Are you looking for data on the Vatican? Keep reading What is a trip to the Vatican in Rome without seeing the famous Sistine Chapel of Miguel Angel or admire St. Peter, whose imposing and magnificent structure leaves no doubt as to its history powerful and connections? But how many people visit this place and miss small things?
Here are seven little-known facts about the Vatican, which illuminate the history behind one of the most powerful and interesting entities in the world, and gives you interesting facts to impress your companions of travel.
7 Little known facts about the Vatican
1- The Vatican is its own country:
Vatican is the smallest country in the world . This fact is not new for most people, but were they aware that there are only about 800 residents in this small nation with even fewer citizens? The citizenship of the Vatican is not guaranteed by birth, but by appointment, and is terminal, ending when a citizen leaves the residence.
2- The largest art collections in the world:
The Vatican museums contain one of the largest art collections in the world, with more than 9 miles of pieces, which could wrap four and a half times around the walls of the Vatican. Its 1400 rooms, chapels and galleries constitute the collection of the Vatican Palace.
3- Papal audience every Wednesday:
Every Wednesday morning the Pope has a Papal Audience, during which he addresses the public in multiple languages and concludes with a final blessing of people and objects held by members of the crowd. Having trouble thinking about a good Christmas gift or a souvenir in the Vatican ? Make time for the papal audience during your excursion in Roman . It is difficult to overcome anything blessed by the Pope!
4- Michelangelo's work:
Michelangelo's attention to detail is often overlooked by occasional passersby. The tree that starts the day before the forbidden fruit in the Sistine Chapel is actually a fig tree, not an apple tree, as evidenced by the shape of its leaves. In addition , the statue of the Pieta, which is located just to the right of the entrance of San Pedro is one of the only statues that has been signed by its creator, a young Michelangelo who, hearing two clerics discuss their disbelief that such a young artist could not have done a masterpiece, he slipped into the Vatican to carve his name on the sheet of the Virgin Mary.
5- The largest Catholic church in the world:
St. Peter's Basilica is the largest Catholic church in the world . In case anyone wishes to refute this fact, the Church has really placed the measures of the largest churches in the world on the marble of the nave to prove that all other basilicas are able to fit inside the Basilica.
6- The central altar of St. Peter:
The canopy, or the central altar of St. Peter, is directly above the place where St. Peter, where the first Pope, is buried. It is 96 feet tall, made of bronze mostly stripped of ancient Roman monuments such as the Pantheon, and the only person allowed to give mass at this altar is the Pope.
7- The art itself is mosaic:
The art in San Pedro itself is mostly mosaics, although they resemble paintings. In order to ensure that the work in the church would persevere, most of the "paintings" are actually mosaics.
