St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City was built between 1506 and 1626, with construction starting on 18 April 1506 and the church being completed and consecrated on 18 November 1626.

Quick Scoop: Key Dates

  • Construction of the current St Peter’s Basilica began: 1506 under Pope Julius II.
  • Main structural works substantially finished: by around 1615.
  • Official consecration and completion date: 18 November 1626, under Pope Urban VIII.
  • It replaced the Old St Peter’s Basilica, originally begun under Emperor Constantine in the early 4th century (around 318–322) and finished after about 40 years.

Short context (mini-story)

The church you see today stands on the site where the first, Constantinian basilica rose in the 4th century, over the believed tomb of the apostle Peter. By the late Middle Ages that earlier building was in poor condition, so Renaissance popes decided not to repair but to create a new, grand basilica that matched their vision of the renewed Church.

From laying the cornerstone in 1506 to consecration in 1626, the project spanned more than a century, involving architects like Bramante, Michelangelo, and Maderno, each leaving a distinctive mark on the dome, plan, and massive façade. The result is the monumental St Peter’s Basilica that dominates St Peter’s Square today and remains one of the most important churches and pilgrimage sites in the world.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.