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Introduction
The Vatican City (Status Civitatis Vaticanæ in Latin) is full of characteristics that make it a unique and unmissable destination. Its existence as an independent state is an exceptional case in the contemporary world, which is reflected in its status as the smallest country in the world. Its national territory is completely surrounded by the millenary Italian city of Rome.
Understand
Rome has historically been the seat of the Catholicism, and since 1929 the Vatican City is an independent country. The Vatican has historically housed the main authorities of the Roman Catholic Church, including the Papacy. It has an area of just 44 hectares on a hill on the right bank of the Tiber River.
Its small size contrasts with the grandeur of the structures found there. The Basilica of Saint Peter and its square are one of the most recognized symbols of the Catholic religion and the seat of the main ceremonies carried out by the Pope who, in addition to his spiritual functions, also acts as head of State and Government of the country. The nearby Vatican Museums house some of the most precious works of art from Antiquity, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in the world, highlighting the famous Sistine Chapel. Beyond the religion that each one professes (or does not profess), the Vatican City is an unforgettable destination.
History
Although Christianity dates back to what currently corresponds to Israel Y Palestine, the expansion of this religion within the ancient Roman empire it was what would make it a cult followed by millions of people. Saint peter, the main follower of Jesus and considered the founder of the Church, he preached in Rome until his martyrdom around the year 67, during the reign of Nero. According to tradition, his tomb was located on the nearby Vatican Mount, which would give an important part of the symbolism that he maintains to this day.
Peter would be the first Pope in history and, after years of persecution, Catholicism became the official religion of the Empire in 380 by Theodosius. The Papacy became a powerful and influential institution, especially after the end of the Roman Empire and the succession of dominations by Barbarians, Byzantines and Franks. In 752, the Frankish Emperor Pepin the Short would grant effective control of the lands of what is now central Italy to the Pope, initiating the so-called Papal states. The Supreme Pontiff would thus exercise both religious and civil power over Rome and its surroundings for more than 11 centuries. Although the Vatican had a place of relevance for the Papacy and that led to the construction of St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel by famous architects and artists such as Bernini or Miguel Angel, the royal seats were in the neighboring city of Rome: the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran It was the seat of the bishopric of Rome (and therefore, of religious power), while the seat of civil power and the residence of the Pope were in the Quirinal Palace, today the seat of the Presidency of the Italian Republic.
It would be in the nineteenth century that, after the Napoleonic invasions and the effervescence of the Italian unification, the existence of the Papal States as such would end. In 1870, the Italian king Victor Emmanuel II finally occupied Rome, completing the unification of the Kingdom of italy and establishing the Quirinal as the new Royal Palace. The Vatican came under the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Italy, and the pope Pius IX, who lost his civil authority, declared himself a "prisoner in the Vatican." Later, in 1929, the pope Pius XI and the President of the Italian Government, Benito Mussolini, signed the Lateran Pacts, by virtue of which Italy granted independence to the Vatican City as a sovereign state, in exchange for the new emerging Vatican State recognizing Italian sovereignty over the city of Rome and the very existence of the Kingdom of Italy. As compensation, some emblematic religious sites located within Rome, such as Saint John Lateran, would enjoy an extraterritorial nature, and would be considered as annexes to the Vatican Embassy in Italy.
This is how the Vatican City is a relatively recent institution (less than 100 years old), but a millennial historical origin. It is important to note the difference between what is Vatican City, a geographical term that denotes the area where the Pope exercises civil power, and the Holy See, which refers to the religious institution that serves as head of the Roman Catholic Church to world level. It is also important to understand that, according to the Lateran Pacts, some civil powers within the Vatican territory such as justice and defense can be exercised by Italy by direct commission of the Pope.
To get
Vatican City has three authorized border posts for foreign tourists: two of entry through St. Peter's Square and the third through the Vatican Museums (after paying the respective entrance to the latter). Being a territory completely surrounded by the Italian city of Rome, and by virtue of a trilateral agreement signed between the Vatican, Italy and the European Union, there is no type of border control for operational and functional reasons. The border posts in St. Peter's Square remain open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and that of the Vatican Museums, exclusively during their opening hours. In spite of everything, it must be taken into account that, when entering or leaving the Vatican, even if no documentation is required at the border or there is control in the strict sense, an international border is being crossed, with all the political and personal consequences that result from it. derive.
There are, in addition to these three border posts, some more along the entire Vatican border, but they are reserved for diplomats, foreign authorities, Vatican citizens, Vatican residents and cross-border workers. Among them, the rail access to Vatican City stands out, starting from the nearby Italian Roma San Pietro station and entering through the southern boundary of Vatican City.
