Description

The Vatican’s history as the seat of the Catholic Church began with the construction of a basilica over St. Peter’s grave in Rome in the 4th century A.D. Having embraced Christianity with the Edict of Milan in 313, Emperor Constantine I began constructing a basilica over St. Peter’s tomb in 324. St. Peter’s Basilica became a spiritual center for Christian pilgrims, leading to housing for clergy members and forming a marketplace that became the thriving commercial district of Borgo. The area was abandoned following the move of the papal court to France in 1309. After the Church returned in 1377, famous landmarks such as the Apostolic Palace, the Sistine Chapel, and the new St. Peter’s Basilica were erected within the city limits.