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Home to less than a thousand permanent residents, the Vatican is an astonishing amalgamation of art, religion, and power. Its political and religious leadership is vested in the Pope, who rules within vast walls steeped in centuries of tumultuous history. The Vatican features an impressive array of cultural artifacts and is renowned for the Vatican Museums, where visitors can marvel at Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and Raphael's masterpieces.
Visitors ascending the steps to the dome of St. Peter's Basilica are treated to breathtaking views over both the Vatican and the sprawling city of Rome, an experience of profound historical and spiritual importance.