American reacts to Europe's TINIEST Country

[@zool84]

Vatican city of course, but Rome in general is a museum in open air. Wherever your eyes go, there is something beautiful to look at.

[@davehunt5847]

That was exactly my friends comment when we went to Rome 'The whole city is a giant open air museum!'

[@andy70d35]

Agree, been there twice, amazing history, just wish I could spend more time there.

[@kenlee1416]

Just wish the tourists, especially the young/younger ones wouldn't dump their rubbish everywhere in Rome. I happened to look into the drain in front of the Pantheon and it was full of litter. Even the Vatican is not spared from being marred by this horrendous behaviour.

[@RuiCBGLima]

Rome in general is such an extreme museum that even old factories and abandoned industrial sites look like part of ancient ruins, some with green taking over. Rome is not an emotional city but and emotive one, where everything is always dying and being rebirthed, and where everything from buildings to vegetation seam to be organically connected, to a point that you don´t know what is a ruin, an historical site, a home, a museum, an abandoned home, a park, or everything together.

[@X37V_Freecazoid]

Every rock is part of history

[@christinal.2138]

All countries in Europe, even the smallest ones, have such a rich history, beautiful architecture, unique culture and it's just so beautiful.

[@erosgritti5171]

All the nations of the world have these things. American museums are among the largest in the world

[@edgarmaestre6622]

​@@erosgritti5171precisely, the diference is that America have those Things in museums, meanvhile in Europe this Things are evereywere in our landscape

[@christinal.2138]

@@erosgritti5171 Who cares how large the museums are lmao? Here in Greece, when you step outside of your house, every building, every street, every church, every museum, every monument, anywhere that you step is just full of history, and that's just something that the US doesn't have, at least not to that extent. That's because, relatively speaking, the US is a very young country. We have houses here that are older than your country.

[@Nookiezilla]

@@erosgritti5171 Museums, lol.

[@mariatheresavonhabsburg]

​@@erosgritti5171 Contrary to your beliefs, larger doesn't mean better.

[@clelia7820]

Sorry, but I can't imagine how even an American doesn't know that the Vatican is a state and that the Pope, for centuries and centuries, was the most powerful political authority in the world and that kings and emperors depended on him. Does anyone even explain to you why you became "Protestant"?

[@Bezimienny1598]

I know riight? Add to that how crazy fanatic Americans are about their religion and this kind of ignorance gets honestly baffling.

[@chrisgroves6977]

Lol It surprised me to

[@mareiketje4899]

"How uneducated can one be?" Ryan: "Yes!"

[@patrickw123]

probably because he's not Catholic. Rural Indiana where I think he lives is very evangelical Protestant and most people don't know much about other religions, or even care to know.

[@clelia7820]

@@patrickw123 But, in fact, the video does not talk about religion and I don't talk about it either. I am formally Catholic, but I only set foot in a church if someone had a religious wedding... or to see some beautiful church around the world. We are talking, as always, about basic general culture. And, also, general information about current world events. Or even of the main events in world history that, rarely and only in the last two centuries, have not heavily involved the Vatican.

[@TallisKeeton]

I love how in the centre of "The school of Athenes" we see Plato pointing up, to heaven, to the world of ideas, and Aristotle pointing down to material world, to analize of material existence, which actualy is kind of shortcut description of the impact of their philosophies on western culture.

[@prefono]

"it has so much history for such a small country". Really? Heck... Rome was the capital of the known world for almost 2000 years! This is only a small part of the beauties it contains, even if it is perhaps the part that takes your breath away the most.

[@Londronable]

Been there and yea, there's so much art that in those halls of tappastries you're just going "yep, nice, next." because if you go slow you're never getting out. It's A LOT of stuff.

[@travelwithrado]

I would say the whole of Italy is a museum. Whenever you go even to the smallest town you see artifacts from Etruscan times through the Medieval and Renaissance period. The Vatican is just the finest part of this wonderful world. I am saying that because I saw it, I travel through Italian land and history.

[@lileyzei6489]

You should generally react more to Italy! An absolutely beautiful country with a rich history

[@cerliezio]

What do most Americans (United Staters) know about ihstory? and most important is what do they care? The US is a cultural wasteland. I said US and not America because thank God te rest of America is not like that.

