Vatican City, Rome, Italy Jul 23, 2025

In the middle of Rome, Italy, lies an entire country of its own: Vatican City. At just 49 hectares, it"s the smallest independent nation in the world, yet its reach spans centuries and continents. Home to the pope and the spiritual centre of the Roman Catholic Church, this walled enclave is a blend of art, history and devotion. At its core stands St. Peter"s Basilica. Seen in the distance in today"s image, this Renaissance masterpiece is built over what is believed to be the tomb of Saint Peter, the first Bishop of Rome. With its soaring dome dominating the skyline, the basilica is one of the largest churches in the world. Just beyond the basilica lies St. Peter"s Square, where thousands gather for papal blessings.

© RudyBalasko/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Jul 23, 2024Methoni Castle, Messinia, Greece

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Feb 14, 2025Magellanic penguins
Nov 4, 2024Grasmere, Lake District, Cumbria, England
Sep 30, 2025Koala, Australia
Feb 7, 2025Blue hour in Trondheim, Norway
Mar 26, 2024Vinh Hy Bay, Vietnam
Apr 2, 2025Sandstone formations in the badlands near Caineville, Utah, United States
Jul 23, 2025Vatican City, Rome, Italy
Mar 2, 2024Modica, Sicily, Italy
Nov 10, 2023Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA
Dec 6, 2024Helsinki, Finland
Nov 5, 2023Playa del Silencio, Spain
Dec 19, 2023Cachoeira da Fumacinha, Bahia, Brazil
Jun 17, 2025Maritime forest in Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, United States
Sep 21, 2023Inside the Nobel Peace Centre, Oslo, Norway
Feb 8, 2024Mount Hood, Oregon, USA
Nov 11, 2024Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Jun 3, 2024Bicycles in Copenhagen, Denmark
Mar 22, 2024Blue Spring, Te Waihou Walkway, New Zealand
Sep 1, 2025Kaiserstuhl, Germany
Oct 25, 2025Martimoaapa Mire Reserve, Finland
Jul 30, 2024San Gimignano, Siena, Italy
Oct 22, 2025Belogradchik Rocks, Bulgaria
Apr 11, 2024Dragon waterfall, Venezuela
Jul 12, 2024Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, USA
Dec 15, 2023SantaPark, Lapland, Finland
Feb 17, 2024The Pragser Wildsee in the Dolomites, Italy
Jan 1, 2024Red fox
May 6, 2024Heidelberg on the river Neckar, Germany
Aug 29, 2024Castellfollit de la Roca, Catalonia, Spain
Mar 27, 2025Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Acropolis of Athens, Greece