• Norway!

    Norway: Sunnylvsfjord. Go Now!

    Norway
    Known for its natural beauty, Norway is home to isolated villages, fjords, and mountains that create a culture and landscape without compare. Begin Your Journey!

  • Vatican City!

    Vatican City: Vatican Museums. Go Now!

    Vatican City
    The smallest country in the world offers the heart of Catholicism and among the world's finest art collections, including the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms (ceiling pictured). Go to Vatican City!

  • Macedonia!

    Macedonia: Traditional architecture. Go Now!

    Macedonia
    Macedonia is a country still finding its unique identity, but its architecture is already one of a kind. Explore Macedonia!

  • Austria!

    Austria: Belvedere Palace. Go Now!

    Austria
    Belvedere Palace (pictured) is just one of many palaces found in Vienna. The capital is a good start to Austria, which also features the Alps, the Lakes District, and incredible history & food. Go Now!

  • Spain!

    Spain: Guell Park and Gaudi architecture. Go Now!

    Spain
    Fusion foods, lively music, historic ruins, and cultural events like the Running of the Bulls and La Tomatina make Spain and Barcelona (pictured) a favorite tourist destination. Explore Spain!

  • Ukraine!

    Ukraine: Traditional Village. Go Now!

    Ukraine
    Ukrainian culture is based on village life, particularly that found in the Carpathian Mountains (pictured). Begin Your Journey!

Architecture of Vatican City

Vatican Architecture - St. Peter's Square
St. Peter's Square

Vatican City is built on what is believed to be the tomb of St. Peter and in the basement of St. Peter's Basilica there are architectural remains from this ancient Roman time period, but little else remains from that time. Likewise, there are a few medieval remnants, such as the city walls and some of the towers, but much of what is visible in Vatican City today was built during the Renaissance.

Obviously, the most well-known building in Vatican City is St. Peter's Basilica (1506-1626) and this structure is considered a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture; it was built by a combination of architects, including Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (commonly known simply as Michelangelo) and Gian Lorenzo Bernini among others.

The Apostolic Palace was also begun during this time and continued on for many years (1589-1800s), giving this building a number of architectural styles, but its masterpiece is the Renaissance Sistine Chapel (1473-1481). Although the Sistine Chapel is an architectural masterpiece, it is best known for its famous frescos by Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, and the most famous painting, the Last Judgement painted by Michelangelo on the chapel's ceiling.

Throughout the rest of this small country are numerous other buildings in a number of architectural styles, but most of the city was built during the Renaissance and the buildings are in this style, including the Vatican Libraries. Of the buildings that are not in the Renaissance, or earlier styles, many are Baroque, including the colonnade in St. Peter's Square.

This page was last updated: October, 2013