Vatican, Province of Rome

Vatican - details and images

An important tourist attraction, the world's smallest country, Vatican City occupies an area of 0.44 square kilometers and serves as a spiritual center for millions of faithful Roman Catholics around the world.

The city is often referred to as the State, the Vatican is home to approximately 800 inhabitants, but none of them are permanent residents. The population of this tiny area around the Basilica of San Pietro is composed of priests, nuns, guards, senior officials and well-understood, here is found the most prominent citizen, the Pope.

Vatican City was not always so small. In the mid-nineteenth century, the Papal State was an area of over 44,000 square kilometers. In later years, after Italy's unification efforts, most states that existed became part of Italy. Pope's power was restricted and the territory of the Papal State was limited to the size of the Vatican. In 1929, the Lateran Treaty Vatican offered autonomy and formally defined in this area which today attracts millions of tourists annually. State of Vatican City is protected by its own army, the Swiss Guard.

Tourists arrive by the Vatican Piazza San Pietro. This market is a tourist attraction in Rome that no one should miss it, regardless of religious beliefs. St. Peter's Square was designed by Bernini during the pontificates of Alexander VII and Clement IX. Visitors to this beautiful squares are surrounded by two rows of columns with 284 columns arranged in four rows, on top of which there are 140 saints.

In the center of the square, there is an Egyptian obelisk with a height over 25 meters, brought to Rome by Caligula from Heliopolis in the Nile Delta. On one hand, and there are two sides of the obelisk fountains. Thousands of people gather in this square to hear speeches and blessings of the Pope or to attend services, especially the major Roman Catholic holidays such as Easter or Christmas.

St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City crown jewel is the most important church in the world. The cornerstone of this church was now placed more than 500 years, in 1506. Altars and monuments inside the church are too numerous to be listed and tourists, even those who are not especially attracted to art, are fascinated by the magnificent interior of the church. Cathedral basilica can be accessed by an elevator to the roof, then there are still 323 steps that can lead to the place where one can admire the spectacular view of the city of Rome.

Papal apartments and found them all here, as the Vatican Museums, which house the largest and most valuable art collections in the world. A tour of the museum is imperative for any tourist who comes to visit the Vatican.

The Vatican is amazing place, so you need to make sure you do not miss any of the things we have to offer. The Vatican has its own tourist office on the left side of the Piazza San Pietro. The tourist office is a perfect place to start your visit. Here are books and brochures about Vatican tours can be booked to visit the Vatican gardens, can be purchased maps and other things that may prove useful for the papal visit to the city. They say the Vatican's postal system is better than the city of Rome so that you can send pictures for those at home here.

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