Vatican City | |||||||
The Vatican City is an ecclesiastical or sacerdotal-monarchical[12] state (a type of theocracy) ruled by the pope who is the bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church. The highest state functionaries are all Catholic clergy of various national origins. Since the return of the popes from Avignon in 1377, they have generally resided at the Apostolic Palace within what is now Vatican City, although at times residing instead in the Quirinal Palace in Rome or elsewhere. Within the Vatican City are religious and cultural sites such as St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums. They feature some of the world’s most famous paintings and sculptures. The unique economy of Vatican City is supported financially by the sale of postage stamps and souvenirs, fees for admission to museums, and sales of publications. |
Exchange Rate: US$ to €1 Euro | $1 USD = 0.93 €1 Euro | |||||
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Holy See & the Vatican City
Vatican City is an independent walled-off city within Rome that is about 110 acres and has a population in the 800s. Itis an “ecclesiastical” state ruled by the head of the Catholic Church-The Pope. We decided to take a 3-hour tour, to skip the huge lines that form, of the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica.