VATICAN
V
At only 0.49 square kilometers, the Vatican is the world's smallest country.
It serves as the Pope’s principal residence and the seat of the Catholic Church.
Despite its minuscule size, the city-state holds immense wealth and influence, as evidenced by its magnificent basilica and museums.
1.
Completed in 1626, it is the world's largest church and the epitome of the Catholic faith.
P
For more than 120 years, many of Italy's finest hands and brains worked on this legendary house of God, including Bramante, Michelangelo, and Bernini.
A testament to what humans can achieve when they turn to the divine for inspiration.
2.
An assembly of 28 galleries, chapels, and exhibition halls founded in the 16th century.
M
It blurs the line between papal private residence and public art galleries, with rooms lavishly adorned with fine stucco, sculptures, and wonderful frescoes.
Highlights include the brilliant frescoes in the Raphael Rooms, the Gallery of Maps, and the world-renowned Sistine Chapel.
70,000 artworks amassed by the Church and the papacy over the centuries.
R