Vatican City
Vatican City is situated on the spot where St Peter was martyred and buried almost 2000 years ago this has always been an important area for the Holy See. The original lands that the Vatican City occupies today was also the site of Roman Emperor Nero's Circus. The obelisk in the center of the Vatican square (the only remnant of the original Circus) was originally part of Heliopolis (an ancient Egyptian city which stood in the vicinity of present day Cairo) but taken by Roman Emperor Caligula and erected close to where it stands today. The site of the Circus of Nero has the notorious reputation of being the place where many Christians were martyred. It is also believed that St Peter was crucified upside down here. Prior to 1860 most of Central Italy was governed by the Papal States of which the Pope was the head. Their lands were protected by hired mercenaries and international armies. By 1860, however, most of the Papal states had been absorbed into the Kingdom of Italy with the city of Rome last to capitulate in 1870. After Rome became part of the Italian kingdom in 1870 the position of the Pope and Catholic Church became an anomaly. The Pope and his duties were largely recognized and they were undisturbed in the Vatican grounds, although officially they considered themselves imprisoned. It was the Lateran treaty of 1929 that recognized the Vatican State (the boundaries were much influenced by the position of the old fortified walls of Rome). The treaty was agreed upon between Benito Mussolini, King Victor Emmanuel III and Pope Pius XI. All parties agreed to the fact that it was not to be associated, or thought of, as a last vestige of the Papal States. Vatican City is ruled by the Bishop of Rome - the Pope.
Passetto di Borgo
A secret corridor, known as the Passetto di Borgo, connects Castel Sant'Angelo with the Vatican. The corridor was used by pope Clement VII and his Swiss Guards to take refuge from Charles de Bourbon's army during the sack of Rome in 1527.
A secret corridor, known as the Passetto di Borgo, connects Castel Sant'Angelo with the Vatican. The corridor was used by pope Clement VII and his Swiss Guards to take refuge from Charles de Bourbon's army during the sack of Rome in 1527.
Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel was built in 1473-1481 by Giovannino de' Dolci as a private chapel for pope Sixtus IV. The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel originally resembled a blue starry sky. In 1508 pope Julius II asked Michelangelo to repaint the ceiling. Soon after he started working on the ceiling frescoes Michelangelo fired his assistants and continued painting the ceiling all by himself, all the time lying on his back. Julius II wanted Michelangelo to decorate the ceiling with paintings of the twelve apostles. Michelangelo however decided to paint the 'creation' as written in the Old Testament. The ceiling is divided into nine central sections that all depict scenes from the bible. More than twenty years after completing his ceiling masterpiece, Michelangelo also painted the Last Judgment on the wall behind the altar. But while his former work received wide recognition, his painting of the Last Judgment drew criticism from puritans who complained that there was too much nudity. Michelangelo responded by giving Minos, the donkey-eared judge of the dead, the face of his sharpest critic, Biagio da Cesena. After Michelangelo's death the painting was censored by the pope and all private parts were overpainted by Daniele da Volterra, who received the nickname 'Braghettone' (breeches maker). The other walls are decorated with frescoes created between 1481 and 1483 by a group of renowned painters including Botticelli, Perugino, Ghirlandaio, Signorelli and Rosselli under the guidance of Pinturicchio. The paintings depict scenes in the lives of Jesus and Moses.
The Sistine Chapel was built in 1473-1481 by Giovannino de' Dolci as a private chapel for pope Sixtus IV. The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel originally resembled a blue starry sky. In 1508 pope Julius II asked Michelangelo to repaint the ceiling. Soon after he started working on the ceiling frescoes Michelangelo fired his assistants and continued painting the ceiling all by himself, all the time lying on his back. Julius II wanted Michelangelo to decorate the ceiling with paintings of the twelve apostles. Michelangelo however decided to paint the 'creation' as written in the Old Testament. The ceiling is divided into nine central sections that all depict scenes from the bible. More than twenty years after completing his ceiling masterpiece, Michelangelo also painted the Last Judgment on the wall behind the altar. But while his former work received wide recognition, his painting of the Last Judgment drew criticism from puritans who complained that there was too much nudity. Michelangelo responded by giving Minos, the donkey-eared judge of the dead, the face of his sharpest critic, Biagio da Cesena. After Michelangelo's death the painting was censored by the pope and all private parts were overpainted by Daniele da Volterra, who received the nickname 'Braghettone' (breeches maker). The other walls are decorated with frescoes created between 1481 and 1483 by a group of renowned painters including Botticelli, Perugino, Ghirlandaio, Signorelli and Rosselli under the guidance of Pinturicchio. The paintings depict scenes in the lives of Jesus and Moses.
