In 1626, Rome’s new St Peter’s Basilica on Vatican Hill was consecrated. It replaced an earlier church on the same site. A magnificent piece of architecture executed on a grand scale, the Basilica remains one of the largest church buildings in the world. This image gives a great perspective of the colonnades stretching out –as if to embrace the world– thus creating St Peter’s Square. It is holy site for Catholics: –at the basilica, St Peter’s tomb is directly below the high altar.