This quiz looks at St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the most famous architectural achievements in history. Located in Vatican City, this massive church represents centuries of artistic and structural innovation.
You will see questions about the architects who designed the famous dome, the historical timeline of its construction, and the incredible artworks housed inside.
Afterward, browse our quizzes on sacred architecture, learn about classical sculpture, or discover other famous buildings around the globe.
In which sovereign city-state is St. Peter’s Basilica located?
Singapore
Singapore
San Marino
San Marino
Monaco
Monaco
Vatican City
Vatican City
Which famous Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo is located inside St. Peter’s Basilica?
Moses
Moses
The Thinker
The Thinker
The Pietà
The Pietà
David
David
St. Peter’s Basilica is primarily designed in which architectural style?
Art Deco
Art Deco
Romanesque
Romanesque
Renaissance
Renaissance
Gothic
Gothic
The main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica is traditionally believed to be constructed over what?
The location of a royal palace
The location of a royal palace
The site of a great fire
The site of a great fire
The Pope’s tomb
The Pope’s tomb
The Apostle Peter’s grave
The Apostle Peter’s grave
Which famous artist designed the iconic dome of St. Peter’s Basilica?
Michelangelo
Michelangelo
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci
Donatello
Donatello
Raphael
Raphael
Who designed the massive bronze ‘baldacchino’ or canopy that stands over the main altar?
Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Donato Bramante
Donato Bramante
Carlo Maderno
Carlo Maderno
Francesco Borromini
Francesco Borromini
Which fact about the materials of Bernini’s baldachin is historically accurate?
It was constructed from melted-down cannons.
It was constructed from melted-down cannons.
It is made of solid gold plating.
It is made of solid gold plating.
It is made of wood painted to look like bronze.
It is made of wood painted to look like bronze.
It was cast using bronze stripped from the roof of the Pantheon.
It was cast using bronze stripped from the roof of the Pantheon.
What is approximately the total height of St. Peter’s Basilica, including the cross atop the dome?
146 meters (479 ft)
146 meters (479 ft)
136 meters (448 ft)
136 meters (448 ft)
156 meters (512 ft)
156 meters (512 ft)
126 meters (413 ft)
126 meters (413 ft)
What is the final architectural ground-plan shape of the completed St. Peter’s Basilica?
The Latin Cross (elongated nave)
The Latin Cross (elongated nave)
The Greek Cross (equal arms)
The Greek Cross (equal arms)
An octagonal shape
An octagonal shape
A circular rotunda
A circular rotunda
Which Pope initiated the 16th-century project to replace the original Old St. Peter’s Basilica?
Pope Clement VII
Pope Clement VII
Pope Paul III
Pope Paul III
Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X
Pope Julius II
Pope Julius II
Which famous sculpture, currently located inside the Basilica, was created by a young Michelangelo?
Pietà
Pietà
Bacchus
Bacchus
David
David
Moses
Moses
Who designed the iconic, colonnaded public square in front of the Basilica?
Donato Bramante
Donato Bramante
Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Francesco Borromini
Francesco Borromini
Michelangelo
Michelangelo
Approximately how long did the total construction of the new Basilica take, from foundation to completion?
100 years
100 years
120 years
120 years
140 years
140 years
80 years
80 years
Who was the very first chief architect commissioned to design the new Basilica?
Giacomo della Porta
Giacomo della Porta
Domenico Fontana
Domenico Fontana
Donato Bramante
Donato Bramante
Andrea Palladio
Andrea Palladio
What historical structure inspired the helical (twisted) shape of the bronze columns of Bernini’s baldachin?
The Temple of Solomon
The Temple of Solomon
The Pantheon
The Pantheon
The Colosseum
The Colosseum
The Parthenon
The Parthenon
What is inscribed in giant letters around the inside base of the dome of St. Peter’s?
A Latin biblical verse from the Gospel of Matthew
A Latin biblical verse from the Gospel of Matthew
The names of the major donors who funded the construction
The names of the major donors who funded the construction
A dedication to the architect Michelangelo
A dedication to the architect Michelangelo
The names of the Popes buried in the crypt
The names of the Popes buried in the crypt
The internal diameter of the dome of St. Peter’s, roughly 42 meters, is famously similar to which dimension of the ancient Pantheon?
The height of the dome
The height of the dome
The depth of the vestibule
The depth of the vestibule
The height of the columns
The height of the columns
The diameter of the dome
The diameter of the dome
Michelangelo aimed to rival the engineering of which historic structure when designing the dome for the new Basilica?
The Pantheon
The Pantheon
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia
The Colosseum
The Colosseum
The Parthenon
The Parthenon
What innovative structural technique allowed Michelangelo’s dome to be both lightweight and incredibly stable?
Iron-frame construction
Iron-frame construction
Double-shell brick construction
Double-shell brick construction
Solid stone masonry
Solid stone masonry
Reinforced concrete skeleton
Reinforced concrete skeleton
Located at the far end of the Basilica, what monumental bronze throne-like sculpture was also crafted by Bernini?
The Cathedra Petri
The Cathedra Petri
The Papal Altar
The Papal Altar
The Crypt of the Popes
The Crypt of the Popes
The Chapel of the Sacrament
The Chapel of the Sacrament
St. Peter’s Basilica is a major papal basilica. The Pope, who frequently presides over liturgies there, holds which primary spiritual title?
A visiting Head of State.
A visiting Head of State.
A member of the Swiss Guard.
A member of the Swiss Guard.
The Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church.
The Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church.
The Archpriest of the Basilica.
The Archpriest of the Basilica.
Approximately what is the total footprint area of St. Peter’s Basilica?
26,000 square meters
26,000 square meters
17,000 square meters
17,000 square meters
23,000 square meters
23,000 square meters
20,000 square meters
20,000 square meters
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