[@graziellaacquarola7450]

Beleive me when I say that the video doesn't give it justice...Rome is an entire museum

[@morthasa]

1:08 Swiss guard aside (and aside the fact that you'd have to physically cut your way through Italy to get to the Vatican, *AND* you'd have a *lot* of other countries mad at you), the Vatican is said to have one of the best intelligence services in the world. 8:09 - This is actually a sad truth. A *huge* fraction (85-90%) of art in Italy and the Vatican is stored in museums' warehouses and deposits because there is just too much to display (and it would be against the law to sell it off to collectors)

[@victorcapel2755]

I've been there twice, love it. It's so beautiful, even to a non-beliver like me. My favorite place to visit, tied with Alhambra in Southern Spain. And as many others have pointed out, "The Eternal City" (Rome) itself is well worth a visit or two.

[@ralphbuurman4489]

Vatican City is amazing! In fact Rome is just magical. If you're talking about a truly historically significant place on Earth, then Rome is one of them!

[@derekardito2032]

I defy anyone to claim any city is more beautiful than Rome, it really is the eternal city, Italy could never become bankrupt, no one could ever afford all the artefact in Italy if they were ever to be sold off. When one thinks what some daft American paid for London bridge , ( and he was stupid enough to think he was buying Tower bridge, just imagine what one 2000 + year old pile of bricks would fetch.

[@pawemalz9774]

@@derekardito2032 only one that I've visited twice and one to visit third time. I've been to many magnificent cities, small ones and bigger ones but only Rome is one they I know that there is still plenty to see, even after spending there two weeks. Yes, you need at least two weeks to see miracles of this city. In most of the tourist destinations three days is enough.

[@MoreThanaPint]

He didn't show the most beautiful masterpiece in Vatican: Michelangelo's Cappella Sistina

[@boesvig2258]

I was just there on vacation! 🇮🇹😊🇩🇰 The sheer scale of St. Peter's Basilica is astounding. Even when you’re there you kinda have to look at other visitors standing next to things before your brain goes "oh, THAT'S how big it is!" 😄Even Bernini's canopy looks to be of relatively modest size, but it’s nearly 30m (~100ft) tall! I really hope I get to visit Rome again. It’s a fantastic city.

[@tinalettieri]

My Mom took me to Europe when I was 12. We saw Westminister first but when we got to St. Peter's my head exploded. Even to my 12 year old eyes, there was no comparison.

[@karenclover4948]

Stepping into St.Peters basilica was such an extraordinary experience, the beauty and splendour was truly breathtaking. Even if you don't have faith, the majesty is undeniable

[@DriZinho]

I've been there last week and oh boy, that basilica is huge ! The Vatican is gorgious and historically rich, Rome too. Definitly a place to go at least once in your life but be aware, you'll need good shoes :)

[@Ali-ew3oe]

I live 15 minutes drive from Vatican city. I've been there many times and it's always amazing. Every time I have friends coming in Rome, I bring them in St. Peter's basilic. Even if they think they know what to expect, even when they have done some research or thoroughly studied art... they just don't! I have a lot of fun looking at their shocked expressions when they realize that videos and pictures can't even scratch the surface of how solemn, rich, imposing and astonishing it is. An then I finish them with some of the best (and fairly cheap) restaurants in the word 😂 BTW.. most of Vatican City is actually covered by gardens and not by the museum, which is still incredibly big and packed, but far from being the biggest in the world (that would be the Louvre in Paris, which I love very much and also contains a lot of Italian art 😁)

[@soniap5695]

I've had the pleasure of visiting. I'm a Christian, but I think the Vatican is one of those places that everyone should visit once in their lifetime, regardless of whether they believe in God or not. Art lovers visit the Vatican and Rome

[@Dafoodmaster]

Look into San Marino, Andorra, Liechtenstein and Monaco

[@nelliaandreou3173]

Cyprus?

[@Dafoodmaster]

Also a fun and very interesting suggestion, yes! Lot of history in Cyprus

[@NB-or8rs]

@@nelliaandreou3173 cyprus is rather large compared to the countries named in this comment.

