Around the World: Part Twenty

In which I visited the world’s smallest country

17.05.2019: Tour Day 11, Country 10

The last day of our tour; we had breakfast and loaded our luggage in the new bus. We drove towards the Vatican City, the world’s smallest country. This city is enclave in the Rome city and is the home of the biggest church in the world. We were going to visit the very same church today. We entered the city around 10am; our bus was parked in the underground parking lot. We had to walk our way to the ground through the slanted pathway. We queued up at the entrance gate of the basilica. We went through the security check and our bags were screened.

St. Peter’s Square

The colossal Doric colonnades frame the trapezoidal entrance to the basilica and the massive elliptical area which precedes it. The ovate long axis, parallel to the basilica's façade, creates a pause in the sequence of forward movements that is characteristic of a Baroque monumental approach. The colonnades define the piazza. The elliptical center of the piazza, which contrasts with the trapezoidal entrance, encloses the visitor with "the maternal arms of Mother Church" in Bernini's expression. In the center of the square stands an Egyptian obelisk, 25.5 meters tall - 41 meters (135ft) including the pedestal. Two Fountains were built on its either sides.

St. Peter’s Basilica

The basilica is approached via St. Peter's Square, a forecourt in two sections, both surrounded by tall colonnades. The first space is oval and the second trapezoid. The façade of the basilica stretches across the end of the square and is approached by steps on which stand two 5.55 metres (18.2 ft) statues of the 1st-century apostles to Rome, Saints Peter (carry the keys of heaven) and Paul (carry the sword).

St. Peter's Baldachin is a large Baroque sculpted bronze canopy, technically called a ciborium or baldachin. The baldachin is at the center of the crossing, and directly under the dome of the basilica. Designed by the Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini, it was intended to mark, in a monumental way, the place of Saint Peter's tomb underneath. Under its canopy is the high altar of the basilica.

We walked back to the underground path to our bus and headed towards the Ristorante Indiano Maharajah, Via dei Serpenti, Roma. We had delicious food followed by an ice cream cornetto. We also got a snacks packet. Post lunch, we were to explore the last city on our tour list.

Read next: Around the World: Part Twenty One