The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in Vatican City — commonly known as St. Peter’s Basilica — is a masterpiece of Italian High Renaissance architecture. It is located in Vatican City, an independent microstate fully enclosed within Rome, Italy. As one of the holiest sites in Christendom, St. Peter’s Basilica is both a major pilgrimage destination and a center for important liturgical events. Throughout the year, the pope presides over numerous ceremonies inside the basilica and in the adjacent St. Peter’s Square, drawing crowds of between 15,000 and over 80,000 people.