One of the most defining and special stops on our trip to Rome was undoubtedly the Vatican. As we crossed the invisible border between the Italian capital and the world’s smallest independent state, we were immediately overwhelmed by the sacred and historical power of the place. This walled enclave is not only the center of the Catholic Church, but also one of the world’s greatest art and cultural treasures.
The history of the Vatican dates back to ancient times. The name of the area comes from the term “Ager Vaticanus”, which referred to the marshy area on the right bank of the Tiber River. It was here that Caligula and Nero’s circus once stood, where, according to tradition, the apostle Saint Peter was martyred in 64 AD. Emperor Constantine had the first basilica built over Saint Peter’s tomb in the 4th century, but the popes did not make it their permanent seat until the 14th century, from Avignon. The independent Vatican City State as we know it today was officially established in 1929 by the Lateran Treaty, which guaranteed the political neutrality of the papacy.
The centerpiece of our visit was St. Peter’s Square (Piazza San Pietro), a masterpiece by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The colonnade surrounding the vast, elliptical square feels as if the Mother Church were embracing its faithful and visitors with open arms. Walking between the obelisk in the center of the square and the two monumental fountains, we truly felt the impressive size and symmetry of Baroque architecture.
From the square, we entered directly into St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the Christian world. The building took over 120 years to build, and was the work of masters such as Bramante, Raphael, and Michelangelo. Upon entering, the dimensions of the interior are almost incomprehensible; The huge dome, Michelangelo’s moving Pieta, and Bernini’s monumental, twisted-column baldachin above the main altar all proclaim the triumph of faith and human talent. It was a special experience to climb the dome, from where we could see all of Rome.
