Vatican City State was founded following the signing of the Lateran Pacts between the Holy See and Italy on February 11th 1929.Visitors will be able to appreciate the natural and architectural beauty of the Vatican Gardens in a new, unprecedented and sustainable way. Comfortably seated on board an environmentally-friendly open bus offering panoramic views, will the help of an audio-guide, they will be able to discover the silence and the botanical treasures of the "green heart" of the Vatican along an evocative itinerary bringing together art, nature and faith. The ancient Pontifical Swiss Guard corps is immortalised in its most important formal moments, as well as those of unexpected and surprising daily life, in the evocative photographs by Fabio Mantegna for an itinerant exhibition, The life of a Swiss guard. A private view, which from 2 April will unveil to the public of the Vatican Museums previously unseen details of the real life of the "smallest army in the world".On the occasion of two-thousandth anniversary celebrations of the death of the first emperor of Rome, the marble masterpiece Augustus of Prima Porta will return to the Vatican Museums following its great public success in exhibitions in Rome and Paris. Visitors can admire the sculpture temporarily located at the entrance of the Gregorian Profane Museum. The Vatican has generally been the residence of the Pope since 1337. The Pope's residence is also known as the Apostolic Palace and it is located North-East of the St. Peter's basilica. The Pontifical Swiss Guard is in charge of the security of the Vatican and the Pope's personal safety. The Pontifical Swiss Guard has been filling this duty since the 16th century.The entire Vatican State is acknowledged as a UNESCO world heritage site since 1984. The main tourist attractions in the Vatican are: St. Peter's basilica, St. Peter's Square, The Vatican Museums and the Vatican gardens. The entrance to the Basilica and Square are free of charge. Please note that visitors are asked to dress appropriately when entering the church.Vatican City lies beyond the right bank of the Tiber River, its on part of the ancient Montes Vaticani (the Vatican Mount) and where the Vatican Fields used to be .The Name "Vatican" originated from the name of this hill. The Vatican was protected from being secluded from the rest of the city by being included within the walls of Pope Leo IV (847-55), and later on fortified further by Popes Paul III , Pius IV and Urban VIII. There are five entrances to Vatican City; Many Visitors start their Vatican tour at St Peter's square. The best way to get to the Vatican from Rome's historical center is through Ponte St. Angelo. The entrance to the Vatican Museums is on Viale Vaticano. The Notorious Roman Emperor Caligula (37-41AD) built a circus at the area of the current Vatican. St Peter the apostle was buried in a necropolis to the north of the circus. Traditionally it is said that The See of Rome was founded by Saint Peter who first held the position of the Bishop of Rome (Pope).Between the years 324 and 326 AD, the Emperor Constantine built a basilica on top of St. Peter's grave. It was replaced by the present St. Peter's Basilica between the 16th and 17th centuries. And was designed and decorated by Renaissance and baroque geniuses such as Raphael, Bramante, Bernini Michelangelo, and Maderna. St. Peter's basilica is the largest religious building in the world.
India, Roman Catholic Church, Vatican City, vikasacharya
