How mysterious is the Vatican, the "country within a country" in Rome?

In Rome, the capital of Italy, a city full of historical sites, you can immerse yourself in the rich history and culture, and visit the mysterious "pocket-sized country" of the Vatican, which attracts countless tourists to explore. The Vatican is located on the highlands in the northwest corner of Rome, surrounded by Rome, and is known as the "country within a country." When I traveled to Rome, Italy, I visited the Vatican. As the smallest country in the world, the Vatican has a land area of only 0.44 square kilometers. It is not an exaggeration to say that the whole country is a church. This church is the famous St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, the largest Catholic church in the world and the center of Catholicism. The Holy See, headed by the Pope, is located here. It is a pilgrimage site for Catholics worldwide and the religious center for one-sixth of the world's population. Although the Vatican is small, it has an immeasurable spiritual influence. I took the subway line A from the central train station in Rome and got off at the Vatican Museum station. After walking for about 5 minutes, I arrived at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. The square is semicircular and was bustling with people. Standing in the square, I could see the whole "smallest country in the world." The Vatican has a long history, meaning "city of prophets," and its history can be traced back to the 4th century AD. At that time, the Pope built the Basilica of Constantine in memory of the martyrdom of St. Peter, a disciple of Jesus, in the northwest corner of Rome. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the church was rebuilt into St. Peter's Basilica, the most important venue for Catholic activities. After the unification of Italy in 1870, the Pope retreated to the Vatican Palace. In 1929, Italy signed a treaty with the Pope, and the Vatican was recognized as a sovereign state. St. Peter's Square in front of St. Peter's Basilica was designed by the famous architect Bernini and can accommodate 500,000 people. The border is clearly marked on the square. St. Peter's Basilica is a landmark building in the Vatican and the core area for the Pope's political and religious activities. It was first built by Emperor Constantine in 326 AD. In the 16th century, Pope Julius II rebuilt it on the original site, and it was not completed until 1626. During the construction process, many Renaissance artists, including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, participated in the design, construction, and decoration of the church, making it the most outstanding Renaissance building. St. Peter's Basilica is magnificent and exquisitely decorated. Its exterior is cross-shaped, cleverly combining Roman domes and Greek stone columns. The interior of the church is even more magnificent, with sculptures and murals that are breathtakingly beautiful. The center is a dome with a diameter of 42 meters and a height of 138 meters, with a total area of 23,000 square meters, which can accommodate up to 60,000 people at the same time. It is a treasure of European Renaissance architecture. The Vatican is triangular and consists of St. Peter's Square, St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Palace, and the Vatican Museum. In addition to the border marked by the line on St. Peter's Square, other borders are limited by ancient city walls. Every day, tourists from all over the world come to visit the Vatican, and St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museum are must-see places. It is recommended to visit St. Peter's Basilica early, as the queue is often long. The Vatican Museum, located north of St. Peter's Basilica, is also not to be missed. The museum houses many rare cultural relics and art treasures, which are a feast for the eyes.