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| A. Vatican City Added to the list in 1984 - visited by Maarten and Annick in 2009 Vatican City is a miniature state in Italy, testimony of the enormous power of Christianity. It is only 0,5 km² big and the centre of attention is St. Peter's Basilica. The first basilica was built in 315 above Petrus' grave, but the church as seen today was built in the 16th century. Nearby you have the Vatican Palace, residence to the Pope and the Vatican museum, the Vatican library and several chapels, including the famous Sistine Chapel, decorated by Michelangelo. Own impression Annick: Vatican City may be a small state, but the Vatican Museum is endless... We walked for hours to see our main goal, the Sistine Chapel! The St. Peter's Basilica and the surrounding square are quite impressive. Inside the basilica the capture of light is fabulous, almost fairytale like. Definitely the most impressive church I've ever seen, which is quite logic since it's the centre of Christianity ;-) Maarten: I have been there twice, the first time with school wen I was 17, the second time with my wife in 2009. In 1997 we met the pope Johannes-Paulus II (I didn't wash the hand he touched for a whole day...). The grandeur and shear magnitude of both the Vatican Museum and the San Pietro is mindblowing, but I especially marvelled at the masterpieces of Raphael, Bernini, Michelangelo... |
 View from a distance. |
 Maarten at the square in front of the basilica. |
 The basilica. |
 Inside the basilica. We love the light on this pic! |
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