Culture of Vatican City

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Entrance to Vatican Museum

Vatican City is itself of great cultural significance. Buildings such as St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel are home to some of the most famous art in the world, which includes works by artists such as Botticelli, Bernini and Michelangelo. The Vatican Library and the collections of the Vatican Museums are of the highest historical, scientific and cultural importance. In 1984, the Vatican was added by UNESCO to the List of World Heritage Sites; it is the only one to consist of an entire country.[1]

The Vatican can be said to be the de facto custodian of the Latin language through its Latinitas Foundation. An important product of this foundation is the Latin lexicon of recent neologisms, the Lexicon Recentis Latinitatis.

The permanent population of the Vatican City is predominantly male, although two communities of nuns live in the Vatican. A minority are senior Catholic clergy, some are members of institutes of consecrated life, and the Swiss Guards make up an important segment. Many workers in Vatican City and embassy personnel accredited to the Holy See live outside its walls.

Tourism and pilgrimages are an important factor in the daily life in the Vatican. The Pope has weekly public audiences and celebrates public Mass and other services, and imparts his Urbi et Orbi blessing every Easter and Christmas, and immediately following his election as Pope. For significant events with large numbers of attendees, he concelebrates open-air Mass in Saint Peter's Square.

Dress code[edit]

A dress code is enforced for entry into St. Peter's Basilica. It is based on the standard for proper dress when visiting a Catholic church, with visitors being reminded that, although St. Peter's is an architectural and artistic monument, it is foremost a place of worship.

The dress code prohibits:

  • hats on lay men inside the basilica
  • shorts/skirts above the knees[2]
  • sleeveless shirts
  • shirts which contain profanity
  • excessive jewellery

The use of mobile phones inside the basilica is also prohibited, as is smoking.

Cuisine[edit]

Pasta is popular in the Vatican, being one of Pope Francis' favorite dishes.[3]

The Vatican is a microstate, with only one restaurant, and the food there is very similar to Italian cuisine, especially Roman cuisine. Workers in the Vatican provide many customers to restaurants in the rest of Rome.

"Eggplant with Parmesan of the Swiss Guards", a mixture containing eggplant, parmesan and spices, is supposedly one distinctive dish.[4][5]

Art[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Vatican City – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". UNESCO. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
  2. ^ "The Intel". Condé Nast Traveler.
  3. ^ "Pope Francis has been told to lay off the pasta. By Italians". The Independent. 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
  4. ^ http://globaltableadventure.com/2013/10/01/about-the-food-of-vatican-city/ About the food of Vatican City
  5. ^ https://ethnicfoodsrus.com/around-the-world-recipes/smallest-countries-worldwide-cuisines/vatican-cuisine/ Vatican Cuisine
  6. ^ König, Gabriele Bartz, Eberhard (1998). Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1475–1564 (English ed.). Cologne: Könemann. ISBN 978-3-8290-0253-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)