To get to Vatican City, you can walk from the center of the neighboring Italian city of Rome, crossing the Tiber and traveling a few blocks. If you are in other areas of the Italian city of Rome, the most convenient thing is to take the metro or a bus. The Rome subway It has two stations that drop you off near the three border posts: take Line A and get off at the station Ottaviano to go to St. Peter's Square or in Cipro to tour the museums. Rome bus 64 drops you along the southern border of the Vatican from Rome city center and Termini Station, while a tram can take you to the vicinity of the Vatican from Rome's Piazza del Risorgimento.
Travel
On foot, unless you are a Vatican citizen, travel in an official vehicle or are a cross-border worker. But quiet, the Vatican City is extremely accessible due to its small size and, in addition, much of the territory is off limits to foreigners.
The agglomeration of tourists is important, so always consider the signage. You don't want to end up in a place you didn't want to go after following a line of people for an hour.
Talk
Latin is the local language. However, much of the country's administration is made up of native Italians (in fact, the only ones with Vatican citizenship are a few priests), so much of the conversation is conducted in Italian. Although legally Latin has the rank of an official language, it is not used daily; only some religious ceremonies are performed in that language, as most are in Italian. If you have knowledge of Latin, do not be discouraged, as all the original inscriptions inside St. Peter's Basilica are in that language and you will have the opportunity to understand more than the average tourist within this great work.
Due to the high number of visitors, English is widely accepted and understood in the country. Due to the similarity between Italian and Spanish, and the constant presence of Spanish and Hispanic American tourists, Spanish can also be used in some circumstances.
Watch
Vatican City has two main and unique tourist destinations: the Basilica of Saint Peter next to its square and Vatican Museums.
St. Peter's Basilica and Square
The St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro) is the main public space in Vatican City and its best-known entry point. Although it can be reached directly from the Ottaviano metro station, entering through the border post on the side of St. Peter's Square, it is advisable to walk along Via della Conciliazione to enter through the main border post of the country and have a phenomenal view of the dome of the Basilica as one approaches the Plaza. The design of this was the work of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, being built between 1656 and 1667. The square is surrounded by a colonnade with figures of one hundred and forty saints from different times and places; Inside there are two fountains, one in each focus of the ellipse, and in the middle of the square a monumental obelisk (25 meters high and 327 tons) was erected, brought from Egypt during Roman times and which, according to the Catholic tradition, would have witnessed the martyrdom of Saint Peter. In this place large crowds gather to witness various religious activities, especially the public audiences of the Pope or waiting for the results of a conclave.
In front of the square is the Basilica of Saint Peter, the largest Catholic church in the world, with an area that exceeds 2.3 hectares. Despite not being the official pontifical see (the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran It is the cathedral of Rome), it is one of the most recognized symbols of the Papacy and of Catholicism as such. To enter this church, you must access through the colonnades that surround St. Peter's Square (it usually has a long line that you can identify immediately). Admission is free, although to access the dome you must pay an amount close to the € 7. The interior of the Basilica dazzles with a series of magnificent religious works, where the sculpture of Pity of Miguel Angel, the canopy located above the main altar and the bronze statue of Saint Peter, whose foot pilgrims kiss as a symbol of fidelity. Under the Basilica are the caves where is the presumed tomb of saint peter, next to which those of other Popes who succeeded him have been installed.
If you are Catholic, it is not forbidden to pray in the basilica, but it is more advisable to do it in one of the chapels of the basilica, without being disturbed by the high tourist influx[1]. Inside the chapels it is forbidden to take pictures and you must enter discreetly, to avoid being taken from the site by the guards.
Vatican Museums
An important part of the buildings found in the Vatican correspond to a group of museums that house one of the largest art collections in the world, especially from Antiquity. The Pío-Clementino Museum It has a collection of sculptures mainly from the classical Greek and Roman era, where works such as the Apoxymene of Lysippus Y Laocoon and his sons. The Chiaramonti Museum in the call Braccio nuovo continues in the previous line and has in its exhibition the famous sculpture of Augustus of Prima Porta. The Gallery of Maps possesses an incredible collection of topographic maps of Italy, made as giant frescoes during the 15th century and the Gallery has an exhibition of works made by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci Y Raphael, among others. Also of interest are the Gregorian Etruscan Museum, the Egyptian Gregorian Museum, the Profane Gregorian Museum and the Vatican Library.
Despite the countless number of works of great historical relevance that the Museums have, there are two areas that attract the attention of all visitors. The Rafael's stays They are rooms of the Apostolic Palace decorated with frescoes by the Renaissance painter Raphael and his disciples between 1508 and 1524. Inside these frescoes is The school of Athens, one of his most recognized works.
