Walking through the Vatican

• Walk the Vatican

Today we tell about the Vatican - the smallest state in the world.

Tourists strolling through the yard of one of the Vatican Palace.

The Vatican is in Rome on the Vatican hill, which is so called in ancient times. Despite the fact that it is an independent state, or international law or the United Nations of the State "do not know". Legally, all dealing with the Holy See - the Pope and his administration. A Vatican - it is only an auxiliary area of the Holy See.

One of the entrances to the Vatican, leading to its museums. Vatican surrounded by a strong fortification.

A view of Rome from the dome of St. Peter's Basilica. The green part in the foreground, as well as the fact that the right of it - is the territory of the Vatican. Since the Vatican area is very small, then the embassies of other countries are outside it, in the Italian part of Rome. Even the Italian Embassy is located on the territory of Italy.

Vatican area is only 0, 44 sq. km. population density - about 1,900 people per square kilometer. km. In the past, the Papal States occupied a great part of the peninsula, but in the XIX century, the Italians no longer stand it and took away the power of the pope of his possession, leaving him only the Vatican.

The guards are on duty at the entrance to the Vatican (I wonder if that is not visible signs of military distinction). The armed forces consist of the Vatican's Swiss Guard, which has a little more than a hundred people. It is the smallest army in the world. It received the Swiss, who served at home, with recommendations, idle, rising from 174 cm, Catholics. The monthly salary is small - about 1,000 euros.

The building of the Vatican's main administration. Here sits a governor appointed by the pope among the cardinals. The Vatican has a population of about 500 people, mostly, it is the clergy and the army. Citizenship is not inherited and given to the ministry of the Holy See. He graduated to work - give your passport.

The area in front of the Belvedere Palace, where antique sculpture and painting exhibited XI-XIX centuries.

Most of the territory occupied by the famous Vatican Vatican museums, which are located in various palaces. In fact, mere mortals can see the Vatican, only visit the Basilica of San Pietro or museum.

A line of tourists waiting for the opening of the museum on that day; this is not the end of the line - for the left edge of the frame, the wall around the corner, about the same number of people.

Once a month, it seems, on the last Sunday, the entrance to the Vatican Museums - free. All lined up in the early morning.

Museums in the Vatican a lot. The most famous - is the Vatican Library, which stores the largest collection of ancient manuscripts in the world, as well as the Sistine Chapel, the former church, painted by great masters of the Renaissance.

The first thing that strikes you when you visit the Vatican Museums, - an abundance of ancient artifacts. All of which are excellent in terms of art, and are indistinguishable from the Renaissance. If it is a sculpture, they are impeccable. Antiquity is not a lot, but a lot. Probably, most of all the exhibits - antiquity. A smaller part - Renaissance. Immediately the question arises: where is it, what happened between the two periods, separated by about a whole millennium?

Gallery with ancient artifacts, mostly relating to writing. In our day, it was shut down.

One of the many ancient halls, also closed.

The famous sculpture "Laocoön and His Sons" at the Museum Pio-Clementine. Allegedly 200 BC. e.

I do not remember that in the room, and that in its center. But antique mosaic gorgeous.

The rooms in the palaces alternate with the various courtyards, which is also full of all sorts of exhibits.

And this is modern art. Author - Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro. The original name - "spheres within spheres."

All Galleries and museums are very beautiful rooms.

Ceiling Geographic gallery. On its walls are depicted medieval maps of various parts of Italy.

Many museums are open windows, and you can freely approach them to see what's on the outside. Somewhere in there, behind those beautiful gardens, it is a helipad - the local airport.

Some rooms painted entirely on the floor with the ceiling. Frescoes simply amazing.

The famous fresco by Raphael's "The School of Athens" with the image of Plato and Aristotle.

Raphael Stanzas - rooms painted by Raphael. Then it was the papal apartments.

Travel industry - one of the two main sources of income of the budget of the Vatican. Another major - contributions of Catholics worldwide.

As well as the Cathedral of St. Peter, go here better prepared, having read in advance what masterpieces and landmarks here and there in some museums and halls of concrete. You can still take the audio guide to know what to look.

The workers and employees engaged in the Vatican and economic activities, of course, do not live here. It is the Romans who come here every day, both in normal operation.