Look beyond the walls of the Vatican - the home of the world's most powerful religious leader, where nearly 15 kilometers of museums house some of the most stunning works of art.
Five years ago in March, Pope Francis became 226th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and leader of its 1.29 billion members. He celebrated the occasion by recalling his various and, for some, occasionally controversial achievements. The Pope lived behind the walls for these five years of the Vatican, the headquarters of the world Catholic administration, the Holy See, located on the west bank of the Tiber in Rome. It is a place where they intertwine both spiritual power and history, which dates back thousands of years. Here's a look behind the walls of the beautiful microstate that the most important religious leader calls home.
the Vatican, the smallest country and the world, surrounded only by the Italian capital Rome. The area of the Vatican is around 40 hectares.
Behind the walls of the Vatican are some of the most famous religious and cultural sites in the world. It almost completely surrounds the tiny enclave imposing wall, which was completed in 825.
The first thing that visitors usually see when they step on the other side of the wall is the enormous the square of St. Peter. It is surrounded by Roman columns, it is in the middle obelisk, which was brought from Egypt by the Roman emperor Caligula. Square of St. Petra is also the center where believers who want to listen to the Pope gather.
The central part of the Vatican is probably basilica of st. Peter, which spreads across the square. It took them to complete the building with its sophisticated interior, which stands today on the square 120 years. It is built on Vatican Hill, where the Roman emperor Nero was supposed to execute St. Peter. It is an ornate and respectful monument with works by world-renowned painters and sculptors.
The crown of the basilica is hers massive dome, which rises almost from the ground 134 meters high. Michelangelo, considered by many to be the best sculptor in history, designed its interior. Top of the Dome - You reach it when you pass 551 stairs – offers a wonderful view of Rome and the Vatican Gardens, which lie behind the basilica.
Vatican Gardens were created in 1279, but tourists usually cannot visit them, because that is the Pope's personal relaxation area. On 23 hectares they occupy more than half of Vatican City. There are many buildings and palaces around the gardens, and it is also on the edge of the gardens papal helicopter. Above the heliport is a Latin inscription that says: "To make it more convenient and comfortable to look down."
It is north of the basilica, near the gardens Vatican Palace – a network of connected buildings that consists of more than 1000 rooms. The palace is full of chapels, administrative buildings and apartments, and popes have called them home since the 14th century. Most of the palace is dedicated today Vatican Museums, which are among the largest museums in the world. The museums span the an astonishing 15 kilometers. Some say it would take just four years to pass them, if you spent one minute in the museum for every work of art.
The galleries in the museum are arranged along the ceilings, porticoes, walls and columns. It is the crown jewel Sistine Chapel, home to some of the greatest works Michelangelo. He and other Renaissance artists worked for more than 60 years after the chapel was built to perfect every corner of it. The Sistine Chapel is also a venue papal conclave, where cardinals vote on who will be the next pope. When they reach a consensus, white smoke rises from the chimney.
It is next to the chapel Apostolic Palace, which was originally built as the residence of Pope Sixtus V and was the papal residence for centuries. Like practically everywhere else in the Vatican, the interior of the Apostolic Palace is also impressive. She is equally fascinating Apostolic Library, where the Pope often receives world dignitaries. Pope Francis broke with tradition and does not live in the Apostolic Palace, but in a modest guest house. In contrast to the palace, this one is much more comfortable.
He guards the palace Swiss Guard, the smallest army in the world, which already since 1506 serves the Holy See. In order to become a member of this prestigious army, you must be unmarried Swiss, Catholic, between 19 and 30 years old. The soldiers' uniforms have also remained unchanged since 1506.
But even the Vatican palaces were not always safe - the popes had to escape a few times through the passage Passetto di Borgo, which connects the palaces with the Angelski Castle on the Tiber River.
After centuries of existence, the Vatican today bears witness to Fr thousand-year history of the Catholic Church. And while popes come and go, the place they call home will continue to light up the horizon of the Eternal City.
