OLD ST. PETER’S BASILICA. Old Saint Peter's Basilica (OSPB, for future reference) was built on the orders of Constantine I sometime around 324. He built the Basilica in the 4th century on the spot where St Peter was believed to be buried. Built between 1506 and 1626, St. Peter’s Basilica stands as one of the largest churches in the world and one of the holiest shrines and greatest churches in Christendom. Brewer, Drawing of Old St. Peter’s Basilica as it appeared between 1475 and 1483, 1891 Pope Julius II commissioned Bramante to build a new basilica—this involved demolishing the Old St Peter’s Basilica that had been erected by Constantine in the fourth century. -torn down and "New" St. Peter's Basilica was built in the 16th century. However, by the early Renaissance, the church was falling apart and was in serious despair. It was originally built from 315 A.D. – 349 A.D. but, rebuilt from 1451 A.D. – 1625 A.D. with the dome being designed by Michelangelo. Construction of the present basilica, replacing the Old St. Peter’s Basilica of the 4th century AD, began on 18 April 1506 and was completed on 18 November 1626. The beauty and royalty of the Roman period can be felt even today, even though the basilica was built in ancient times. St. Peter’s Basilica is a late Renaissance church located in Vatican City built at the place of crucifixion of St. Peter the Emperor Constantine at request of pope St. Slyvester I. Old St. Peter’s Basilica Almost 300 years after his death, the original (old st Peters basilica) was built at this site. The lavishly decorated building was 390 feet long by 210 wide and incorporated 44 massive columns taken from earlier Roman buildings. That was the first century of our era. The history behind the creation of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome is almost as amazing as the building itself. Commissioned by Emperor Constantine in the early 4th century, it served the church for nearly 1200 years.Its altar was built atop what was believed to be the tomb of St. Peter, and its footprint overlapped with the old Circus of Nero – the site of St. Peter’s martyrdom. A cathedral must have a cathedra (bishop's chair) and is the mother church of the bishop's diocese. In 1972, a mentally-disturbed man named Laszlo Toth attacked the sculpture with a hammer; he cracked off Mary’s nose and broke off her arm at the elbow. In front of the Basilica is the immense St. Peter’s Plaza, circumscribed by a massive colonnade and crowned with the statues of a hundred and forty saints. St. Peter's Basilica - A Brief History. Greatest of Constantine's churches built in Rome; 1st Basilica of St. Peter's; Peter is believed to be buried there; Christian architects created this design as a way of making sure their churches looked different from polytheistic shrines & other cult buildings; Design is modeled after Roman Basilicas with changes in the design that made it uniquely Christian The Basilica of Constantine, also known as the Old Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican, was founded in the 4 th century and stood for 1200 years. The construction of the present St. Peter's Basilica was commissioned by Pope Julius II (1503-1513), but before that, there was another basilica built by Constantine in 319. We know how the Old St. Peter’s Basilica looked like from some drawings left by Tiberio Alfarano. ABOUT Old St. Peter’s Basilica was a prototype for developments in Christian architecture. 319: The Old Basilica was built. 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