The Vatican - The Holy City

Every year, approximately 9 million people visit Rome, making it one of the most popular tourist sites in the world. The architectural wonders of Rome, as well as some of the most exquisite art galleries, the great history of the Roman empire and not to forget, the Vatican make this destination so popular.

Even though Vatican City is located in Rome, it is a self-contained entity with a surface area of 121 acres, making it the world's smallest known country with its administrative structure, governing policies, and citizenship. The Vatican has been a prominent part of Rome's history and has helped to shape the city.

Except for St. Peter's Square to the southeast, the Vatican is surrounded by medieval and Renaissance walls. Only three of the six gates are open to the public: the plaza, the Arco delle Campane in the facade of St. Peter's Basilica, and the northern entrance to the Vatican Museums and Galleries.

St. Peter's Basilica, erected in the fourth century and renovated in the sixteenth, is the most impressive structure of the Vatican. It is the biggest religious cathedral and was built atop the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle.

History

The Vatican acquired control of the region around Rome and served as the center of the Papal States from the 4th-century to 1870. The Fascist Italian government recognized Vatican City's independent sovereignty in the Lateran Treaty of 1929. When the pope is elected as the Roman Catholic Church's leader, he assumes absolute power. He has entire administrative, legislative, and judicial authority within the city.

Within the city walls, the Pope calls Vatican Palace, home. The Roman Catholic Church's governance is known as the Holy See, and it is governed by the pope, who is also the bishop of Rome. As a result, the Holy See has jurisdiction over all Catholics around the globe.

Places of attraction in the Vatican

A unique combination of artistic and architectural treasures from some of the best in history can be found within the borders of this little country also known as the holy city. A tour of the Vatican City is a necessity for anybody interested in seeing how art and spirituality interact, merge and influence each other.

Some of the must-visit places in the Vatican are as follows:

St. Peter’s Basilica

With its double colonnade and circular plaza, as well as palaces and gardens surrounding it, St Peter's Basilica is the world's biggest religious church and a formidable image of Catholicism. Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini, and Maderno collaborated on the basilica, which was built on the tomb of St Peter the Apostle.

When you enter the church, you'll notice that it's not just the world's largest cathedral, but also a great museum adorned with works of art by Renaissance masters such as Michelangelo and Bernini. A guided tour is recommended to fully discover and appreciate the monument or an audio guide if you want to self-explore if you want to delve deeper into the art and architecture, as well as the stories and history associated with them. Also, don’t miss the majestic dome designed by Michelangelo.

Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel, located about a kilometer from the St. Peter Basilica, is a visual delight for art aficionados. It was originally known as Cappella Magna and serves as the Pope's formal home and the location where the College of Cardinals elect the next Pope.

The chapel's ceiling is thought to be one of Michelangelo's best works, depicting the entire journey of humanity in a series of nine paintings, from creation to downfall. A tour of the chapel is a must just for the vivid articulation of various stories from Catholic history, including the second coming of Christ on the judgment day, in the form of a series of pictures on the dome.

Vatican Gardens

The Vatican Gardens are home to 13 museums and 54 art galleries, so if you're planning a comprehensive tour of all of them, make sure to book your tickets accordingly and that you leave enough time in your schedule.

The Vatican Garden began as a tiny exhibition for sculpture collections and grew into a 7-kilometer-long complex, housing the best collections of art from all ages and empires. At present, the museum has a little over 20,000 paintings on display, although it is estimated that the institution has around 70,000 artworks in total.

Rarely do art, architecture, and spirituality interact so intimately and beyond, as they do in the Vatican and are comparable to very few destinations in the world.