Vatican+City

=__**The Vatican City**__= The Vatican city is home to the pope and many other religious monuments. Including the Fountain of the Eagles, The fountain of Saint Peter, and the Sistine Chapel (all listed below). You'll learn about how to dress while your there, how much money it'll take to get there from 3 popular cities. You'll get your stomach to growl from the pictures of delicious food, and learn all about the Vatican Euro. So just relax and enjoy the description of this great city. toc

__**Transportation**__
After flying to Rome, Italy airport take a taxi (or other means of land travel) NW on Via Appla Nouva till you hit, then head west on A90 or E80, after a while it will head north, exit off of Via Aurella and head east you should enter the city after a few minutes. Then head down Via Aurelia Antica keep going straight down Via di Torre Rossa then take a right on to Via Gregorio VII
 * Airline, departure city, price, time, distance**
 * Mix & Match || Minneapolis || $1,075 || 15 hours 10 min. || 5096 miles ||
 * Mix & Match || Boston || $1,172 || 12 hours 10 min || 4471 miles ||
 * Mix & Match || San Francisco || $1,135 || 15 hours 40 min. || 6852 miles ||

**Fountain of the Eagles**
  Here one can meander down a myriad of paths leading to dozens of fountains: which include the Fountains: “del Laghetto” (of the little lake), “della Vela” (of the sail), “delle Aquile” (of the eagles), “della Croce Greca” (of the Greek Cross), “del Candelabro” (of the candlestick), “della Capanna cinese” (of the Chinese hut), “dei Rospi” (of the toads), “dei cinque Zampilli” (of the five spurts). The fountains number 97 in all, including that majestic age-old Fountain “dell’Aquilone” (of the eagle) designed by Vasanzio at the request of Pope Paul V (Camillo Borghese, 1605-1621). With its great mass of water gushing forth during the summer, it offers visitors a light respite from heat.

**Monument to Saint Peter**
Beyond this cliff, higher up the slope, is the geographical centre of the Vatican State. Close by in the shadow of the Basilica stands a monument to Saint Peter. As a matter of interest this monument previously stood in the courtyard of the Vatican Museums and was originally destined to end up on Rome’s Janiculum hill in commemoration of the First Vatican Council.

[[image:worldgeographyprojectspring2012/PiazzaSPietro_dettaglio.jpg align="right" caption="Saint Peter's Square"]]**Saint Peter's Square**
Designed and built by Bernini between 1656 and 1667, during the pontificate of Alexander VII (1655-1667), the square is made up of two different areas. The first has a trapezoid shape, marked off by two straight closed and convergent arms on each side of the church square. The second area is elliptical and is surrounded by the two hemicycles of a four-row colonnade, because, as Bernini said, “considering that Saint Peter’s is almost the matrix of all the churches, its portico had to give an open-armed, maternal welcome to all Catholics, confirming their faith; to heretics, reconciling them with the Church; and to the infidels, enlightening them about the true faith.” Bernini had in fact designed a three-armed portico, but after Alexander VII’s death, construction of the portico was halted, and the third arm was never built. It would have enclosed the whole building and separated the ellipse from the “Borgo” quarter, thus creating a “surprise effect” for the pilgrim who suddenly found himself in the square. This effect was somewhat achieved by the buildings surrounding the square, the so-called “Spina di Borgo”, which naturally “closed in” the square. In 1950, Via della Conciliazione, a new, wide street leading to the Vatican Basilica, was opened. It amplifies the majestic view of Saint Peter’s dome, but it also profoundly modified Bernini’s original plan. The measurements of the square are impressive: it is 320 m deep, its diameter is 240 m and it is surrounded by 284 columns, set out in rows of four, and 88 pilasters. Around the year 1670, Bernini’s pupils built 140 statues of saints, 3.20 m high along the balustrade above the columns. On either side of the obelisk, which was moved to the middle of the square by Domenico Fontana in 1585, are two great fountains built by Bernini (1675) and Maderno (1614). Below, at the foot of the staircase in front of the basilica, the statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul seem to welcome visitors.

1 of the most popular attractions would be the sistine chapel. You would see a lot of art and feel a connection to the history of chriatianity. You could get a walk in tour with a max group number of 20. The tour would last 3 hours and if you needed to after the tour you end up really close to the post office. > uide clearly
 * Attraction of Choice = Sistine Chapel**
 * Here are some of the other features of the tour:**
 * Skip the line with a guided walking tour inside the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica
 * Includes Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel with magnificent Last Judgment and Creation of Adam frescoes
 * Expert English-speaking guide, plus audio headsets so you're guaranteed to hear the g

**Best Western Hotel**
Approximately 200€ for 2 nights. Via Mocenigo, 7, Roma, I-00192, IT Phone: +39 06 3972 0948

**__Currency__**
Vatican City uses the Vatican Euro with is equal to 1.4 U.S. dollars. All the Vatican Euro coins, this show a portrait of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, facing left. The currency was the Vatican Lira (John Paul II facing the right) until the new pope was in elected into office, the coin was changed to the vatican euro. The coin changes everytime a new pope is elected. As of May 2003, €1 = $1.0977 (or $1 = €0.911).

__**Food**__
Pizza, Pasta, Suppli I know what you’re thinking it all sounds like Italian food, that’s because it is. Vatican City is actually inside of Italy. Also another thing I bet your wondering what is suppli. It's actually vegi's and meat coated in bread crumbs and then deep fried. The other 2 are pretty much self explanitory.

**__Weather/Climate__**
The average climate for Vatican City is temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September). January average 7° C (45° F ); in July, 24° C (75° F ). There is very little rain in the summers, but they get a lot of rain in October and November.

**__Other Elements__**
The dress code for Vatican City for men is you have to wear pants (no shorts) and shirts that cover the shoulders (no tank tops). For women it is far stricter than it is for men. You must wear long skirts that cover the ankles and the shirts have to have mid-long sleeves, also they are not allowed to wear pants, hats are optional for everyone.

[] [] [] [|http://www.viator.com/tours/Rome...] [] [] [] [] [] [] [|http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/IT/Roma...]
 * __Sources__**