The Vatican & Museums

The Vatican is considered it own state, separate from Italy, and is controlled by the pope through his temporal powers over the land. Upon entering the Piazza in front of Saint Peters Basillica, Saint Peters square, you'll notice the grandiose nature of the architecture that surrounds it. The piazza is in the form of an oval, similar to that of the Piazza in front of the Campidolio, and the landscaping of the Piazza dips lower in the center, while the architecture is higher up on the slight hill. This use of landscape is what makes the architecture feel grander or taller than it really is. In the Piazza there is also a circle which indicates a place for you to stand and admire the symmetry and geometry of the pillars in front of you. In this spot the pillars behind the inner pillars are hidden, giving the false allusion that the inner line of pillars are solely holding the stone work above them. This is something that Bernini, the architect, prided himself on. The stair wells that are on the inner parts of the pillars also give an illusion as the stair well follows the shape of the hill, making it seem as though it goes on longer than is really does. Something else to notice about the square is that it is decorated with the many sculptures of past popes, and more famously the first pope, Peter, who was crucified with the cross being placed upside down as he did not feel worthy of being crucified in the way that Christ was.

Fun fact you can identify when something is commissioned by the pope if the keys and popes crown are added onto the family crest of the pope.