Swiss Guards serve as bodyguards to the Pope. They protect the 108-acre Vatican City and the pontifical villa of Castel Gandolfo. Roman Catholic Church employs them under the leadership of the Pope. The world’s smallest army currently stands at 135 members. Swiss Guards have protected popes for more than 500 years. …
Amsterdam Harbour is a 13th century port on the bank of a former bay known as IJ. It is the second largest port in the Netherlands, after Rotterdam. …
Santa Croce Basilica is the largest Franciscan church in the world. This is a beautiful and historic basilica. It dates back to the thirteenth century. Wealthy Florentine families funded the construction. It is a vast church and well-known for its Florentine art. …
Santa Croce Basilica – Architecture and Art TreasuresRead More »
Netherlands is a small country of 17 million people. It is famous for tulip gardens, wooden windmills, cheese, canals, millions of bicycles and fields below sea level. Here are my reflections on this remarkable country and people.
Netherlands is largely a secular country. About forty percent of the population say that they haveno religion. Thirty percent are catholic and 20% are Protestant. …
Rome has a long history behind it. Top Rome attractions comprise classical ruins, age-old places of worship and iconic fountains. Rome is a modern and vibrant city where you will come across wonderful eateries, museums and activities. The city can be overwhelming to the visitors who may not know where to go first. But there are landmarks that are almost obligatory, such as the Colosseum and Vatican Museums.
Founded by Pope Julius II in early sixteenth century, Vatican Museums is one of the largest museums in the world. Popes amassed the collection over the centuries. The museums hold 70,000 works of art, out of which 20,000 are on display. Visitors walk through 7 km of halls and corridors. At the end of the route is Sistine Chapel which contains Michelangelo’s famous fresco The Creation of Adam. …