There’s usually a lot going on in the capital of Christianity, from the Pope’s weekly appearance at St Peter’s Square to the exquisite architecture and countless priceless artistic treasures within. St Peter’s Basilica is its epicentre, the vast domed Renaissance church reputedly built upon the burial sight of Saint Peter.

The biggest crowds in this tourist hotspot, which has an estimated population of around 800 and attracts some 5 million tourists a year, can be seen queuing at the Vatican Museums to gaze up at Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel.

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