VATICAN CITY

ITALY

By Alejandro Puñal
 THE SMALLEST CITY IN
EUROPE
 Vatican City, a city-state located within Rome, Italy, is the
headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. It is the home of the
Pope and is a treasure trove of iconic architecture and art. Its
Vatican Museums contain ancient Roman sculptures, such as the
famous "Laocoön and his sons", along with Renaissance frescoes in
the Raphael Rooms and in the Sistine Chapel, famous for the ceiling
painted by Michelangelo.
PLACES TO VISIT IN THE VATICANO IN ONE DAY

 St. Pedro's Square

 Basilica San Pedro, one of the most beautiful places to see in the Vatican
 Dome of Saint Pedro's Basilica
 Vatican Necropolis and the tomb of Saint Pedro
 Tombs of the Popes, the most curious thing to see in the Vatican
 Vatican Gardens and Vatican museums
WHAT DO YOU BUY IN THE VATICAN?

 The usual holy items like the rosary, bible, and prayer books, but Vatican City also has
bottles of holy water, engraved marble tablets, and even Pope Francis' favorite socks.
 In the Vatican there are several gift shops. There are two in St. Peter's Square - (since you
are standing in St. Peter's Square - facing the Basilica) one is on the right hand side under
the colonnade (just past the security entrance), and the other it is on the left hand side
(connected to the post office)
WHAT DO YOU EAT IN THE VATICAN?

 Among the different recipes and dishes that are attributed to the gastronomy of
the Vatican are, from the rosewater marzipan of the Middle Ages, the robust diet
of the "sanitatis regimen" of the classical era, to flower salads, stuffed pasta elver,
rice and pasta with seafood, different sausages
 Restaurant Papa Rex, Alice Pizza Via delle Grazie and Scialla The Original
Street Food are the best places to eat with your family or with friends.
 POLITICAL ORGANIZATION

 The form of government of the Vatican State is the absolute monarchy. Interestingly, its
'king', the Pope, is elected by suffrage, but limited. Only cardinals under the age of 80 can
vote. The Head of State is the Supreme Pontiff, the Pope, who has full legislative,
executive and judicial powers.
 The Pope exercises spiritual direction over the Catholic Church and temporal sovereignty
over the State - Vatican City, and is elected by a College of Cardinals, coming from all the
continents gathered in the assembly of the Conclave