St. Peter's Basilica, the entrance to the Vatican City, was re-designed by Michelangelo to open and unify the space into the representation of a cross, the symbol of Christianity. The basilica was a combination of modern gothic construction methods as well as those of ancient Rome. This showed a return to the central plan, in which Michelangelo followed previous architect Bernini in a return to the central plan, and was able to think on a scale appropriate to the huge buildings. The large dome was built after Michelangelo's death, but the major changes in design came in a lengthening of the nave and an improvement of the relationship between the dome and the facade. Michelangelo strayed from the original plans set forth by Bramante in that opened the space, not to be confined by traditional architecture of the renaissance. Michelangelo's willingness to stray from the dictums of the sitting pope,...
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