Vatican City

Rome is, of course, home to the Vatican. It was Mussolini that allowed the Vatican to have sovereignty over itself.

The Vatican is home to Saint Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro), where Saint Peter's Basilica (San Pietro) - is located. Saint Peter's is a huge church, built on the spot where Saint Peter was buried. It contains the famous Pieta, done by Michelangelo at the age of 25, and behind glass since the 70's, when it was vandalized. Another note of interest inside the church is the marks designating the length of other Catholic churchs: apparently there was some feelings of competitiveness and sense that the church in the Vatican should be larger than any other Catholic church. Outside the church, Saint Peter's Square, a short walk from the Castel Sant' Angelo, is splendid also. There is an obelisk (from Egypt) in the center, and two semicircles of Doric columns four deep around the perimeter. On top of the columns are statues of various saints.

Other buildings of interest in the Vatican are the Vatican Museums, which contain many Roman (as well as Greek) antiquities, the Raphael Rooms, The Appartamento Borgia and the Sistine Chapel.

You are not allowed to photograph inside the Sistine Chapel, but it has recently been restored for the Roman Jubilee 2000. The top of the Chapel features an interpretation of the Creation by Michelangelo. Our guide said he did not paint it on his back, but did not offer an explanation of how he did do it. On the end wall Michelangelo painted the Last Judgment, apparently condemning his enemies (for example, someone who criticized his work) to hell.

San Pietro as seen from Vatican Museums

Ceiling Fresco in the Vatican Museums

Vatican Museum