St. Peter's Basilica
This was the site where Saint Peter, the chief apostle, died a martyr and where he was buried in 64 AD. St. Peter is considered the first pope. In the early fourth century Emperor Constantine, the first Christian emperor of Rome, decided to build a basilica on Vatican Hill at the site of small shrine that marked the likely location of the tomb of St. Peter. Construction of the basilica started between 319 and 322. It was consecrated in 326 AD and finally completed around 349 AD. In the middle of the fifteenth century, the basilica was falling into ruin and Pope Nicolas V ordered the restoration and enlargement of the church. After he died, no progress was made for half a century until Pope Julius II decided to build a completely new church. In 1506 Julius II laid the first stone of the new basilica which was to become the largest in the world. The church was finally reconsecrated in 1626 by pope Urban VIII, exactly 1300 years after the consecration of the first church. The crowning piece of the St. Peter's Basilica is the majestic dome, a masterpiece designed by Michelangelo.
This was the site where Saint Peter, the chief apostle, died a martyr and where he was buried in 64 AD. St. Peter is considered the first pope. In the early fourth century Emperor Constantine, the first Christian emperor of Rome, decided to build a basilica on Vatican Hill at the site of small shrine that marked the likely location of the tomb of St. Peter. Construction of the basilica started between 319 and 322. It was consecrated in 326 AD and finally completed around 349 AD. In the middle of the fifteenth century, the basilica was falling into ruin and Pope Nicolas V ordered the restoration and enlargement of the church. After he died, no progress was made for half a century until Pope Julius II decided to build a completely new church. In 1506 Julius II laid the first stone of the new basilica which was to become the largest in the world. The church was finally reconsecrated in 1626 by pope Urban VIII, exactly 1300 years after the consecration of the first church. The crowning piece of the St. Peter's Basilica is the majestic dome, a masterpiece designed by Michelangelo.
St. Peter's Square
Visitors on their way to the St. Peter's Basilica pass along St. Peter’s Square, a grandiose elliptical esplanade created in the mid seventeenth century by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The square is bordered by massive colonnades that symbolize the outstretched arms of the church embracing the world. Bernini and his assistants sculpted the 140 statues of saints that grace the balustrades on the colonnades. The square is decorated with fountains and an Egyptian obelisk that was transported to Rome in 37 AD.
Visitors on their way to the St. Peter's Basilica pass along St. Peter’s Square, a grandiose elliptical esplanade created in the mid seventeenth century by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The square is bordered by massive colonnades that symbolize the outstretched arms of the church embracing the world. Bernini and his assistants sculpted the 140 statues of saints that grace the balustrades on the colonnades. The square is decorated with fountains and an Egyptian obelisk that was transported to Rome in 37 AD.
Vatican Museums
The Vatican Museums were founded under the patronage of two eighteenth-century popes - Clement XIV (1769-1774) and Pius VI (1775-1799) - who were among the first to open collections of art to the general public for viewing, therefore promoting culture among the masses. One of the Vatican Museums' main strengths is the collection of ancient Roman and Greek art, which is spread over four museums. Part of the lure of a visit to the Vatican Museums is the chance to admire the lavish palace complex that houses the museums. The complex was built between the twelfth and nineteenth centuries and served as the main residence of many popes. Several rooms, are occasionally still used by the papacy.
The Vatican Museums were founded under the patronage of two eighteenth-century popes - Clement XIV (1769-1774) and Pius VI (1775-1799) - who were among the first to open collections of art to the general public for viewing, therefore promoting culture among the masses. One of the Vatican Museums' main strengths is the collection of ancient Roman and Greek art, which is spread over four museums. Part of the lure of a visit to the Vatican Museums is the chance to admire the lavish palace complex that houses the museums. The complex was built between the twelfth and nineteenth centuries and served as the main residence of many popes. Several rooms, are occasionally still used by the papacy.