Question

Pope Julius II decided, in 1505, to demolish the ancient St. Peter's Basilica and replace it with a monumental structure to house his enormous tomb and "aggrandize himself in the popular imagination."

Who was the immediate successor of the original designer of St. Peter's Basilica?
a. Michaelangelo Bounarotti
b. Donato Bramante
c. Andrea Palladio
d. Raphael Santi

Answer 1

Raphael Santi was the immediate successor as the chief architect of St. Peter's Basilica after the original designer Donato Bramante died. Michelangelo Buonarroti later took over after Raphael's death and contributed significantly to the basilica's design.

Step-by-step explanation:

The immediate successor of the original designer of St. Peter's Basilica was Raphael Santi. After Donato Bramante, who was the initial architect and proposed the grand central plan of the new church, passed away, Raphael took over as the chief architect. Raphael continued the work until his death, after which Michelangelo Buonarroti took over the responsibility. Remarkably, Michelangelo, who was initially commissioned by Pope Julius II to build his tomb, ended up contributing significantly to the design of the current St. Peter's Basilica, notably designing the iconic dome.