Vatican City is one of the most sacred places for Christians across the globe. It is located within Rome, Italy. Vatican is the smallest fully independent nation-state in the world. The Pope lives in the Vatican Palace. He leads the government of the Roman Catholic Church (the Holy See) as the Bishop of Rome and the Vatican has been functioning as an independent state since 1929.
The city was made an independent state so that the Pope can exercise his universal authority. Vatican City became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984. The City is home to some outstanding artistic and architectural masterpieces. At the centre of the city lies St Peter’s Basilica which is the largest religious building in the world. It has been built over the tomb of St Peter the Apostle.
Surrounded by palaces and gardens, the Basilica is a grand structure with its double colonnade and circular piazza in the front. The Basilica also has works of master architects and artists like Bramante, Bernini, Maderno, Michelangelo and Raphael.
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