[@Dafoodmaster]

@@NB-or8rs yes, but still an interesting edgecase in europe i'd say

[@nelliaandreou3173]

@@NB-or8rs but cyprus is also small

[@MrsStrawhatberry]

Hey Ryan, as a Swiss I think it'd be cool if you reacted to the Swiss guard, the ones in the colourful robes you called "court jester". It's not easy to get into the guard and they are also citizens of the Vatican as well as of Switzerland. The citizenship of the Vatican is a temporary one too, it is really quite interesting. Also they don't have tax and some other amenities.

[@claudiograssi1037]

And they are really soldiers, not only for the photos of the tourists.

[@iTube22100]

👍👍 Uniforms designed by Michelangelo.

[@briciola.bixiofabrizio5935]

The Swiss Guards are the oldest standing corps in the world to still be in service for more than five centuries without interruption. In Italy they are the most respected On the other hand, since childhood, the Swiss are considered Perfection for Italians

[@enemde3025]

I am amazed that you didn't know that the POPE lives in the VATICAN !!

[@johanesgo8096]

Hahahahahaha

[@StefanoMauri-l4w]

He is very ignorant. Typical american

[@maxschon7709]

People tend to forget that also several churches outside of the Vatican City belong to the Vatican and the Castell Gandolfo the summer resitence where the old pope Benedict was living belong to the Vatican too.

[@alessandrom7181]

All Chatholic churches in the world belong to Vatican.

[@brigidsingleton1596]

I visited Rome, including St Peter's, with my school when I was in my 3rd year (I was 13 years old at the time. We were in Rome forr 8 days and had 2 days travelling there and back, from London, to Dover, then a, ferry to Calais, then through France and Switzerland into Milan by train then from Milan to Rome by coach. Plus a day trip by coach to a seaside town (I don't know it's name but it had hot hot hot black sandy beaches) I had a fabulous time and loved being there. I have never been abroad since then (and I am now 70) as my first husband did not like spending money so in eight years of marriage we had one holiday in Weston Super Mare in the UK. My second husband was too scared to fly so in four years together we had six holidays in Great Yarmouth, East Anglia, UK. Which were fine I hope you and your family get to travel, Ryan because it's too sad to look back on a life less travelled and full of regrets Take care. Be safe. Be happy. 😆❤️

[@ezioauditore1522]

The seaside place near Rome with the black beach should be Ladispoli. I was there.

[@Alek4275]

I think that Saint Peters basilic is the most overwhelming building I've ever seen. Photos can't even scratch the surface of the splendor of both it's interior and exterior and if you are in Rome you need to dedicate at least one full day to exploring the vatican city turistical areas. After all, Rome has been the capital of an empire for 1000 years and after that became the most important religious beacon for many people. The Vatican is the place where some of all these millennia arts and riches are gathered.

[@itsmebatman]

Rome has been largely unscathed by war/destruction for 1500 years. Also the church collected church taxes from most of Europe for the same time, so they had a lot of money to spend on this great art collection. But it is not the only place with a rich history. Many Italian cities have amazing stuff. If you ever visit Euope I suggest you look around that country. It is wonderful.

[@sagittariusa9012]

Over 1500 years? In the last 1500 years there were 4 "sack of Rome" happening. Can't imagine there were no collateral Damage done.

[@giulianopisciottano8302]

​@@sagittariusa9012the sacks of Rome were when the empire fell so 1700 years ago

[@sagittariusa9012]

@@giulianopisciottano8302 There were 8 (documented) sack of Rome. In the year 390BC, 410, 455, 472, 546, 549-550, 1084 and 1527.

[@nswinoz3302]

I remember arriving in the Vatican City for a limit number tour with my wife, her best friend and our two grown up kids. We walked across ROME from the other side of town and when the very lovely Italian lady confirmed where we had walked from just stated “Your NOT Americans then! It was funny that her enquiring about Oz and if the wildlife is as bad as some people make out was real. When I assisted with clearing that up which appeared horrify her even more. She explained that she had great difficulty in memorising all the building dimensions is Yards/Feet as she knew these in Metres at which time we advised her Australia had been Metric since the early 70’s. An apology was given for the assumption at which time we assured her we were ALL capable of converting these dimensions in our heads from one to the other! And spectacular does not need measurements really.