The highlight of the visit is the Sistine Chapel. It is a room completely covered by frescoes that relate various passages from the Old and New Testaments, a gallery of the Popes and other related figures. The Chapel vault is famous for its image of the creation, Realized by Miguel Angel. Goethe mentioned that "Without having seen the Sistine Chapel, one cannot form an appreciable idea of what a man is capable of achieving" and his words cannot be less true. The Chapel is truly awe-inspiring and probably the most memorable moment of the entire Vatican visit. Despite this, your visit may not be particularly welcoming: it is generally crowded with visitors, which prevents you from calmly observing all the details it has. Although you must maintain complete silence and not use a camera, tourists often do not respect these restrictions, generating a constant murmur interrupted by the demands of the guards who try to maintain the required silence.
The entrance to the Vatican Museums is through border post number 3, located in the north of the country, on the walls that surround the State. General admission costs € 16 and can be accessed from Monday to Saturday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (see details of special closing days). It is closed on Sundays, except for the last of each month when access is free. However, the large number of attendees on those days makes the visit not recommended. You can also book guides that will allow you to avoid the long lines and access the main exhibitions (such as the Sistine) more quickly.
Other activities
If you have time to prepare your trip with dedication, you can access some additional activities. One of them is to visit the Vatican Gardens, usually prohibited for tourists but that can be accessed as part of a tour organized by the Vatican Museums by some € 37 (includes an entrance to the Museums). These tours run every day, except for Wednesdays and Sundays.
For the more fervent visitors, an interesting option is to attend an audience of the Pope. He usually greets the public located in St. Peter's Square from his room at noon every Sunday (except in summer when he does so from Castel Gandolfo). On Wednesdays, meanwhile, he holds his public hearing: at 10:30 he crosses the Plaza greeting the audience from his popemobile and then blesses them from a balcony (in winter he holds his audience in the auditorium of the Paul VI Hall). To be able to attend the hearing on Wednesdays, you can get a ticket at the Swiss Guard Office located in the north colonnade of the square from noon on the previous Tuesday or by contacting, in Italy, the Church of Santa Susana, located in Via XX Settembre, near the Reppublica station of the Roman metro (more details here).
To buy
The nature of the smallest country in the world explains the absence of traditional shops within the Vatican territory and the few existing establishments depend directly on the Vatican Government, mainly oriented to the sale of souvenirs. There are some shops in annexes of St. Peter's Basilica (in the dome, at the exit of the route and next to the Treasury Museum in the sacristy), which have religious ornaments such as crucifixes, medals and rosaries, papal iconography and other elements related to Catholicism. At the exit of the tour of the Vatican Museums there is also a shop that sells books, replicas and other souvenirs related to the exhibition and its works (especially from the Sistine Chapel).
One of the most classic memories of the Vatican corresponds to its postal service. The postal history of the Vatican dates back to the time of the Papal States and has continued to this day, although increasingly devoted to tourism and Philately. Stamps cost between € 1 Y € 3, depending on the destination and can be purchased at the office of the Vaticane Post, located in the Plaza de San Pedro. There are also several yellow mailboxes where you can deposit your letter (and take a classic photo there). In the same philatelic office, other souvenirs are also sold, highlighting numismatic elements of great interest to collectors. The Vatican issued coins of the vatican lyre (on par with the italian) with an obvious interest for collectors; said currency was replaced by the euro in 2002 and the Vatican obtained the right to issue its own series of coins (as did the other members of the Eurozone). Each of the 8 Vatican coins (ranging from one cent to 2 euros) has a low emission of approx. 6,000 per year of each variant. In recent years, the 50-cent mark has risen above one million units per year, making them the easiest to access in the store (each one costs € 3), where complete collections are also sold, whose value can exceed € 100 easily. You can see the updated prices and the variety of products on the page of the Philatelic and Numismatic Office.
If you are looking souvenirsDon't limit your search to stores in the country. On all the streets in the neighboring Italian city of Rome that lead to the Vatican border posts (and even beyond) you will find shops that can offer even a greater variety of products at a lower price. There is also a lot of street trade, where you will find even cheaper products but consider that the quality of the products can vary. The souvenir trade is vast and the response capacity of the merchants is impressive: a few days after the inauguration of the new Pope Francisco, the streets were already full of memories with his face.
Eat and drink
The Vatican Museums restaurant is the only one in the whole country, so it is totally advisable to cross the border and eat in the neighboring Italian city of Rome. In the vicinity of the Vatican you can find so many places that sell from drinks and sandwiches, cafes and high-level restaurants. On Viale Giulio Cesare (where the Ottaviano station is located) you can find fast food outlets. Some of the recommended places, all of them in Rome, on Italian territory, are:
- Da Vito and Dina, Via Degli Scipioni 50. ☎ 39-06-3972 3293. Italian food restaurant, mainly pasta and seafood.
