Saint Peter's Basilica Continued

SAINT PETER'S CONTINUED:
Julius II decided to build a splendid new church in the place of the old basilica of Constantine. The church took one hundred and fifty years to complete, involving many architects including Raphael and Michelangelo. Michelangelo decided the church would be in the shape of a Greek cross and designed the dome, but did not live to see it completed. Later the design of the building was changed to Latin cross to hold more of the faithful. In 1646, Bernini, "the greatest Baroque architect", was entrusted to reconstruct the facade, and much more, including the main alter over the tomb of St. Peter. He had the idea of building an immense elliptical colonnade for the square with its 284 pillars and 140 statues of martyrs of the church.