Published: March 8th 2009February 27th 2009
The Creation of Adam
Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums
Without having seen the Sistine Chapel one can form no appreciable idea
of what one man is capable of achieving
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1787
The Vatican City is the world's smallest state by both population (less than 1,000) and area. It is one of only three sovereign city-state worldwide and located within the city of Rome.
For the best approach to the Vatican walk across the beautiful Ponte Sant'Angelo to Castel Sant' Angelo, then turn left into Via della Concillazione which takes you straight to St. Peter's Square. This unique square is surrounded by huge columns with saints on top of them, and an enormous obelisk in the middle. The approach is dominated by the enormous St. Peter's Basilica.
St. Peter's Basilica
Ancient tradition has it that St. Peter's Basilica was built at the place where Peter the apostle was buried; his tomb is under the main altar. Construction began in 1506 and was completed in 1615. Many famous artists worked here, including Michelangelo who served as main architect for a while and designed the dome. The building itself is truly impressive. The nave is more than 200m long and the basilica's dome is the largest dome in the world measuring 42m in diameter and reaching 138m high. Some of the most important works inside the church are the Pietà by Michelangelo and the papal altar by Bernini. The opulent interior can be visited for free although a strict dress code is enforced (no bare shoulders or legs). It is also possible to visit the dome itself (EUR 5). A long and mostly spiral staircase brings you from the bottom to the top of the dome. From there you have a magnificent view of Rome and of the Saint Peter's square in particular.
Vatican Museum
The Vatican Museums (EUR 14) are among the greatest museums in the world. They were created over a period of time to display the vast treasure of paintings, sculptures and other works of art acquired by the Vatican over the centuries. As a result, the many museums that make up the Vatican Museums are quite diverse.
The Vatican museums are most famous for the Raphael Rooms and the exquisitely decorated Sistine Chapel. The Sistine Chapel ceiling, painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, is one of the most renowned artworks of the High Renaissance. Michelangelo was in his 60s when he was called back to the chapel to paint the equally impressive The Last Judgment in 1535.
Inside St. Peter's Basilica
The Dome of St. Peter's rises to a total height of 136 metres from the floor of the basilica to the top of the external cross. This makes it the tallest dome in the world.
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Holy See (Vatican City)
Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid 19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further c...more info
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St. Peter's baldachin
The bronze canopy was designed by Bernini and completed in 1633
The Pietà was sculpted by Michelangelo in 1499
This was the only work Michelangelo ever signed. He later regretted his outburst of pride and swore never to sign another work of his hands.
The Dome of St. Peter's Basilica
Michelangelo's last great work, the Dome of St. Peter's, has a diameter of around 43 meters
St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world, holding a staggering 60,000 people.
Castel Sant'Angelo and river Tiber
The Castel Sant'Angelo was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family
Rome's Centro Storico
Rome's old town with the distinctive roof of the Pantheon, as seen from St. Peter's
Obelisk, St Peter's Square
At the center of the square stands an Egyptian obelisk of the 13th century BC. It was brought to Rome in AD37 by the Emperor Caligula and moved to its current site in 1586.
Battle of the Milvian Bridge, 312 AD
Constantine defeated his rival Maxentius who is shown as he is about to drown in the river Tiber
Comments
Date: 9th March 2009
Beautiful photos!
Thank you for sharing. I feel like I was there!
From Blog: The smallest country in the world
Beautiful photos!
Thank you for sharing. I feel like I was there!
From Blog: The smallest country in the world
Date: 11th March 2009
Jealous
Great photos and blog. You seemed to have a much clearer day than I did for exterior photos. Gorgeous pictures. The Vatican has so much to see. I want to go back to Rome sometime to spend more time and your photos really made me miss it!
From Blog: The smallest country in the world
Jealous
Great photos and blog. You seemed to have a much clearer day than I did for exterior photos. Gorgeous pictures. The Vatican has so much to see. I want to go back to Rome sometime to spend more time and your photos really made me miss it!
From Blog: The smallest country in the world
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Keith and Pete
Postcards from Europe
wonderful photos, as usual!
And you have a shot of one my favorite sculptures, Pieta. Have you seen the Madonna in Bruge? And you found hot chocolate, even at the Vatican. Thanks for a great visit to the smallest country. Now, I want to return.
From Blog: The smallest country in the world