The Vatican is the smallest country in the world – barely 0.44 square kilometers. It is located in the heart of my favorite city – Rome. Personally, I have go around it in less than an hour along its outer walls. Fewer than 1000 are its inhabitants, but none of them were born there. The head of state is the pope. His full title is: Bishop of Rome, vicar of Jesus, monarch of the city-state of the Vatican, slave of the slaves of God. Leader of the entire Christian community, there is complete universal power and authority over the whole church. The Vatican is the only institution in the world to govern, make decisions and act without being obliged to answer questions about its governance and existence. It also has the status of the only one in the world in terms of finance – only the Vatican has the right not to disclose its sources of income, expenditure and investment. The Holy See has arguably the most extensive information gathering network. It is claimed that a minute before all news agencies, the Vatican was aware of events that happened at different points around the world – before everyone else. The SIV (Servizio Informazione del Vaticano) is the Vatican information service, with many controversies about its true nature. Many are convinced that it is intelligence agency like CIA or Mossad with “roots in the Inquisition”. Others believe that SIV is analogous to the US Department of State’s Foreign Service. Either way, the service is directly related to the Pope’s security at all times, especially when traveling the world. It has its own observatory for space exploration, and has its own satellite. He has been developing extremely serious programs in several monasteries in Europe that have been better equipped with NASA and Roscosmos technicians and specialists.
In the Vatican, intrigues, feuds and power struggles, scandals and controversies have swirled for centuries. The unique country is often torn apart by internal conflicts and overwhelmed by external attacks. Despite the dense information curtain launched by the Vatican, in recent times part of the drama has become public. The Vatican has always been associated with many conspiracy theories. Years ago, photos appeared that have not been disproven until now and accuse Pope John Paul II of membership in the secret society of the Illuminati. The very architecture of the city-state fuels the idea that the Vatican is the most mysterious secret society in the world. From a bird’s eye view, or even from St. Peter’s Dome, the central square looks like a lock and a key. And certain points on the surface of the papal state formed a copy of the constellation Orion. One of the secrets that has never been confirmed or denied is the existence of the Vatican’s “Secret Archives”. It is officially known that the library, which holds documents and books, has about 1,600,000 printed editions. It is suspected that there are also hidden, secret rooms accessible to few dedicated. It was there that kept the “Secret Archives” – manuscripts, parchments, papyrus and unknown writing on unknown cloth-like fabrics, written with strange symbols and mysterious characters. It is said that the mysterious books of the Toltecs, which contain information about the missing Incas gold, and that they describe the visits of aliens in antiquity, are kept here. The pages of these mysterious books also revealed the mystery of the idols of Easter Island, as well as ancient historical events. It is also alleged that the Holy Grail is hidden behind the walls of the Vatican.
Undoubtedly the pearl of the Vatican is the Basilica of Sts. Peter. ” Once seen by a man, it is impossible not to compare every subsequent visited temple with him. But no one stands up to the comparison – “St. Peter “is the largest church in area and volume in the world. One of the most magnificent and beautiful Renaissance architectures that has been preserved in the world to this day. One of my favorite artists – Bernini is an architect and the dome is the work of Michelangelo. Stairs winding all over the dome lead to the roof terrace. They are quite claustrophobic in the end, but the view is unique and well worth it. On the roof of the basilica are the statues of Jesus Christ and the 11 apostles (without that of St. Peter). There is a theory that Peter, who was the first pope, is crucified on a hill just below the basilica. Initially, a chapel was erected on the site, and then a temple which was demolished and finally in 1626 the one that is now erected.
