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The Vatican City known also as the Holy See is actually a country. Headed up by his holiness, the pope, it is the world's smallest independent state. After the papal states were abolished in 1870 when Italy became a united country, the holy see was established as an independent sovereign state in 1929. The Vatican city covers less than half a square kilometre and includes St. Peter's Square and church. The city boasts its own guards known as the swiss guard a force of ninety unmarried men under 25 years if age who parade in traditional style renaissance uniforms. In addition to the guard, the Vatican has its own currency, post office, newspaper and even its own radio station. It's believed that St Peter was buried in a pagan cemetery and so the basilica was built to venerate his . The holy see can be reached by the angel lined bridge Ponte Sant'Angelo. While there are many wonderful works of art and treasures to be seen in the cathedral of St. Peter, the most famous piece is just inside the door to the right, Michelangelo's second most famous work the Pieta'. It is amazing to think that he sculpted this work when he was only 25 years old. The church is also filled with papal tombs many of which are down in the crypt reached by a staircase under the dome. You can climb the dome from an entrance at the north of the church. From the colonnade of the dome there are far ranging views of the city. Of particular interest in the Vatican museum is the Raphael room and the Sistine Chapel. The Sistine Chapel, with its most famous ceiling, is renowned as Michelangelo's painted masterpiece, that depicts scenes from the book of Genesis and took more than four years to complete. The work is made more incredible by the fact that Michelangelo was first and foremost a sculpture. The ceiling depicts scenes from the Book of Genesis, and took Michelangelo four years to complete. |