Vatican City Walking Tour | Vatican Museum | St. Peter's Square | St. Peter's Basilica | Rome, Italy
We are walking on the streets of Rome (Italy) towards the Vatican city Vatican City holds the title of the world's smallest country by both area and population. With a population of just over 800 people, it's one of the least populated nations As the headquarters of the Catholic Church, it holds immense religious significance It operates the world's shortest railway, primarily for transporting goods. The Pope is protected by the famous Swiss Guard, a unique military force. While Latin is the official language, Italian is widely spoken.
Surprisingly, Vatican City doesn't have a prison The Vatican Palace is the official residence of the Pope If you have visa to Italy, you can visit Vatican City, as this is only accessible via Rome (Italy); there is no separate visa requirement. Vatican City as an independent state was officially established in 1929. Vatican City is surrounded by walls. These walls were originally built for protection against invaders, but they now serve as a symbolic boundary for the independent state. The first wall was constructed in the 9th century after an attack by Saracen pirates While the walls still stand, they are less about defense and more about marking the territory of Vatican City. Entrance to Vatican Museum To avoid long queues, especially during peak season, it's highly recommended to book your tickets online.
Shoulders and knees should be covered out of respect for the sacred site. The Vatican Museums can be crowded, so consider visiting early in the morning or on weekdays to enjoy a more relaxed experience. To truly appreciate the vast collection, plan to spend at least half a day, if not a full day.
Pope Nicholas V started building the Vatican in 1447. He also created the Vatican Library. Pope Nicholas V asked Bernardo Rossellino to design a new church, St. Peter's Basilica, and Fra Angelico to paint pictures in the Niccoline chapel. This is The Pinecone Courtyard, a big outdoor area, about 300 square meters, next to the museum's rooms.
This bronze structure is called "Sphere with sphere", made between 1979 and 1980. It was donated to the Vatican Museums in 1990. The name of the courtyard is due to this bronze cone statue The Vatican Museums opened their doors to the public in the 16th century. Today, they're incredibly popular, with over 6 million people visiting each year. Pio Clementino Museum entrance The Square Vestibule, once the entrance to the Museum of Pope Clement XIV Statue of Apoxyomenos (50AD) Octagonal courtyard The statues show Laocoon and his two sons being attacked by snakes. These snakes were sent by the god Apollo to punish Laocoon. Hall of Animals Hall of the Muses The Belvedere Torso The Round Room (Room of the Rotonda) The room was designed in 1779 by Michelangelo Simonetti.
There are spaces in the walls to show big statues. Between these spaces, there are half-sized columns holding up really big heads. The ceiling in the room is designed after the Pantheon The floor mosaic date back from 3rd century BC Emperor Nero’s bathtub Greek Cross Hall, designed and built by the architect Michelangelo Simonetti Sarcophagus St Helena Hall of the Chariot Galleria dei candelabri This room is called the Candelabra Gallery because of the big, shiny candlesticks and colourful columns that divide the room into six parts. Beautiful mosaic of Pope Leo XIII’s Papal coat of arms. Expensive blue lapis lazuli used in the design of the mosaic.
Galleria Degli Arazzi (Gallery of the Tapestries) This 800 feet long room has the tapestries since the 1830s. Some of these tapestries were created by the Barberini school between 1627 to 1683. Main attraction of the gallery is a number of tapestries designed by Raphael Sanzio who was a contemporary of Michelangelo. 'The Resurrection of Christ' is the most renowned tapestry by Raphael Gallery of the Maps (Galleria Delle Carte Geografice) There are 40 beautiful fresco painted maps of Italy in the gallery.
Stunning artwork at the ceiling tells the story of important historical events from each region of Italy Room of the Immaculate Conception, a room dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Frescoes depict the life of the Virgin Mary We are now about to enter the Sistine Chapel where photography is not permitted, so could not show you. After visiting the Sistine Chapel, we arrived in front of the St. Peter’s Basilica in the year 326, Roman Emperor Constantine built a basilica where Saint Peter was buried. This was the Old St. Peter's Basilica
The new St. Peter's Basilica was started in the year 1500 by Pope Julius II. Inside the St. Peter's Basilica The Cupola (St. Peter's Basilica Dome) is one of the largest domes in the world. The Papal Altar The Basilica was built in traditional Baroque and Renaissance architecture Statue of St. Peter
Saint Peter’s Square Pilgrims and visitors sit here at the time of Papal Audience (held on Wednesdays if the Pope is in Rome) The square was designed by the architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and was completed in 1667. The square looks like a big keyhole (from the sky) with two semicircular colonnades, each consisting of rows of Doric columns Vatican obelisk, surmounted by the saving cross of Christ.
2024-08-07 02:32
