Vatican City also incorrectly known as but popularly synonymous with the Holy See (Santa Sede), is the latest and only current Papal state in existence and the temporal seat of the Pope, head of the worldwide Catholic Church. Situated within the city of Rome in Italy, the Vatican is the world's smallest state. Outside the Vatican City itself, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's summer residence, also enjoy extraterritorial rights.
Vatican city Travel Spots (Places to see)
Swiss Guard
Swiss
Guards Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera) Swiss Papal Guards are
posted at entrances to the Vatican City to provide security and protect
the Pope. They wear very colourful clothing, similar to the uniforms
worn by Renaissance era soldiers; winter palette of clothing differs
from summer palette. In contrast to popular belief, the design of the
Papal Guard uniforms was modeled after the colors of the Medici family
(4 of whom were popes), not from Michaelangelo. The Pontifical Swiss
Guards is also the smallest and oldest standing army in the world
founded in 1506 by the warrior pope Julius II (the same pope who kick
started the construction of this 'new' basilica and making Michelangelo
paint the Sistine Chapel). The origins of the Swiss guards, however, go
much further. The popes, as well as a lot of European rulers, regularly
imported Swiss mercenaries since the 1400's. Swiss mercenaries were a
major export of Switzerland before they started making watches.
Vatican city Travel Spots (Places to see)
Swiss Guard
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| swiss guard vatican city |
St. Peter's Piazza
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| St.Peter's |
The
Piazza di San Pietro is actually an ellipse. There are two stones (one
on each side of the square) between the obelisk and the fountains. If
you step on either of these stones, the four columns on the colonnades
merge into one. The fountains were made by two different architects,
Maderno and Bernini.
The obelisk in
the middle of the square was transported from Egypt to Rome in 37 A.D.
by the Emperor Gaius Caligula to mark the spine of a circus eventually
completed by the Emperor Nero. The so-called Circus of Nero was parallel
to and to the south of the east-west axis of the current Basilica. It
was in this circus that St. Peter was killed in the first official
persecutions of Christians undertaken by Nero beginning in 64 A.D. and
continuing until his death in 67 A.D. The original location of the
obelisk is marked with a plaque located near the sacristy on the south
side of the Basilica, where it remained until it was moved in 1586 A.D.
by Pope Sixtus V to its present location.
During the Middle Ages, the bronze ball on top of the obelisk was
believed to contain the ashes of Julius Caesar. When it was relocated,
the present reliquary, the Chigi Star in honor of Pope Alexander VII,
was added containing pieces of the True Cross. This is the only obelisk
in Rome that never toppled since it was placed in ancient Rome and is
the second largest Egyptian obelisk after the Lateran obelisk. This
celebrated obelisk nearly shattered while it was being moved. Upon
orders of the pope, no one was to speak a word otherwise he would be
excommunicated. However, a sailor shouted to water the ropes to prevent
them from burning. He was forgiven and in gratitude for saving the day,
the palms for Palm Sunday still come from the sailor's home town of
Bordighera. The moving of this obelisk was celebrated in engravings
during its time to commemorate the Renaissance's recovery and mastery of
ancient knowledge.
St. Peter's Basilica
St Peter's Basilica, the Michelangelo designed fabulous interrior dome is the centre of the Catholic world. This place is huge, and the proportion and number of the statues would exceed the size of any imagination. The inside artworks are simply masterpiece and you'd be stunned to see the designs at roofs, arches, wall and fabulous statues allover.
Tips : A strict dress code is enforced, so have shoulders covered, wear trousers or a not-too-short dress, and take your hats off. Photography is allowed inside, but not with a flash but the lack of light will probably cause your pictures not to turn out very well.
The Basilica is open from 9 AM to 7 PM every day between April to September. There is no entrance fee but if you climb/take elevator to the top of the dome you need to pay EUR 5 to 7
The entry ticket is valid for visiting BOTH the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel only on the date of purchase.
Ticket Prices:(Approx.)
Regular: € 12,00
Reduced: € 8,00
Special: € 4,00
Free of charge
More info: Link
Reservation is not required, but of course, tickets are non-refundable.
Benefits of the ticket:
The ticket is also valid for entrance to the Vatican Historical Museum and Noble Apartment of the Lateran Apostolic Palace (near the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome) during regular opening hours if used within the five consecutive days from the date of purchase.Other places
Castel Sant'Angelo, [4]. 09.00 to 19.00, last entry at 18.30, closed on Mondays. - Perhaps the most fascinating building in Rome. The core of the structure began life as the mausoleum of the Emperor Hadrian, built between 135 and 139 AD. Subsequent strongholds built on top of the mausoleum were in turn incorporated into a residence and castle by medieval Popes. The building was used as a prison until 1870, but now houses a museum. Opera buffs will be exhilarated to visit the balcony from which Tosca leaps to her death. Film buffs will recognise as a setting from "Angels and Demons". Euros 8,5, with reductions. Roma Pass accepted.
Palazzo di Giustizia (Palace of Justice).
Videos of Vatican City
St. Peter's Basilica
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| Dome of St.Peter's Basillica in Vatican City |
Tips : A strict dress code is enforced, so have shoulders covered, wear trousers or a not-too-short dress, and take your hats off. Photography is allowed inside, but not with a flash but the lack of light will probably cause your pictures not to turn out very well.
The Basilica is open from 9 AM to 7 PM every day between April to September. There is no entrance fee but if you climb/take elevator to the top of the dome you need to pay EUR 5 to 7
The Vatican Museum
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| The Vatican Museum |
Ticket Prices:(Approx.)
Regular: € 12,00
Reduced: € 8,00
Special: € 4,00
Free of charge
More info: Link
Reservation is not required, but of course, tickets are non-refundable.
Benefits of the ticket:
The ticket is also valid for entrance to the Vatican Historical Museum and Noble Apartment of the Lateran Apostolic Palace (near the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome) during regular opening hours if used within the five consecutive days from the date of purchase.Other places
Castel Sant'Angelo, [4]. 09.00 to 19.00, last entry at 18.30, closed on Mondays. - Perhaps the most fascinating building in Rome. The core of the structure began life as the mausoleum of the Emperor Hadrian, built between 135 and 139 AD. Subsequent strongholds built on top of the mausoleum were in turn incorporated into a residence and castle by medieval Popes. The building was used as a prison until 1870, but now houses a museum. Opera buffs will be exhilarated to visit the balcony from which Tosca leaps to her death. Film buffs will recognise as a setting from "Angels and Demons". Euros 8,5, with reductions. Roma Pass accepted.
Palazzo di Giustizia (Palace of Justice).
Videos of Vatican City
Vatican City on Google Map