- Dal Toscano, Via Germanico 58. ☎ 39-06-3972 5717. A traditional ristorante for Italian food, it is advisable to book in advance.
- Dolce maniera, Via Barletta 27. ☎ 39-06-. Bakery with cheap food options, like paninis or pieces of pizzas.
- Old Bridge Gelateria, 5 Viale dei Bastioni di Michelangelo. Traditional gelateria, an ideal place to rest between tours.
- Osteria dell'Angelo, Via Giovanni Bettolo 24. ☎ 39-06-3729 470. A popular trattoria with pasta, grill and other Italian dishes.Price: Between € 20 and € 30 per person.
- Pizzeria Amalfi, Via dei Gracchi 12. ☎ 39-06-3973 3165. Popular neighborhood pizzeria, moderate prices.Price: € 8 per pizza.
- Siciliainbocca, Via E. Faa di Bruno 26 (Cipro Station). ☎ 39-06-3735 8400. Restaurant of Sicilian origin, specialized in fish. Swordfish is a local favorite along with lemon sorbet.
Sleep
The Vatican does not have any hotels in its entire territory open to the general public, so you should look for accommodation in the neighboring Italian city of Rome, crossing the frontier. Some options near the Vatican are listed below:
- Filomena e Francesca B&B, Via della Giuliana 72. ☎ 39-06-3751 3625, ✉: [email protected]. Bed and breakfast in the vicinity of Plaza San Pedro, has three rooms, all with private bathroom and air conditioning.
- Rome Best BB, Via Sivori 14. ☎ 39-3493118872, ✉: [email protected]. A B&B inspired by the world of video games and, in particular, the 8-bit world.
- Hotel Sant'Anna, Borgo Pio 134. ☎ 39-06-6880 1602, fax: 39-06-6880 1602, ✉: [email protected]. 3-star hotel located near St. Peter's Square.
Security
Security is generally good, as in the border city of Rome. Being a reputed resort, there are several petty crimes such as pickpocketing and pickpocketing. As a visitor, you must take the same care with your belongings as in any other agglomeration of people.
The Vatican City Gendarmerie Corps it is the institution responsible for general public order and security in Vatican City. According to the Lateran Pacts, Italy complements some of the security services of the Vatican City: apart from military defense (being an enclave), the Italian Republic can carry out the trials committed in the Vatican City and take care of of the inmates inside their prisons, if so authorized by the Vatican Government. The Pontifical Swiss Guard, famous for its ceremonial role, does not perform public services for the Vatican, but is the personal Guard of the Supreme Pontiff, in his capacity as President of the Vatican Government.
Regarding health, in the Vatican there is no health or medical center for foreigners. If he needs medical assistance, according to a treaty signed between Italy and the Vatican, he will be sent to a health center in the neighboring Italian city of Rome.
Respect
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Vatican City is a confessional state and theocratic, whose form of government is the elective monarchy, and which is not part of the European Union. That is why it must be taken into account that many human rights and practically all the fundamental rights recognized in European Community territory do not apply in this country. However, you should not worry at all, as foreign tourists are one of the main sources of income for the Vatican Government and it tends to be quite permissive and tolerant of them.
In addition, the Vatican is a place of pilgrimage for millions of Catholics who year after year fill St. Peter's Square to attend a beatification or canonization, participate in a youth meeting or simply meet the Pope in one of his audiences. For this reason, you must take into consideration that respect for Catholic religious symbols is fundamental, not only for the place, but for the people around them and out of respect for Vatican sovereignty.
Although St. Peter's Basilica is usually open and allows the free flow of people, on some occasions masses are held in the various chapels inside. Do not take photographs on these occasions, enter only if you want to participate in the liturgical act and generally maintain silence. Both the caves and the Sistine Chapel are prohibited from using cameras, but only in the second is this persistently required. The guards are constantly shutting up attendees, so trying to take a picture will only lead to a scolding, and a dark, pixelated photo of poor quality.
Being a sacred place, it is also important to follow the required dress code: avoid pants or short dresses, as well as tank tops. The guards at the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica may deny you access, despite being a hot day. It is also recommended to remove hats when entering the Basilica and other closed places.
References
- ↑According to Cardinal Ennio Francia "It is enough to withdraw into a small chapel to feel alone in this land blessed by the blood of Peter and the first Christian martyrs", in Petrosillo, Orazio. Vatican City. Italy, Edizioni Musei Vaticani, 2007, ISBN 9788882716219
external links
Wikipedia has an article on Vatican City.w: Vatican City
Wikimedia Commons houses multimedia content about Vatican City. Commons
