In Vatican City, home of the Pope and the world’s smallest independent state, faithful from all over the world come to hear the Holy Father, visit St. Peter’s Square and admire the magnificent work created by Bernini. Small as it is, it holds precious and rare treasures and monuments such as St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums.

Founded by Pope Julius II in the early 16th century, the Museums contain, in addition to the rooms of the Vatican Palaces and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, one of the largest art collections in the world. In addition to Egyptian and Etruscan artifacts, there are works by Caravaggio, Raphael, Giotto, and Leonardo da Vinci in the Pinacoteca. Also housed there is a collection of modern religious art with works by Van Gogh, Matisse, Dali, Kandinsky and other impressionists.

It originated as a sepulchre wanted by Emperor Hadrian in a suburban area of ancient Rome, but in about 403 A.D. it became a full-fledged castle to defend the city. In 1367, after being handed over to Pope Urban V, it became a refuge for the Pontiffs and the Vatican Archives and Treasury are housed inside. Castel Sant’Angelo can be visited by various thematic routes, including a visit to the papal apartments.