00:00Vatican
00:02Vatican City or the Holy See
00:05It gained independence from Italy on the 11th of February in 1929.
00:11The sovereign independent state has a population of less than 1,000,
00:16yet it is one of the most popular cities for tourists.
00:21The Holy See, which is surrounded by Rome,
00:24has been the home of the Pope since 1378
00:28and is considered the seat of the Catholic religion.
00:32And then of course there are the very popular Vatican museums,
00:36which is mainly why most people fly in for a visit.
00:40There's the Sistine Chapel,
00:42which is considered the private chapel of the Pope.
00:45This is also where cardinals meet to vote for a new Pope.
00:50Its ceiling frescoes feature paintings by the great Michelangelo
00:54and the biblical scenes on the wall are by several artists,
00:58including Perugino and Botticelli.
01:01The gateway to Vatican City is St. Peter's Square and Basilica.
01:06It is built on the site that covers St. Peter's tomb.
01:10It is considered one of the largest churches in the world.
01:14Michelangelo's famous Pieta is also featured in this church.
01:19Italian Masses are held here every Sunday.
01:24Visitors are allowed, but must follow the strict dress code,
01:28no bare knees or shoulders.
01:31Another attraction unique to the Vatican is the Swiss Guard.
01:36They have been guarding the Vatican City since 1506
01:40and today would still dress in the traditional costume.
01:44These guards are Roman Catholic Swiss nationals,
01:47between 19 to 30 years old and are high school graduates.
01:52On the Tiber River, there's a Castel Sant'Angelo.
01:56It was built as a tomb for Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century.
02:01It was built over the Roman walls and has an underground passageway to the Vatican.
02:07During summer, concerts and other special events may be held there.
02:12It's a great place also just for strolling and enjoying the view by the river.
02:17For great eats, the popular ones are also within the Vatican Museums.
02:23There are cafeteria-style restaurants, a bar and pizzeria.
02:28You'll also find a courtyard with an Italian-style bar with alcoholic beverages.
02:34Meanwhile, there are more must-try treats outside the walls of the Vatican.
02:39You'll find high-end restaurants that serve sushi, fresh fish and more.
02:44Places that serve quick bites, like cheese and cold cuts, can also be found here.
02:50There are also Sicilian restaurants or Rome-based ones,
02:55each with impressive menus to choose from.
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