The Holy Father’s Guard consists of 108 Swiss Guards. They are all Swiss nationals, must be Catholic, with at least secondary education and must have completed four months of military service in their native Switzerland. The age of the Guards is 19 to 30 years and the minimum term of service is two years. They must be at least 174 cm high, be young (they can only marry after explicit permission and at least three years of service). In addition, the Pope is guarded by the Vatican City State Gendarmerie Corps. The gendarmerie is 203 years old and its size is about that of the Swiss Guard. It includes Tactical Intelligence and Situation Assessment Specialists, Planning, Traffic Management, Anti-Deflection and Repulsion, Sabotage Prevention and Explosive Disposal.
When I was in Rome four years ago, I managed to see the Pope twice – on Sunday after his service at St. Peter’s Basilica and on Wednesday, when he gave a speech on the square in front of the temple. I was unable to feel awe, but my interest was satisfied.
Undoubtedly, the Vatican Museums are a huge treasure trove of human talent. Starting with the frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, the painted rooms of Raphael, the hundreds of statues, the corridors with many maps of the world, the huge hand-embroidered tapestries, the fine porcelain, the exquisite statuettes and all kinds of small things. After half a day, the human eye refuses to perceive so much beauty. The brain just can’t process everything it sees. And how many beauties are not available for tourists? Probably at least as many as are exposed.
And what are the Pope’s favorite foods? Stuffed squid, Piedmont Risotto and Asado – beef ribs with chimichurri sauce. There is no way to be in Italy and not appreciate the food. Still, the Vatican is in Rome. 🙂 The most popular cake for Italy is tiramisu, but I left it for the country Italy. I found one “Cannoli cake” that I thought was very appropriate. For the first time I tried cannoli right in Rome. In a pasticeri near the Pantheon. So simple, but so delicious. 🙂 Because of the recipe for this cake, I had to make cannolli myself, but I don’t think I even came close to the original. 🙁
Here are the necessary cake products:
For cake:
3/4 tea cups of butter softened at room temperature
3 tea cups of flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tea cup sugar
6 eggs
1 teaspoon of almond essence
1 1/2 teaspoon mixture of milk and cream (1: 1 ratio)
1/2 tea cup chocolate chip chips
For the cream:
3 1/2 tea cups of ricotta
2 1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 tea cup powdered sugar
3/4 tea cup of cream
For decoration:
1/2 tea cup chocolate chip chips
1/2 tea cup of pistachio nuts
2 pieces of canola
Steps of preparation:
Beat the butter with sugar at fluffy cream . Add the eggs one by one as you beat each one until completely digested in the butter mixture. Add the almond essence. Mix flour, salt and baking powder. Preheat oven to 180 degrees. In the butter mixture, add in portions also alternating the flour mixture and milk . Beat well after each addition. Finally add the chocolate chips and mix with a stirrer.
Cover two baking trays with a diameter of 22-23 cm with baking paper and grease with oil everywhere. Divide the mixture into two pieces and bake in the oven for about 30-40 minutes or until a wooden skewer stuck in the middle comes out clean.
After baking, allow the trays to cool for 5 minutes and then remove the cakes on the grate to cool completely.
It’s time to prepare the cream. Beat the ricotta with powdered sugar. In some places in Italy they like it less liquid and pre-strain it. In my opinion it is not necessary. Then add grated orange and lemon peel and cinnamon. Beat until fluffy cream.
Cut the two cakes in halves lengthwise. Start assembling the cake by alternating cakes and cream. Finally, garnish with crushed pistachio, chocolate chips and broken cannoli on the board. Leave in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.
The cake is light and quite classic. I would substitute ricotta with cream cheese, because something in the taste of ricotta reminds me of cottage cheese, and I don’t like it. 🙂 And not just for that. Simply cream cheese, powdered sugar and citrus peel are the perfect combination for glaze. As I was making the pastry, I reminisced about my trip to Rome, and only good memories came back to my mind. This city is number one for me. There is no other like it. And the Vatican is one part of its color, culture, history and spirit. I know I’ll go there again. Nothing that the Trevi Fountain was in repair had room to throw a coin to come back. And I threw three 😉… for sure. 😀
Next destination – Great Britain.
