MUSEL VATICAN CITY........... Roma Vaticano

VATICAN CITY

AT THE TOP OF PLACES TO GO IN EUROPE

Vatican City

Look from Vatican City to Historic Roma

Home of the St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, the population of 800 non-permanent residents live in Vatican City. These are priests, nuns, guards, high-ranking dignitaries and, of course, the pope.

During the mid-19^th century, this area covered some 17,000 sq mi, however, during the next decade and the struggle for Italian unification, the majority of these states officially became a part of the country of Italy.

The St. Peter’s Basilica is built on Vatican Hill, across the Tiber river from the historic center of Rome. This was the site where Saint Peter, the chief apostle, died a martyr and where he was buried in 64 AD.

The travertine front facade of the basilica was created by Carlo Maderno, who slightly altered Michelangelo's original design by widening the narthex to 376 feet. Maderno also placed the massive columns against the walls instead of in front of the building, as Michelangelo had intended.

 

The basilica has a surface area of 496 feet, enough space to accommodate 60,000 visitors. It is covered by a coffered barrel vault ceiling and a huge central dome. 

Holy Water

Vatican Museums are made of awesome works of art by the Art Masters

Sorry, but no photos were allowed taken in the Sistine Chapel