The smallest state of the planet

VATICAN Nobody would argue with the fact that the Vatican - the heart of the Catholic religion. This unique city-state ruled by Pope, the Vatican has full sovereignty. The country covers an area equal to approximately one quarter of Rome. Building a Catholic religious center have stunning architecture, for centuries they had witnessed many historic events. In the smallest country in the world is the residence of the pope, head of the entire Catholic Church. Officially, here is home to about 800 people, is the smallest nation on our planet. Many priests, nuns, guards, and 3000 different employees live outside the city limits. At the heart of Catholicism, there is even a football team consisting of the Swiss Guards, who have dual citizenship. St. Peter's Square at the Vatican No guided tours of the Vatican is not complete without a walk through the huge St. Peter's Square. Here stands the Egyptian obelisk, brought by Caligula from Heliopolis. The area is decorated with 284 columns by architect Bernini colonnade, divided into four columns. At the end of each colonnade stands a statue of one of the saints. On the square is also the Basilica of St. Peter's, which can accommodate 60,000 people. The first thing you notice in the Vatican - the luxurious, rich interiors. The dome of the basilica reaches 119 meters in height, and balconies decorated with intricate patterns. Inside the church you can see Michelangelo's famous work "The Crucifixion", under the dome of the baroque works by Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini. The Vatican also kept many of the least-known masterpieces by Italian artists. The magnificent Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican Museum has one of the largest and richest art collections. The museum consists of several parts, each of them beautifully decorated. In the museum's collection includes unique Roman, Egyptian, Etruscan statues, figurines made of porcelain and paintings. Here you can admire the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo, and several rooms of the museum decorated for Pope Julius II, Raphael himself. See also: How do we conquer Europe from the sea