The Vatican is a landlocked city-state that occupies a large region of eastern and central Italy and is located at the southern part of Europe. It is a state within a state and is considered as the smallest independent state of the world. Vatican City has merely a total land area of 44 hectares and a population of 840. It is headed by a Pope- the Bishop of Rome and is known as a sacerdotal-monarchical state.

People in Vatican City speak Italian, Latin, French and some other languages. The weather of the city is just the same as that of Rome. They experience a temperate, mild and rainy winters from the month of September to May while the city experiences hot, dry summers on May to September.

The Vatican is not merely known as a Papal residence but it is likewise recognized as the home of the Baroque and of the Renaissance art. Among the work of art that can be seen are Michelangelo’s famous paintings at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Although small in size, Vatican City offers various sightseeing attractions that you will surely enjoy. Some of these sites are the St. Peter’s Square, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museum.

St. Peter’s Square

The St. Peter’s Square is a gargantuan square that is situated in St. Peter’s Basilica. The square features gigantic St. Peter and Egyptian Obelisk as well as the twin fountains. The square was designed and was constructed by Bernini during Alexander VII’s pontificate which was between 1656 and 1667.

St. Peter’s Basilica

The St. Peter’s Basilica, which is known as the center of Christianity, is a Late Renaissance church that is situated within the city of Vatican. It can be seen at the Vatican hill, just across the River Tiber. It is recognized as the most renowned architectural work of art of the Renaissance era. It is likewise considered as the holiest and the largest catholic church of the world.

St. Peter’s Basilica is widely known not merely because of its religious importance but also because of the impeccable masterpieces of the great Baroque and Renaissance artists. The building structure itself is really impressive. The dome of the basilica measures 132 meters high and 42 meters in diameter, making it to the list of the world’s largest basilica dome.

The Vatican Museum

The opening of the Vatican Museums to the public started with just an artwork collection. Pope Julius was the first one to collect a group of valuable sculptures. His collections are well preserved and are still displayed at the Cortile Ottagono, inside the Vatican Museum. The Vatican Museum features one of the finest art collections of the world.