Vatican City
Within the city of Rome lies the independent state Vatican City. Vatican City is around 44 hectares in size and is home to approximately 800 people. The state was established in 1929 and is ruled by the Bishop of Rome, the Pope.
The Last Judgement
Some of the most famous buildings in the world are located within the Vatican City walls including the Sistine Chapel, Apostolic Palace and St Peter’s Basilica. The Sistine Chapel is the official residence of the Pope and is most commonly known for Michangelo’s painting The Last Judgment. It was painted from 1535-1541 and can still be viewed by the public today. St Peter’s Basilica holds a special place in the Christian world, being considered one of the holiest churches in the world.
Life within the Vatican City is relativity quite compared to the busy streets of Rome. Because of its size, the Vatican has no airports or highways but does have a train station and helipad. The railway is mainly used for freight; with the Pope using Rome airports for international trips. The Vatican also has its own postal service, pharmacy; internet, radio station and telephone system.
View over St Peter’s Square from the Dome
Today the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel are open to the public Monday through to Saturday. The Vatican Museums are filled with hundreds of years of art and history with collections being built over time by the changing Popes. They include tapestries, sculptures, paintings, sketches and aged objects.
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