⛪ Vatican City (St. Peter's Basilica)
Vatican City
About This Sacred Site
Vatican City is the spiritual and administrative center of the Roman Catholic Church. St. Peter's Basilica, the world's largest church, is built over what is believed to be the burial site of Saint Peter, one of Jesus's apostles. The Vatican houses the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's famous ceiling, and the Pope addresses millions of faithful from here each year. It is the smallest independent state in the world.
Key Facts
- •St. Peter's Basilica is the largest church in the world at 23,000 square meters
- •The Sistine Chapel ceiling was painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512
- •Vatican City became an independent state in 1929 via the Lateran Treaty
- •The Swiss Guard has protected the Pope since 1506
- •The Vatican Library contains over 80,000 manuscripts
Location
Coordinates: 41.9022, 12.4539
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