Vatican City, Rome, Italy Jul 23, 2025

Vatican City, Rome, Italy

In the middle of Rome, Italy, lies an entire country of its own: Vatican City. At less than 0.5 square kilometres, 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

Hello, is it tea you’re looking for?
Stealthy pollinators
Jul 23, 2024Methoni Castle, Messinia, Greece

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Positively purple peaks
Dec 15, 2025Spiegelgracht canal in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Sep 26, 2025Least chipmunk, Kootenai National Forest, Montana, United States
May 7, 2024A duckling swimming in a water meadow, Suffolk, England
Jan 27, 2026Dalmatian pelicans, Lake Kerkini, Greece
Aug 29, 2025Aerial view of Plaza Mayor, Madrid, Spain
May 13, 2025Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Chile
Nothing says ‘San Francisco’ quite like...
Turtle-y nice day for a swim
A proud symbol of the City of Nizams
Perfect, pastoral Palouse
Nov 26, 2023Fallow deer, Bradgate Park, Leicestershire, England
May 16, 2024International Day of Light
Mar 3, 2024World Wildlife Day
What are they celebrating?
Jan 22, 2025Ad-Deir, Petra, Jordan
Dec 10, 2024Lands End, Cornwall, England
9,000-year-old handprints
The envy of postcards and snowglobes
Nov 18, 2024Porthcawl lighthouse, Wales, United Kingdom
Sep 13, 2024Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA
Nov 3, 2023Pacific sea nettles off the coast of Carmel, California, USA
A beacon in the golden light
Oct 3, 2025Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Dec 27, 2023Kirkjufell, Iceland
A pair of high achievers
Sep 1, 2024River Thames, London, England
Jul 1, 2024Fisgard Lighthouse, British Columbia, Canada
Sep 4, 2023Whale shark, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia
Dec 6, 2023Palolem beach, Goa, India