St. Peter’s basilica and its square, the Piazza San Pietro, are two of Rome’s major sites, both because of their splendor and because their significance in the Roman Catholic faith. The location is very symbolic in the history of the church, since the basilica was built on the original site of the martyrdom and burial of Saint Peter, one of the original followers of Christ and the first Pope. Over the centuries, a number of the most important artists of their time have contributed to its design and construction: Bernini, the celebrated sculptor, conceived the magnificent square, while Bramante and Michelangelo made significant contributions to the design of the basilica.