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:

Apr 4, 2025National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington, DC, United States
Oct 11, 2024Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia, Canada
Oct 20, 2023Pygmy three-toed sloth
Jun 17, 2025Maritime forest in Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, United States
Nov 25, 2025Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
Oct 17, 2025Rock River Falls, Michigan
Nov 25, 2024Maasai giraffes
Jun 30, 2024Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Sep 2, 2023Allens hummingbird
Aug 13, 2024Telašćica Nature Park, Dugi Otok, Croatia
Mar 20, 2024Peveril Castle, Derbyshire, England
Aug 10, 2025Lioness in Kenya
Dec 3, 2023Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona, USA
Jan 4, 2025Bản Giốc – Detian Falls, Vietnam
Jun 12, 2024Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA
Apr 7, 2025North American beaver, Moran, Wyoming, United States
Aug 17, 2024Alfanzina lighthouse, Algarve, Portugal
Apr 28, 2024El Capitan, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas, USA
Dec 10, 2024Lands End, Cornwall, England
Jul 19, 2024A young jaguar, Pantanal, Brazil
Sep 16, 2024Wallabies at sunrise, Australia
Sep 14, 2023Przewalskis horses, Hustai National Park, Mongolia
Nov 27, 2025Eastbourne Pier, England
Aug 4, 2024Impala and red-billed oxpecker, South Africa
Jul 24, 2025Family of ashy woodswallows
Sep 12, 2023North Sea at sunset, Norddorf, Germany
Nov 22, 2023Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA
Sep 20, 2024Ocracoke Lighthouse on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, USA
Apr 30, 2024Cheetah in Tanzania
Sep 16, 2025Nighttime view over the Gulf Coast