Vatican CityItaly is the world's smallest independent nation, located northwest of Rome, and is known as the headquarters of the Catholic Church. Its area is 0.44 km², but to make it easier to understand, let's look at a comparable country in Japan.USJ(Slightly larger than the area of Universal Studios Japan: 0.39 km²)TDL(Slightly smaller than the area of Tokyo Disneyland: 0.51 km²)Tokyo DomeIn terms of area, it is roughly equivalent to 10 Tokyo Domes. Within its territory are facilities such as the Vatican Palace where the Pope lives, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Vatican Museums, and about one-third of the country is covered with Italian-style gardens and rose gardens. The entire country is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.world heritageIt is registered as such.
Our local guide for Rome and Vatican City is the lovely Gabriella. Gabriella speaks Japanese very fluently, but I was surprised by how good all of our local guides were at Japanese!
When entering Vatican City from Rome, a passport is not required and there is no immigration check due to the Schengen Agreement.borderHere it is. You can come and go so freely that it's a bit anticlimactic, but apparently the only places foreign tourists are allowed are St. Peter's Square, St. Peter's Basilica, and the area around the Vatican Museums; other areas are off-limits to the general public.
Crossing the border and passing through the gate, a vast expanse unfolds before your eyes.St. Peter's SquareAnd the semicircular colonnade built around the oval-shaped square is truly impressive. In the 17th century, by order of Pope Alexander VII,Gian Lorenzo BerniniThis is a Baroque-style square designed by Bernini. Bernini made the square a massive oval shape, 240 meters wide, with 284 columns arranged symmetrically on either side, and constructed a semicircular colonnade. The view as you rotate 360 degrees and look up is breathtaking! The square building on the right side of the square (at the back of the photo) is the residence of the Pope.Vatican PalaceThe room on the right side of the top floor is the Pope's study and living quarters. When the Pope is in the Vatican, he appears from the second window from the right at noon every Sunday and gives a blessing to the believers gathered in the square. This square can accommodate approximately 300,000 people.
At the top of the colonnade are 140 statues of saints, lined up as if overlooking the square. These are works by 17th and 18th-century artists, and each statue is 3.2 meters tall.
St. Peter's BasilicaTo the left and slightly in front of it is the one holding the key to heaven.Saint PeterThe figure of the statue. On the opposite side, to the right and in the foreground,St. PaulA statue of Paul stands there. Paul was captured by Roman officials and martyred by being beheaded with a sword. The statue is made to show how the martyr was killed, and it is depicted holding a large sword. St. Peter's Basilica, one of the world's largest Baroque buildings and the largest Christian church, has free admission, so if you have the time, be sure to visit the interior of the church and see the bronze sculpture by Bernini.Baldacchino Altaror bronze decorationBishopricAnd Michelangelo'sPietaThe statue and the figure making a blessing gesture with its right hand.Statue of Saint Peter, in the center of the five doors at the entrance to the cathedralThe Door of PhilareteWe recommend visiting points such as these. However, the dome, which also serves as an observation deck offering panoramic views of Rome, requires an entrance fee: €7 (approximately 980 yen) if you take the elevator, or €5 (approximately 700 yen) if you take the stairs.
The dignified presence of the Papal Guard, designed by Pope Julius II in the 16th century, is a must-see! They are recruited from Swiss men aged 19-30 who are unmarried, have military experience, and are at least 174cm tall. Their uniforms, with their striking red, blue, and gold vertical stripes, are quite unusual.MichelangeloIt is said that he designed this cute clown-like uniform.Bit GuardsI think I'll fall in love with her beautiful appearance at first sight (lol).
Although Vatican City is considered a state, it doesn't have a population that was born and raised there. It's comprised of around 1,000 Catholic clergy and related individuals from around the world who are considered its citizens. When these clergy are assigned to the Vatican, they become citizens, and upon completing their term and returning to their home countries, their nationality reverts to that of their original nations.
St. Peter's SquareIn the center (left in the photo) is a hugeObeliskStanding tall is this colossal obelisk, which Emperor Caligula had brought from Egypt in 38 AD. It is 25.5 meters high and weighs a staggering 320 tons, making it truly impressive. The area around this central obelisk is said to be the place where Saint Peter (San Pietro) was crucified upside down by Emperor Nero. The country is ruled by the Pope, and after the Pope's death, high-ranking clergy called cardinals...ConclaveA new Pope is elected in a papal election called the Vatican. Just then, on a flight back from Italy, I was watching a movie about a secret society plotting against the Vatican.Tom HanksThe lead actorAngels and DemonsWatching the film made me feel the weight of being in a place I had stepped into even more deeply. Christianity has a history spanning over 2000 years, and there are still so many immeasurable mysteries, but by visiting Vatican City, you may be able to catch a glimpse of that history, even if only a little. I encourage you all to experience it with your own eyes. Next time, I will introduce the colossal Roman ruin, the Colosseum♪
Vatican City Official Website
http://www.vatican.va/
