Blogs from Vatican City, Europe - page 5

En medio de Roma y con completa independencia se encuentra el Vaticano. Lo que es considerado como algo aparte de Italia no se puede desmarcar de lo que lo rodea, Roma y su arquitectura. La Basílica de San Pedro ocupa casi todo el territorio de este micro estado europeo y este palacio cobró preponderante importancia cuando lo visité, ya que en el año 2000 fue cede principal del juvilleo de jovenes. Una vez dentro de este palacio que es la basílica de San Pedro me di cuenta que todo el oro ocupado para la fabricación de la cúpula y las paredes internas es necesario para demostrar la grandeza que las creencias de quienes creen y todo comentario contra la exageración de los materiales usados está demás, ya que desde el punto de vista del arte, y ... read more

Welcome to the Vatican, officially the smallest country in the world (109 acres) and the seat of the Catholic Church. After our Italian breakfast (an oxymoron), we boarded a coach for the Vatican. Upon arrival, we were ushered past the long line of tourists right into the security line. Entering the Vatican is similar to boarding a plane in the United States security-wise. After 10 minutes, we were all given headsets so we could listen to our guide while we walked through the Vatican Museums together. The Vatican Museums were established in 1506, contain the Sistine Chapel, the Raphael Rooms, and is currently valued somewhere around priceless. The Vatican Palaces together, real estate alone, is valued around $1.21 billion (109 acres). The Raphael Rooms, a series of apartments painted floor to ceiling with Raphael's designs, are ... read more

Hi everyone, Merry Christmas!! Just back from our Christmas lunch in Le Bistro onboard - was fantastic - Chateaubriand for lunch.. plus. a bottle of wine so spelling may not be quite right... Okay a couple of days ago we visited Rome for the day so did a tour in a coach into Rome... not quite sure the value of this as we did most of our touring on our own - but passed the colisseum and a few other old -very old ruins etc then went on our own to the Sistine Chapel - which has been modernised since I last saw it 10 years ago and St Peter's Basilica and saw the fantastic Nativity Scene - if you're going to see it anywhere in the world then this is THE place to see it ... read more

But Maybe Not Quite As Much As This Place So I mentioned that I was heading to a city that’s a country within a city today. It also happens to be the smallest country in the world at just one square kilometre and was given it’s independence from Rome in the 15th Century (I think???). It has it’s own postal service, currency, newspaper and radio station and has a unique army of Swiss Guards to protect it’s leader. If you need more than one guess as to where I am you should be shot right now!!!! Vatican City is an impressive area to say the least. Surrounded by high stone walls (God knows why they had to build them when they’re in the middle of Rome… sorry for the pun), from the outside it looks more ... read more

Disclaimer: The following blog contains discussion of religious and philosophical nature. Viewer's discretion is advised. We all know the saying that Rome was not built in a single day. However, the Christian Church was not built in a single day either. Many martyrs and saints (in the Christian frame of reference) died a horrible death and shed their blood to spread and enhance the faith through the centuries. Therefore it was with a mind of reverence I came to Vatican, where in the legend the first Pope, St. Peter once stood and died for Christ. I came with a mind of reverence, not only because Vatican is the holiest place for the Catholics (I am not a Catholic, however, I was brought up in an Anglican high school. I am self-styled man of faith, not necessarily ... read more