[@MichaEl-rh1kv]

The Vatican has a military: The Swiss Guard. Their parade uniform (during certain ceremonies complete with a Flamberge sword) is from the 16th century, when all elite troops wore the colors of their sovereign or their unit as uniform. But let this not deceive you: They include anti-terrorist units, use the same SIG SG 550 assault rifle as the Swiss Army and the H&K MP5 submachine gun and got their very own ammunition types (like 12.7mm Remington Papal or 12.8 mm Pontifico or 12.8*45 Remington Vatican).

[@nicoladc89]

The Swiss Guard are mercenaries at the Pope service, they aren't the Vatican army or so, they basically are the Guard of honor of the Pope. Vatican city has no more an army since 1970 when the Pope Paulus VI abolished it. The only thing that Vatican City has, is the Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City and the Italian cooperation of course.

[@carlogambacurta548]

Well they have also the gendarmeria.pnce they hD the nobilita italian an foreign of old aristocrats.theu were not paid but they had no utility no use at all.the nobilita guarda has been dissolve i think.

[@robynmurray7421]

What this does not tell you is that the marble that adorns the Vatican City was stripped from Roman mansions, the ruins of which can be seen not far away. Modern movies depict Roman homes as unadorned stone, as the relics now appear, but in fact many were ornately decorated in the marble that now adorns Vatican City. Let's not even talk about how the popes acquired some of those art treasures, though to be fair they did patronise great artists such as Michaelangelo - the Renaissance equivalent of sponsorship.

[@E85stattElektro]

How can you not know the vatican?

[@ms-mn5mz]

Cause he is an american.He knows beer,gun and bbq.

[@BabbleBebble]

It's not so surprising, neither all the people in Italy know Vatican State so well and probably some of they just heard about it but never visited it yet...

[@v.almeida7924]

@E85stattElektro "How can you not know the vatican?" Because is he american? 😞

[@clelia7820]

@@BabbleBebble What are you talking about?! 😂Even the last unlikely illiterate person in the most remote Italian countryside knows very well what the Vatican State is!

[@BabbleBebble]

@@clelia7820 Very well??

[@LizzieJaneBennet]

I was only 12 when I visited Rome and the Vatican, but Michelangelo's Pietà gave me tears 🥺. So much beauty, sadness and lightness extracted by this genious artist from the hardest marble ! And Mary seems so young !

[@briciola.bixiofabrizio5935]

Yes, you are right, I avoid getting close to it. In front of Pieta' one feels Human and Fragile en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stendhal_syndrome#:~:text=Stendhal%20syndrome%2C%20Stendhal'

[@bjb123ch]

I've been there a few times, it is truly spectacular. Fun fact....Michaelangelo's Pieta was the only work he ever signed. He went back to sign it after overhearing someone attribute it to some other artist.

[@tinalettieri]

they actually shipped it to NY for the 1964 World's fair. They had it behind bullet proof glass and you got on a people mover to view it. Much better in person but some crazy attacked it with a hammer a number of years ago, breaking Mary's nose so I think it's now protected in St. Peter's too but you can get pretty close anyway.

[@turtleflip5631]

Love how your first thought was "What about the military?" :D

[@cerliezio]

American mindset. Take away wars from them and they have nothing left

[@StephenSilverbeard]

Other odd statistics about the Vatican city is the zero birth rate, this is due to it having no hospitals and it has no poverty.

[@Gazmeizster_Wongatron]

St Peter's Basilica is truly a sight to behold in person, and this is coming from someone who is not religious at all. I was literally blown away by the grandeur and scale of it all. The Vatican Museum I would give a miss unless you do one of the private tours. Being herded along in a suffocating one-way system like cattle and literally having no way out until you reach the end is something I wouldn't want to repeat, and certainly not something I would recommend for anyone with a medical condition or travelling with young children. Heaven forbid if a stampede ever broke out in the event of a fire - it would be impossible to escape!

[@deborahconner2006]

Absolutely agree but I did enjoy the museum as well

[@enricam.7561]

Last time I was at the Vatican Museum I organized a treasure hunt for my youngest (who was six at the time), obviously you must prepare beforehand, but it can be a wonderful experience also for children.

[@pawemalz9774]

To many people, to many magnificinet work of art, to little space. But experience is breathtaking, I've been twice, and I still want to visit it. Only Louvre and British Museum can be compared with it. Event such galleries like Prado od NYC Metropolitan, truly magnificent, ale a class below.

