A Visit to the Vatican City - By: Robert Emdur

The State of the City of the Vatican is a sovereign city-state in the heart of Italy’s capital, Rome. Student tours that take in Rome are sure to take you within the walls of the Vatican. It is the smallest independent state in the world, with just over 110 acres of property and only 800 inhabitants.

Vatican City, as it is called, was formed in 1929 by the Lateran Treaty, and is distinct from the Holy See, which governs Catholic Christianity. A visit to Vatican City is a full submersion for students into a wealth of history, culture, and religion - with the added bonus of being able to post your postcards from inside this city within a city! While inside the walled city, you will be able to explore St. Paul’s Basilica, wander through the tombs of St. Peter’s Crypt, and spend an afternoon or more in the Vatican Museum.

St. Paul’s Basilica — An imposing structure that rises in the centre of Vatican City, you cannot miss St. Paul’s Basilica while on your student tours to Vatican City. Officially known as Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano, the basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church. It is the burial site for St. Paul, which is marked by a large canopy of gold and bronze. The entire church is lavishly decorated with marble, sculpture, and gilding, with each nave and room containing works by famous artists - including Michelangelo’s Pieta and the main dome that he designed. The four statues in the piers of the dome are of martyred Christians: Saint Helena, Saint Longinus, Saint Andrew, and Saint Veronica, who look down upon the tourists as they pass.

St. Peter’s Crypt, or the Vatican Grotto — The burial site of St. Paul, the Basilica has a long and important history as the chosen place of internment of popes and Catholic figures of note. Below the main Basilica is the Vatican Grotto, which is a crypt that houses more than 100 tombs. Those on student tours can wander through the grotto to see the burial places of 91 popes, St. Ignatius of Antioch, Holy Roman Emperor Otto II, ex-British Royalty and Catholic converts James Francis Edward Stuart and his two sons, and, most recently, Pope John Paul II who died in April of 2005.

Vatican Museum — Located within the Vatican City, this museum is one of the most important in the world of art. It houses an extensive collection that has been built up by the Catholic church over centuries. The itinerary of student tours needs to include at least a few hours here if participants are to see even a fraction of the nine miles of art the museum has to offer. Some highlights include works by Caravaggio; Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘St. Jerome in the Wilderness’; the Raphael Rooms, which include his ‘School of Athens’; and the most famous ‘Sistine Chapel’.

About the Author

Robert Emdur works for Equity Student Travel, the UK’s leading specialist in group travel for students in higher and further education. We organise student tours to destinations around the world covering a wide range of subjects, as well as conference & event-focused trips.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Robert-Emdur/230121

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