The Vatican

Entrance to the Vatican Museums

 As is well known the Vatican is a completely sovereign city state within the city of Rome.  It has the unique distinction of being the smallest city state in the world both in population (about 825) and size (about 120 acres). Being a theocracy ruled by the Pope it is therefore mandatory that all citizens/ residents of the Vatican be Catholic.  Not only must the citizens and residents be Catholic but all visitor guides must also be Catholic.  Their economy is supported by fees imposed on visitors to the museums and by souvenirs they sell to those same visitors.

Laocoön and his sons

As one of the most visited museums in the world the significant revenue from those visitors fees is easy to appreciate.  In 2019, there were 6.9 million visitors but by 2020 that number had dropped by around 80%!!  2020 saw only 1.3 million visitors as COVID was busy wrecking the world.  There is of course nothing good about COVID but it did mean that when we visited in 2021 we were able to just walk right in - no lines, no waiting and relatively small crowds.  Awesome!!

Raphael "School of Athens"

The Vatican museums are home to some of the worlds most renowned masterpieces of Renaissance art not the least of which is Michelangelo's masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel.  So revered is Michelangelo's ceiling that complete silence is demanded while in the Chapel in order to contemplate the sanctity of the moment.  There are also no photos allowed.  So you must go see it with your own eyes😇.  

Gallery of Maps

There are 54 museums to visit housed in 1400 rooms - needless to say it is impossible to see the immense collection of art in one visit.  All told Popes over the years have collected 70,000 artworks yet only 20,000 of those are on display for the public to view.  Being sailors one of the highlights for us was the Gallery of Maps.  On display are a series of painted maps of Italy that were commissioned in 1580 by Pope Gregory XIII.  Each fresco depicts a region of Italy while the paintings of the ceiling near each area depict important events from that region. 
 

Ceiling in the Gallery of Maps

The Vatican is also home for the Pope or at least former Popes.  Popes usually live in the Apostolic Palace papal apartments but not Pope Francis.  He instead lives in a two room apartment in the Domus Santa Marta which is essentially a hotel inside of the Vatican for housing visitors.  Preferring to live a modest life the current Pope keeps it simple which further endears him to Romans.  Such a beautiful place... we are already planning our return trip.