[@nickmasuen1859]

Using the word 'City' is not a mistake, the Vatican is a City State just like what many main cities in Greece once where, during Ancient times, before they all came together and formed the country that we know today.

[@cerliezio]

Think most americans would know that?

[@eurorpeen]

Do not underestimate Swiss Guards. They are all selected from Swiss Army Officers Corps and their weaponry is very much modern

[@Carol_65]

We were there a few years ago during Easter. We saw the Pope deliver his Urbi et Orbi blessing outside of St. Peter‘s Basilica. Beautiful place.

[@strubbleler]

hey Ryan! i've visited Rome and the Vatican city with some friends during Corona, with loose restrictions, we went out of our hotel during the night to see the city. it had just rained and all the bricks were reflecting the lit-up buildings and there were zero people on the streets! apart from the homeless people and me and my friends, there was absolutely no soul in the Vatican City, a sight to be hold, more wonderous looking than with 1000's of tourists any day of the week! it will likely never happen again where i'll see the beauty of empty streets, unless another (hope not) pandemic hits, i think!

[@joannajaworska0000]

Ryan with all do the respect...how come you don't know the basic informations about the Pope and the Vatican state? Even non catholics in different parts of the world know the Pope as a political figure, just like catholics know who Dalajlama is.

[@kikiw1004]

Fun fact: in Germany, the name translates to Vatican state

[@scoobysnacks]

Vatical City is amazing. Oddly enough I was underwhelmed by the Sistine Chapel. Not sure what I was expecting but I thought it would me much more grand than it was. But the architecture, the tapestries, the sculptures, the mosaics, etc. are amazing.

[@tinalettieri]

I hate what they did in the restoration. They lost a lot of detail and subtlety that Michelangely painted in.

[@tinalettieri]

The military is the Swiss Guard force, kept at 500 and they are tough, despite the ceremonial costumes from the 16th century. When not on duty in the public spaces, they wear normal military uniforms. They are chosen from Swiss Army recruits. They must not be married at the time, be devout Catholics but are also elite soldiers trained in all aspects of modern warfare.

[@ebbhead20]

Anyone on here that didn't know all this at 12 years old? Nothing here was new to me. 🤔

[@rudra7387]

If you think that no one sculpts at those levels anymore, I would ask you to take a look, for example, at the works of one of my countrymen (from Lazio, Italy), a talented young man who exhibits all over the world, the sculptor Jago. Very iconic is the work: "the veiled son", which is inspired by the "veiled Christ" by Giuseppe Sanmartino

[@IamOllytech]

I visited there and proposed to my now wife that evening on our hotel balcony.

[@Krokmaniak]

Been there. If you ever get a chance it's really worth visiting

[@Leon-cm4uk]

Your videos/reactions to other videos are so entertaining to watch 😍 Greetings from Germany 🙂

[@BlackHoleSpain]

In XVI century, the Vatican States spanned half of Italic peninsula and even had posessions in today's France.

[@Akab]

As they used freedom units in the video, the intended audience is probably american, thus i'd assume they probably also meant american football fields for the size comparison. just an assumption though 😁

[@bencze465]

ahhaha, freedom units, is that a real name or a joke at the fact that the real nam e is imperial which sounds opposite of free? :)

[@Akab]

@@bencze465 to be honest? The later, but i'd love to say both. Freedom units just sounds better xD

[@iTube22100]

Yes, the Vatican has military: the Swiss Guards whose uniformes were designed by Michelangelo.

[@blondkatze3547]

You should also visit southern Italy. Very beautiful magnificent churches, beautiful beaches, stalactite caves (castellan grote) , home -made pottery , influences of Greek culture(buildings) etc.

[@derekardito2032]

Especially the most beautiful town in Italia that is the Baroque masterpiece Lecce.

[@blondkatze3547]

My husband is Italian and we already visited Lecce on our vacation.The city is really very beautiful.@@derekardito2032

[@derekardito2032]

@@blondkatze3547 my home town, so I know I am biased, thankyou for agreeing it is beautiful, as is the whole of the Salento peninsula.

