Vatican: secrets, art and soccer balls - visit the smallest country in the world!

Welcome to the Vatican - a small state inside Rome, which is the center of the Catholic Church. This is a place where tradition and religion are combined with politics and diplomacy, as well as a certain amount of humor and unpredictability.

The first thing that comes to mind when we talk about the Vatican is, of course, the Pope. He is the head of the Catholic Church and one of the most influential and respected people in the world. But did you know that pope can have any car number he wants? Some of his predecessors chose numbers like "1" or "666", but the real Pope Francis has chosen to stay humble and drive an old Ford Focus.

Now, let's talk about the most important case of the Vatican - the choice of the pope. This event is always a global event, because the Catholic Church is one of the most influential and widespread religious organizations in the world. But it is impossible not to notice that the process of choosing a pope resembles a kind of knife ballet, where each of the cardinals is trying to spin his candidate. Once upon a time, this process was really cruel and even bloody, but now it is more or less safe (with the exception of some exceptional cases). In addition, it is worth noting that candidates for the post of pope are not proposed too often - the last elections were in 2013, and before that - in 2005. As they say, patience and work will grind everything.

In addition, the Vatican is a place where you can see many relics and shrines, some of which raise some questions. For example, the head of St. Apollinaria, which is kept in the church of Santa Maria in Domnica, looks a little scary. And here you can also see a “piece” of the crown of thorns, which, allegedly, was on the head of Jesus Christ before the crucifixion. Of course, there is a possibility that this is just a marketing ploy to attract tourists, but who knows, maybe this is true?

Another interesting artifact of the Vatican is the Holy Grail. There are many legends and theories about what the Holy Grail is. One of the most famous legends says that it was the cup used by Jesus during the Last Supper, in which He turned the wine into His blood. Other theories say it was a manna jar used during the Israelite Exodus from Egypt. In the Vatican, the Holy Grail is considered one of the most sacred and precious artifacts, which is kept in St. Peter's Basilica. But despite all the legends and theories, the exact description of what the Holy Grail is is still a mystery.

In addition, the Vatican is a place where you can find many arts and architecture that have been created over the centuries. Here you can see the works of Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci and many other famous artists. And if you don't know what to see first, then don't worry - just go to the Sistine Chapel and admire the ceiling, which was created by Michelangelo. It is said that the ceiling was so complex that the artist himself complained about having to lie on his back for many hours. So if you are ever in Rome, don't miss the chance to see this masterpiece.

The Vatican is a place where you can certainly find a lot of strange and wonderful things. For example, there is a football museum here, which was founded in 2004. Here you can see many different balls that were used in various World Cups, as well as many other things related to football. And if you don't like football, then don't worry - there are many other interesting museums in the Vatican.

Well, if you are still not convinced that the Vatican is a place worth visiting, then let's remember that there is the smallest state railway station in the world. Well, if you do not like to travel by train, then you can take a taxi and visit the smallest country in the world - the Vatican.

Jokes aside, of course, but the Vatican is a truly amazing place to visit. Here you can find a lot of history, culture, religion and art that will not leave you indifferent.