Size does not matter when it comes to the VATICAN. Although it is the world’s smallest state, in terms of history and beauty few others can measure up.

Text and photos by Melani Semuel

 Situated within the city of Rome, Italy, the Vatican is the world’s smallest state, with a boundary only 3.2 kilometres around. Officially, it has around 800 citizens, making it the smallest nation in demographic size on the globe.

HISTORY

Vatican City, synonymous with the Holy See, is the only current Papal State in existence and the temporal seat of the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church. The origin of Papal States can be traced back to 756 AD with the Donation of Pepin. However, popes became the de facto rulers of Rome and the surrounding province after the fall of the Roman Empire and the retreat of Byzantine power in Italy. Popes, in their secular role, ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the middle of the 19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the pope’s holdings were further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed.

Disputes between a series of “prisoner” popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. On 11 February 1929, the three treaties were signed with Italy, recognising the full sovereignty of the Vatican and establishing its territorial extent.  In 1984, a concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified certain of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the Italian state religion.

Vatican City is a non-hereditary, elected monarchy that is governed by the Bishop of Rome — the Pope, meaning the Pope has total legislative, executive and judicial power over Vatican City. The pope is elected for life by the College of Cardinals. When the election was last held, on 19 April 2005, Cardinal Josef Ratzinger was elected as Pope Benedict XVI.

WHAT TO SEE

With a little more than 100 acres (less than half a square kilometre) within its walls, the Vatican is easily travelled by foot; however, most of this area is inaccessible to tourists. The most popular areas open to tourists are the Basilica of St. Peter and the Vatican Museums.

St. Peter’s Basilica

The centre of the Catholic world, this magnificent basilica with its Michelangelo-designed dome has an awe-inspiring interior. St. Peter’s Basilica is huge, but everything is in such proportion that the scale escapes you (interior height of 120 metres from floor to top of dome). Covering an area of 5.7 acres (2.3 hectares) and with a capacity of more than 60,000 people, Saint Peter’s Basilica is the holiest site of Christendom in the Catholic tradition.

Not only is St. Peter’s Basilica massive, there are also many things to see, including some of the most wondrous artwork in the world. Entering the basilica is to become overwhelmed by its grandeur. I have never seen anything so magical. What I particularly like is that although St. Peter’s Basilica is the centre of the Catholic world, it attracts people from different religions, who come to admire this “work of art.”

The basilica is traditionally the burial site of its namesake, Saint Peter, who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, the first Bishop of Antioch and later the first Bishop of Rome. The basilica, erected over the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle, is the creation of the combined genius of Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini and Maderna. Inside the basilica, follow the crowds to the statue of St. Peter and touch his foot. It is believe that St. Peter is the one who holds the key to heaven.

You can also take an elevator up to the roof and then make a long climb up 323 steps to the top of the dome for a spectacular view of Vatican City. It takes around an hour to go up and down. During the climb, and before reaching the very top, you will find yourself standing on the inside of the dome, looking down into the basilica itself. Instead of leaving out the doors you came in, go down into the crypt to see the Tomb of Pope John Paul II.