Saint Peter's Basilica is one of the most astonishing man-made structures on Earth.
It's a masterpiece of Renaissance design on a scale that is hard to fathom - is this one of mankind's greatest ever achievements in architecture?
Some reasons it might be:
Architects: The project was the lofty ambition of Pope Julius II, who entrusted it to the finest architects, artists and polymaths of the era. It was architected initially by Donato Bramante, while the dome was later conceived by Michelangelo and the façade and colonnade by Bernini.
Scale: The people in the photo indicate the unbelievable scale. It is the largest church in the world, taking the shape of a gigantic Latin cross which can fit 60,000 people inside. The immense dome is 448 feet tall, and the letters around the base are themselves 2 meters tall. They read: "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven."
The Dome: A masterpiece of design and engineering, started by Michelangelo and completed by Giacomo Della Porta - it undoubtedly took cues from Brunelleschi's majestic dome of Florence Cathedral. Completed over 430 years ago, it is still one of the tallest domes ever constructed.
Artistic Masterworks: Not only designed by some of the greatest artists to ever live, the building is furnished with some of the most renowned artworks of the Renaissance and Baroque eras.
Michelangelo's "Pietà" is housed there, perhaps the most emotive work of sculpture ever produced, and Bernini's magnificent "Baldacchino" marks the spot where St. Peter is believed to be buried - at the time it was the largest bronze sculpture ever made.
Design: The iconic architecture is a seamless blend of Renaissance and Baroque styles. The exterior façade is adorned with giant columns and statues of saints, and every inch of the interior is decorated with intricate mosaics, gilt, stucco and sculpture. Stepping into the vastness and opulence of Saint Peter's is a totally transformative experience.
Saint Peter's is a testament to what is possible when human beings look to divine inspiration. It also shaped the course of architectural history, inspiring countless designs since.
Renowned architectural historian Banister Fletcher called it "the greatest creation of the Renaissance" and "the greatest of all churches of Christendom".
The Indigenous people known as the Huichol first appeared in the highlands of Central Mexico some 15,000 years ago. According to their ancient traditions, both men and women would experience the pain of childbirth. Here's how it was done: the father would position himself on the rafters with a rope tied around his scrotum, while the mother would pull on it while giving birth.