Vatican City, Italy (Enclave of Rome): St. Peter's Basilica: Exterior View with Swiss Guards
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An exterior view of St. Peter's Basilica, originally designed by architect Bramante as a central plan at the behest of Julius II to be the largest, most magnificent church in Christendom when it was rebuilt in the early 16th century. Raphael and Michelangelo and later architects such as Maderno and Bernini designed and decorated the elongated nave to create a basilica which would hold large numbers of people and focus attention on the altar; therefore, it incorporates both Italian High Renaissance and Baroque sensibilities. It was begun in 1506 and completed in 1626. According to the Catholic Church, the very holy basilica is the burial site of Saint Peter. The photo shows one of the Swiss Guards, also known as the Pontifical Swiss Guard or Papal Swiss Guard, who protect St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican City State.
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CC BY-NC-SA 4.0