[@blondkatze3547]

@@derekardito2032 ⛱👍 Bella Italia.💙

[@rebeccacaloro3126]

I was baptised in there😍

[@lydia5232]

In Europe, every child knows where the Vatican is, what is there and who the Pope is. Europe as such is one single history and art. In Europe we have one - the Roman Catholic religion - (those others are a minority) and not a whole bunch of different ones, each pulling to its side as in America. A preacher on every corner...a preacher on TV...one bigger bastard than the other, one richer than the other...all in gold and jewelry, expensive clothes, with expensive cars...all have a common denominator...no it is not Jesus Christ nor God....but money and tax evasion. There are so many of them on KZbin too (and more every day) that one could shovel them into the ocean like coal into a furnace.

[@anneagasster9714]

I have been to the Vatican and heard the Pope speak to the people, a unique experience. The statues you see are like that all over Europe. New ones are made and we have a whole culture around this

[@BiologyBabe]

You should go. It’s amazing… and historically, their postal system is way better than Italy. I sent one postcard from Vatican, one from Rome - literally right next door 5 years ago. The one from Rome still hasn’t arrived.

[@snakers83]

Fun fact about the Vatican radio station: It's called Radio Maria, and this radio station has the most powerful signal in all the italian country, you can litterally catch it wherever u are on multiple frequencies. By that, whenever we search for a radio station in our car here, every 6/7 frequencies change u can hear a blasphemy just because Radio Maria pops out!

[@LoredanaLenghel]

I’ve been there in February and it’s even bigger and more impressive than it looks on video! The basilica, not the country 😅

[@ralfjansen9118]

Actually St Peter is not the most important, the bishop's church of Rome, the "head of the world", but St John (Giovanni) in lateran. It just happens to contain the tomb of St Peter, the first pope. Many other popes are buried there, either in the church itself or in the crypt under it; Others are buried in other churches of rome or elsewhere. It is also the biggest church worldwide (in length). The edification (and financing) of St Peter lead to the break of the church (Martin Luther) since he denied that sinners could buy themselves access to heaven by just donating money for the building. The pope has lost his saecular power just in 1871 at the reunion of Italy and got the souvereignity over the Vatican granted by a treaty with the then ruling faschists. The Vatican state includes some more areas spread throughout Rome, including the area of St Paul before the walls and St Maria Maggiore.

[@ardentynekent2099]

I’ve been there, whilst living in London. Gorgeous. (Although Rick Steves is an American, he spends a tremendous amount of his life traveling, showing viewers (with luck, Americans), various countries, teaching cursory history and cultural norms of the country he is in.

[@LasloVisionary]

The swiss guard of vatican city is actually highly trained and even if it's mostly used for tourists, its members should not be underestimated in combat. There are some modern, living, italian sculptors and painters that keeps the reinassance style living, like Jago (sculptor, art name) and Roberto ferri (painter).

[@CARMEN-ll2jm]

Europa entera es un museo en la calle...❤

[@Ariadne-cg4cq]

It is an amazing place and the inside is full of the most incredible works of art. I have been there a few times. A shame they didn’t show any pictures of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel which is the greatest work of art.

[@freudenberg101]

We can't make sculptures like that anymore because the technology to soften rock has been lost today. Same with the roman concrete which can last for millennia.

[@RealBentusiII]

Man your comments hurt

[@karmilla74]

Hi.The most beautiful thing in the Vatican is the Sistine Chapel. I am from Rome and for us Saint Peter is part of our city. The importance of popes in history has meant that Rome and the Vatican are the cities with the most art in the world. I recommend you to visit Italy and Rome at least once.😉😊

[@Archphoenix1]

the swiss guard are elite soldiers . these guys would smoke a lesser military

[@jonathangoll2918]

Unless I missed it, a major omission was the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, which is staggering. It's by Michelangelo. I'm a Protestant member of the Church of England, but there is a major point to make in defence of the Roman Catholic Church. There may be a beautiful Basilica, and great works of art, but, remember, the Church of Rome is one of the greatest organisations in the world. But, look round Vatican City. Where is the huge office block? There isn't one. It has one of the least top-heavy managements in the world.

[@carlogambacurta548]

That is the reason for its not amusing at all to be a pope nonno more leisure ni amusement no free time no holidays and you are responsabile for and of everything and continually🎉 disturbed. One must be a fool to accept such a job and whatever you you will be criticized..in prior time things were different.now if you are an autocrat its 24 hours day.

