All the superlatives still don’t quite do justice to the vastness and grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica. The most important, and arguably most magnificent church in Catholic Christendom took 120 years to build, 20 popes, and some 6 to 10 architects, depending on who’s counting.

It covers 5.7 acres of land and can fit roughly 60,000 people inside. It may or may not be built on top of the tomb of St. Peter (there has never been much compelling architectural evidence to support the belief) but as an act of faith-based human achievement in architecture, it is utterly unparalleled.