<P> Old St. Peter 's Basilica was the 4th - century church begun by the Emperor Constantine the Great between 319 and 333 AD . It was of typical basilical form , a wide nave and two aisles on each side and an apsidal end , with the addition of a transept or bema , giving the building the shape of a tau cross . It was over 103.6 metres ( 340 ft ) long , and the entrance was preceded by a large colonnaded atrium . This church had been built over the small shrine believed to mark the burial place of St. Peter . It contained a very large number of burials and memorials , including those of most of the popes from St. Peter to the 15th century . Like all of the earliest churches in Rome , both this church and its successor had the entrance to the east and the apse at the west end of the building . Since the construction of the current basilica , the name Old St. Peter 's Basilica has been used for its predecessor to distinguish the two buildings . </P>
<P> Old St. Peter 's Basilica was the 4th - century church begun by the Emperor Constantine the Great between 319 and 333 AD . It was of typical basilical form , a wide nave and two aisles on each side and an apsidal end , with the addition of a transept or bema , giving the building the shape of a tau cross . It was over 103.6 metres ( 340 ft ) long , and the entrance was preceded by a large colonnaded atrium . This church had been built over the small shrine believed to mark the burial place of St. Peter . It contained a very large number of burials and memorials , including those of most of the popes from St. Peter to the 15th century . Like all of the earliest churches in Rome , both this church and its successor had the entrance to the east and the apse at the west end of the building . Since the construction of the current basilica , the name Old St. Peter 's Basilica has been used for its predecessor to distinguish the two buildings . </P>
when did construction commenced of st peter basilica
when did construction commenced of st peter basilica
between 319 and 333 AD
between 319 and 333 AD