[@carlogambacurta548]

Business the obbligazioni not to marry not to have sex after all its not that relevant for old peopme and anyway they asked for it and are due to rispect😢theyr oath the lack of personal freddo. Ust be devastating

[@nickyliu8762]

I was there yesterday, and also climbed the 333 steps to the top of the cupola. It's amazing when you think, that this basilica was built with 16th century technology! Anywhere you look, there's art. It is kinda sad, that the art of stone masonry and sculpting aren't in fashion anymore.

[@magnushelin007]

Yes, today's architecture can't compare.

[@gabrielebianchi8976]

Nooo.. In the video they didn't show the Sistine Chapel, I really want to have the "God's touch" from the Adam Creation fresco somewhere in my house... just the hands... . By the way my birth city is represented on three maps of the "maps hallway" with three different names, good luck in finding the way to get there!

[@twkolejofil]

If you want to see THE museum, go to the Louvre... I ran through it only quick and my brain was fed up with visual stimuli 🤯

[@cerliezio]

Don t forget to mention the incredible amount of works stolen by Napoleone irom Italy

[@JustMe-pb9ep]

a small part of vatican city is owned by the teutonic order and only germans are granted access. the swiss guard opens the gate to this area if requested in german

[@cerliezio]

Some Americans lack of colture is beyond belief. How can people living in a Western country be so ignorant of world history. Americans please be informed that there is a whole world out there of which you know nothing at all about. A world that has existed well for thousands of years without the US. This is how insignificant your 200 years history is.,

[@stanleymaximillian8403]

Rick Steve is fantastic I live in Europe and everytime I travel, I watch his channel first for references

[@TallisKeeton]

Formaly speaking Vatican City is one of the last countries govern by "theocracy" which is a political system where the ruling class is clergy / priests or monks. The other ones I guess are Tibeth with lhamas, and maybe Bhutan, which is a kingdom but I m sure that buddhism clergy has still important role in politics.

[@andy70d35]

Ryan, what you never see in ANY video or photographs is how white the marble is, every video and photo makes the buildings look dirty or off-white they are not when you see them in person they are beautiful. As for the Swiss guard while in traditional dress, the guards carry pikes and swords, but they are also trained in the use of modern weaponry and counterterrorism techniques.

[@SaraKvammen-tx7qc]

So beautiful ! Breathtaking how they could make all this in that time

[@tinalettieri]

It's very basic technology, actually. What makes it special is skill and inspiration and an aesthetic based on the glory of God's Creation, not the post-humanism and even dystopian garbage that is foisted on us now.

Vacitan city is wonderful and vatican museum with cappella sistina are the best in the world. You are arrounded by history. For me it is always a wonder in every sense. You feel tiny beforesuch magnificende, knowing the History, you realize that you are very lucky to admire such beauty

[@pawemalz9774]

About Swiss guard. They are separated into two units. The one wearing the renesaince, colorful uniforms are more like police. The second part responsible for security of the pope are closer to secret service than to topical military.

[@slowburn1988]

Climbing the dome of the San Pietro is one of the best things you can do! It's grand and beautiful 🤩

[@ayrtonsenna1020]

I'm surprised that you don't know the Vatican and its history...besides that the Pope lives there, there is also the most amazing museum in the world, as was mentioned...I don't know why you can't realize one thing - the white human race that is in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South America, South Africa are of European origin... Europe showed the world everything - ancient Greece gave democracy, ancient Rome showed how to conquer the world, and Alexander of Macedon conquered the entire world at that time, including Persia, India and China.....I don't know what they teach you in US schools ??????

[@akrumvatum1627]

5:26 I guess it's just that for many people including the ones attending all these art exhibitions the poop art/paintings are just enough.

[@ms-mn5mz]

Was in Rome and Vatican last november. These are the places which should every person visit, if you can and is able. Once in life.

[@ThisTrainIsLost]

In both beauty and message those statues seen in St. Peter's cathedral, and in other locations within Vatican City, sure beat the living shit out of those Confederate monuments scattered about the South Eastern USA.

[@daniell8331]

there must be less than 1000 residents of the Vatican and definitely thousands of tourists daily. I remember going quite young like 16 in the 90s. ...was too young to appreciate everything but it was still amazing. It was less crowded then it looks to be now. I would go again. I know I would appreciate it more.

