramante) - Term Paper Example In the early years of the fourth century, the emperor Constantine planned to build a basilica and dedicate it to Saint Peter. The building was to be located on the Vatican Hill that lies on the south part of the river. The project was a difficult one as the location was on the sloping part of the hill. The floor was projecting outside, being away from the hill. After the basilica was built, it was wonderfully adorned with marble and bronze outside and mosaics and gold inside. As the Basilica was located at an odd site, people started feeling that beneath the basilica lie the buried body of St. Peter. People felt that Emperor Constantine decided to build the basilica on that location because St Peter’s body was buried there. In the sixteenth century, Emperor Constantine’s basilica began to fall off. The basilica was therefore demolished in the year 1425. Only the floor of the basilica was preserved. Popes, kings and artists very soon designed a new plan of the basilica t o be dedicated for St. Peter. Nicholas V, in 1450, took the initiative for the gigantic task. Very soon he came up with a plan that was ten times larger than the imagination of anybody else. The new proposed Basilica would have a large dome kept above the central Greek Cross. The dome would be a great architectural achievement of the celebrated Renaissance arts. Several years after the construction Nicholas V recognized that in order to make it the best, best architects should be hired for the work. He welcomed artists to share their ideas. St. Peter’s Basilica is the perfect example of architectural beauty. Nicholas V entrusted the architectural work to Bernardo Rossellino. His plans were to add to the existing church. The idea was cancelled later. In the late years of the fifteenth century, Pope Sixtus IV began the construction of Sistine Chapel, near to the site. St Peter’s Basilica was fully rebuilt in the sixteenth Century. The building work was started in 1506, a dding to the existing building. This work was under Pope Julius II. The work got completed almost hundred years later in the year 1615. Pope Paul V was the pope in that period. The highly complex construction activity of the church was named as Fabbrica di San Pietro’. Innumerable renaissance architects were involved in the great assignment of church construction. The first chief architect of St. Peter’s Basilica construction was Donato  Bramante. Michelangelo remained as the main architect of the building for a certain period. His is credited with the role of the designer of the dome. Bernini designed the famous St. Peter’s Square. St. Peter’s Basilica  or ‘Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano (the Italian name of the Basilica) is the holiest and most admired Christian sites. It is the largest church building, with a length of 220 meters and breadth 150 meters. The church can hold more than sixty thousand people. The marvelous architecture of the basilica got its legacy from the Renaissance and Baroque style of architecture. It was deemed as one of the biggest buildings of its period. The basilica is believed to be situation in the site where Apostle Peter was crucified and buried. Basilica is therefore considered to be over the tomb. The tomb is believed to be under the main altar. The shrine of Apostle Peter in the basilica is one of the chief focuses of the buildings. The tombs of other popes that are buried in the church are also visible. The elliptical St. Peter's