10 interesting things about the Vatican

Visitors to Italy cannot ignore Rome and once they come to Rome they will definitely visit the Vatican - the smallest and most peaceful country on the planet.

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1. The Vatican is the smallest country in the world

Located in the heart of Italy with a borderline of 2 miles (3.2 km), Vatican City State, Italian is Stato della Città del Vaticano or often called the Vatican covers an area of ​​44 ha (only 1/8 of the central park). mind in New York, USA). The Vatican, headed by the pope's political regime (Pope), is the only tyrannical king in Europe, holding the highest legislative, executive and judicial powers.

The Vatican currency is the Euro, the country has its own stamp, passport, license plate, national flag and national anthem. One point that this government does not have is the tax system. Ticket sales, stamps and souvenirs and contributions from many organizations are the Vatican's source of income.

2. Saint Peter's Church is on an ancient cemetery

Vatican with St. Peter's Square viewed from above.(Photo: womenofgrace.com)

Formerly, Roman graveyard was located on the Vatican hill. When a massive fire flattened the city in 64 AD, Emperor Nero sought to "borrow the wind and break the bamboo" and put all Christians on the charge of causing the fire. He executed them by burning them on a pillar, ripping them off by monsters and crucifying them. Among them is Saint Peter who heads the apostolic group of Jesus and is also the first Roman bishop. His body is said to be buried in the Vatican hill.

In the 4th century, Christianity was legally recognized in Rome, Emperor Constantine began to build churches on the ancient tomb and St. Peter's resting place is believed to be in the middle of the building. The current church started construction in the 1500s.

3. The stone tower in the middle of St. Peter's Square was brought back by Emperor Cligula

During the reign, the Roman emperor Caligula built a roundabout in his mother's garden right at the foot of the Vatican hill. He used this place to train militants and it was believed that Christian followers were executed here. In order to decorate the square, Caligula brought the army back from Egypt with a monument built in Helioplis.

This tower is made of monolithic red granite weighing more than 350 tons, erected under Egyptian Pharaohs over 3,000 years ago. In 1586, it was brought to St. Peter's Square for decoration purposes and also created a giant sundial.

The main tower was in the middle of the square brought by Emperor Cligula.(Photo wpr.org)

4. About 60 years in the 19th century, the popes refused to leave the Vatican

When the Vatican was also a state in the Italian territory called the Papal States, the popes refused to admit the Vatican existed under Italian management. Pope Pius IX (March 13, 1792 - February 7, 1878, dynasty: 1846 - 1878) once declared him a "Vatican prisoner". Within 60 years the pope refused to leave the Vatican and recognize the power of the Italian government. When the Italian army was at St. Peter's Square, the pope did not appear on the balcony and refused to pray for them.

5. Benito Mussolini signed the document recognizing the independence of Vatican City

The dispute between the Italian government and the Catholic Church ended in 1929 with the Lateran Pacts agreement, allowing the Vatican to exist and be independent of the 93 million USD spent on the Papal States (today equivalent to 1 billion USD). ). Vatican used this money as a basis for the national treasury. Mussolini, the head of the Italian government, signed a treaty on behalf of King Victor Emmanuel III.

6. The popes did not live in the Vatican until the 14th century

Although St. Peter's Church was completed, the popes still live mainly in Rome's Lateran Palace. They even left the city together to Avignon, France in 1309 when King Philip IV arranged for a French bishop to be chosen as a pope. The 7 popes, all of whom were French leaders from Avignon and they did not return to Rome until 1377, the time when the Lateran palace was burnt and the Vatican began to be used as the residence of the Pope.

Many repairs have been carried out by the Vatican's architectural infrastructure which has fallen into a state of serious deterioration, wolves dig up corpses in the cemetery, and cows roam around the church.

7. Swiss soldiers are hired as national military forces

When you arrive at the Vatican, visitors can easily see 'The Swiss Guard' - Swiss guards. In colorful Renaissance-style clothes, they began to defend the pope since 1506. That was when Pope Julius II came to power, following many people in Europe, hiring a Swiss army to ensure safety.

This army frequently went on patrol and guarded the Vatican city. They are well-trained, powerful, disciplined and marksman. Of course, the team members are all Swiss.

The Swiss Guards have defended the Vatican and the pope since 1506. (Photo: dogsqueen.pixnet.net)

8. Many times in Vatican history, the popes are taken out of the city by secret passage

In 1277, the Passetto di Borgo route was built to connect the Vatican with Castel Sant'Angelo located on the banks of the Tiber River. It is used as an escape route for the pope.

Typically in 1527, Pope Clement VII was safe after being taken out of the Vatican when Rome's city was threatened by Charles V.'s army. They frantically killed the fathers and nuns in the city, the guards Switzerland had fought long enough for the pope and some monks to follow the secret path to Castel Sant'Angelo but there were also 147 priests killed in this persecution.

9. Most Vatican residents live abroad

In 2011, the Vatican population was 594 and the latest figures in 2013, the Vatican had 839 people. Many citizens have Vatican citizenship but they live abroad (actually in Rome, Italy). In addition to the Swiss army of more than 100 members, the largest community in the Vatican is the priests from all over the world to live and study here.

10. Vatican astronomical agency owns a telescope in Arizona (USA)

When Rome evolved into a bustling city, the light in the city made astronomers of the smallest country in the planet unable to observe the constellations clearly. Vatican Observatory is located 15 miles from the city center at Castel Gdandolfo.

In 1981, the Vatican placed another research center in Tucson and equipped a modern telescope on Graham's top, southeastern Arizona, USA.

The Vatican has even more interesting things waiting for you to discover with St. Peter's church filled with real art works, a library of Vatican catholic books, or simply standing in the middle of St. Peter's Square. Maybe you will see Pope Francis waving to everyone from the balcony.