[@roald0411]

Ye you have to see it with your own eyes. It is beautiful!

[@sampeeps3371]

I think the Swiss guard mercenaries, are technically their military

[@mariadamedecoeur]

Indeed and they aren't just mercenaries, they are graduated from university, true catholics among other little things

[@TheBiggreenpig]

They are more like bouncers or receptionists.

[@mariadamedecoeur]

@@TheBiggreenpig wrong!!

[@PlugInKali]

It literally says that in the video.

[@andy70d35]

@@TheBiggreenpig 🤣🤡 try educating yourself before saying stupid statements, they are fully trained while in traditional dress, the guards carry pikes and swords, but they are also trained in the use of modern weaponry and counterterrorism techniques.

[@fabriziopastorino3792]

the swiss guard is made up of catholic swiss citizens who have carried out military service in the swiss army, so you have little to laugh about they are expert and faithful soldiers, in 1500 to defend the pope from the imperial lansquenets, they did not hesitate to die in combat, to allow to the pope to take refuge in Castel San Angelo. you Americans have an education that needs improvement

[@bencze465]

no need to be smug about it, vast majority of europeans don't know shit about it either, not to mention other continents stuff.

[@fabriziopastorino3792]

@@bencze465 you Americans know even less, that's why you need to educate yourselves, you will learn above all education and not to please yourselves in your ignorance and not to do harm to the world

[@-cirad-]

Vatican City has the highest density of popes with 2,27 popes per square kilometre.

[@HolyInquisition]

As a Catholic, I wince when people say St. Peter's is the head church of Catholics. It isn't. The Mother Church of all Churches is St. John Lateran, the Cathedral of the Pope as Bishop of Rome.

[@deborahconner2006]

I love Rome and Vatican City is just an amazing interesting place to visit

[@geekexmachina]

Some would argue the smallest country in europe is "the principality of sealand" which comprises of on ex world war two island fort off the coast of the UK which was taken over and declaired independence from an angry and embarrased british government. you should watch a video on this its really funny. We are still waiting for the vatican to enter the eurovision song contest lol As for the question of art, I always wondered why the American decided not to build fancy churches and cathedrals and castles and statues Im guessing its something to do with the puritans and colonists now wanting stuff like that and they also didnt opt for a king etc. Stone and marble work is still sometimes done though there seems a preference to metal work and more modern art styles, also in the old days sculptures were made for religious veneration.

[@fah8575]

I visited Vatican City and Rome 4 years ago. Love Italy. Sistine Chapel is amazing.

[@almostyummymummy]

Was there in October '96. Was an interesting time.

[@tinalettieri]

Me, me, me been there several times and I was an Art History major and never knew that the art is mosaics. Duh! I can see you were really moved by all that incredible art, Ryan. Go, take your family and go see it in person. Italians adore babies, you'll never be the same after you visit.

[@annedunne4526]

Sorry I don't want to generalise about Americans but why is it they so often don't know any geography or especially history about the world beyond the US? What do they learn in school?

[@spursgog835]

I visited Vatican City and I’m determined to go back.

[@DVineMe]

Definitely worth visiting if you like art.

[@lolalasziv1059]

The swiss guard is a military formation, but not an army.

[@nicoladc89]

they are mercenaries.

[@smallsim2663]

Afaik, officially the name"Vatican City State", with the Capital "Vatican City".

[@nicoladc89]

The official name is Status civitatis vaticanae, literally the State of the Vatican City.

[@MikeGill87]

I've been there. I only ever went to single mass or any church service at all in my life. And it was in the Vatican, celebrated by the Pope himself. I otherwise hate religion, but this was a very memorable experience.

[@tinalettieri]

Sad that it was memorable but not memorable enough to change your heart. Maybe meditate on that a bit. Hatred isn't good for anyone's heart.

[@MikeGill87]

@@tinalettieri Religion is a man-made lie to rule over people. If you think that couple hours of pomp and ceremony can make an atheist believe there is a man sitting on the cloud, your mind is obviously already enslaved, being a living proof how dangerous religions are. Give me a single proof that god is any more real that the Lochness Monster. For the latter there are at least a few blurry photos. For the former just a book and a lie repeated long enough.