500 Years of St. Peter's

April 18, 1506 saw the beginning of the end for the 1200-year-old St. Peter's Basilica on the Vatican Hill in Rome. For on this day, under the supervision of chief architect Donato Bramante, the foundation stone was laid for an new St. Peter's Cathedral. Like a huge precious shell, the dome envelops the humble tomb, buried within its depths, of the Apostle Peter, appointed by Jesus to bear responsibility for the Christian faith. This documentary describes the history of the Basilica and the architects who helped design this world-famous center of the Roman Catholic Church.