A must-visit church among the world’s most beautiful ones – in the country closest to God!

By MOOK Scenic Spots / Mo Fei  Photos by MOOK Scenic Spots / Mo Fei
 
A country that is the smallest in the world yet houses the largest and most beautiful church, yB is the spiritual home for one-sixth of the global population and is dubbed the nation closest to God.

Vatican City, an inland country located on the northwest highlands of Rome, the capital of Italy, is the seat of the highest authority of the Catholic Church as well as the residence of its supreme leader. It is the spiritual center for one-sixth of the world’s population and also the smallest country in terms of territory in the world.

The name “Vatican” comes from Latin, meaning “land of the prophets.” In the 4th century, Roman Emperor Constantine built the Constantinian Basilica at the site where Jesus’ disciple St. Peter was martyred, in the northwest corner of Rome, as a memorial. It was later rebuilt into today’s St. Peter’s Basilica in the 15th century.

The designer of the square was Bernini. The square is 240 meters wide, with an obelisk in the center, flanked by two fountains and semi-circular colonnades on either side. When standing in front of St. Peter’s Basilica facing the square, the imagery is like the basilica being the body of Jesus, with the colonnades as His arms, welcoming believers from all over the world.

The obelisk in the center of the square was brought back from Egypt by Roman Emperor Caligula and originally placed in the ancient circus as the turning point for chariot races. Later, when the circus was converted into St. Peter’s Basilica, the obelisk was moved to the center of the square as a testament to St. Peter’s martyrdom.