An Introduction to Rome and the Vatican in Italy

The former capital of the ancient world and the current capital of Italy is colorful, controversial and chaotic place. Reminiscing aloud, dignified and bohemian, religious and profane, it is the citadel of art as we all know it. But can we ever really know it, as a classic saying goes, “if you spent one day here, you will see some Rome.” “If you spent two weeks here, you will learn much about it, but if you live here, you will never get to know it.”

According to the travellers of ancient times, there are two kinds of people in the world. Those who have seen Rome and those who have not, heaven itself could not be more beautiful than this. Infuse the poet Clavenuis, Rome was the largest human creation of the ancient world, called simply as the Herbs, the city. And its sites attracted travellers already in those times. Tourism is actually the invention of the Roman Empire as Tony Parite points out in his brilliant book Takin Holiday.

The rush of tourist has not abided ever since, quite to the contrary, hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world arrived to learn about the heritage of the past. About the eternal city and the Vatican, many start getting acquainted with it here at the St. Peter Square. It is a strange relationship the St. Peter Square with the Basilica is an integral part of Rome. The architectural, cultural and artistic heritage of Italy and the panorama of the capital at the same time it is the sit of an autonomous state whose sovereignty is un-equivalently accepted by almost all countries. The one thing that differentiates it from the other many states of Europe is that the Vatican’s head of state is not only the leader of the tiny portion of land. But also the head, the global religion of millions as a result of this world wide power the respectability of the Papal State remains.

Even if you know that you can walk around this 0.4 square kilometer country along its star shape castle walls in an hour at a leisurely pace. The St. Peter Square is proof of the genius of its creator, 17th Century architect and sculptor Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini. The St. Peter’s Basilica was already standing when upon their request of the Pope of the time and appropriate fore core was to be designed for it. Bernini felt that the main temple of the church should reach out towards it followers like motherly arms to embrace them. He wanted to implement this principle and practice, thus the square surrounded by the elliptical colonnades spanning 340 meters at the widest section was created.

In the middle the 26 meter tall Egyptian Obelisk was erected that have been brought to Rome from Alexandria by Emperor Culigula. Bernini also vested it with a practical function, the shade that cast on the stones of the square marks the passage of time. The 20 meter high semi-circular colonnade consists of 284 direct columns and 88 pillars. When Rome burned down in 64 A.D, Emperor Nero accused the followers of the up coming new religion Christianity of setting the city on fire. Although it was generally thought that he, himself did it, in any case the fire was reason enough for him to order a mass execution of Christians. That was when Apostle Peter, one of the first disciples and propagator of the new religion was killed.

In 1940, Pope Pius XII ordered excavations on the nave of the Basilica. And the grottos on to the Vatican, they found a skeleton of a large old man wrapped in gold embroider purple cloth. Although there is nowhere a few of evidence to support it, based on the fragmented inscription written in Greek, archeologist believe these are the earthly remains of the apostle himself. Emperor Constantine, who converted to Christianity, was the first to raise a temple above the grave. That was the predecessor of the St. Peter Basilica today the 30 meter high, five nave building was decorated by paintings and mosaics. During the Avignon Papacy, the abandoned temples started to decay, in 1450 the Pope commissioned architect D’ Angelo Bramante to build the new church. After his death Bramante was fist succeeded by Guilliano Da Sangallo then by two of the greatest artist of the Middle Age, Raphael and Michelangelo.

The latter was already old at that time by he worked tirelessly, starring neither himself nor the others. He designed the famous dome and contributed with many sculptures and paintings to the fame of the St. Peter’s Basilica. After Michelangelo died, Carlo Maderno completed the building to its final from. And then later Bernini joined the work, he first prepared the bronze canopy and subsequently created the square as we see it today. The largest temple of the Catholic world was eventually consecrated in the fall of 1626 by Pope Urbano IIX.

The famous sculpture of the Basilica is Michelangelo’s The Pieta which the artist made when he was only 25. The novel and the movie entitled The Agony and the Ecstasy, tell the story of Michelangelo and his patron, Pope Julius II. The two great figures of history are portrayed by two of the greatest actors Charlton Heston and Rex Harrison. The Basilica houses 229 marble columns, 44 altars and 260 statues, it is 212 meters long, and the height of the 42 meter wide copula is 133 meters. There is a little story about the colossal size of the Basilica.

Once upon a time, 10,000 soldiers went to mass there, their Commander came late and thought the troops have not arrived yet. Although they were already inside in one of the side names, on plate and circling the square there are 26 statues of Catholic Saints and Martyrs. Upon the news of the Barbarian attacks, Emperor Aurelian raise a new wall around the enlarge city in 270. They were gates guarded by bastions along the 19 kilometer long and seven meter high walls. Most of the city walls are still there and allows us to view in how the city grew overtime.

On the other hand the passageway connecting the Vatican with the St. Angel Castle was built only in the early 1400’s. It is not part of the ancient city walls although it complements them well. In September 1505, 150 volunteers walked all the way from Luzern to Rome to offer the protection to the Pope. The Swiss Guards still exists; they still wear the same blue and yellow uniform and helmet designed by Michelangelo when standing guard of the gates to the Vatican as their predecessors did.

The entrance to the Vatican Museum is on the 10 meter high city walls of the Sita Dair Caviani. Hundreds of thousands of art lovers are willing to undergo all kinds of inconvenience to stand in line for a whole day necessary. Just to see the invaluable artifacts on display at the museum. The museum even has its own designated subway stop that can be reached by bus as well. The Vatican Museums are home to the richest and largest art collections of the world.

In addition to numerous incunabula and 60,000 hand copied codices, its library has about a million books. It has a path row of Egyptian, Ancient Greek and Etruscan artifacts; the most famous attraction is the Sistine Chapel with the Fresco’s of Michelangelo. But now visitor should miss the stanzas of Raphael either. The 17 rooms of the gallery host the best of the worlds painting in chronological order. There are street vendors selling sandwiches, beverages and coffee to the people waiting in line. Often from dawn into the night, you can even photo albums, postcards and art calendars and various souvenirs here.