For most people, a trip to Rome is going to include a trip to Vatican City, and a stop to see the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s (Square and Basilica). It may seem like an easy stop on your travels, but it can be daunting. A little research and advance planning can help you get the most out of the time you have.
One of the best references that I found, both for its breadth and depth of knowledge as well as its entertainment value, is Secrets of the Vatican Collection, the first ever complete documentary on the Vatican.
The 5-disc DVD documentary is a wonderful profile of the Vatican, its history, art, life, and day-to-day workings. This small city state, located just a stone’s throw from Rome, has a rich history full of religious tradition, yet it must still exist in the modern world.
The documentary originally aired on PBS in a 14-part series. Following its broadcast, the episodes were collected into a DVD set, and a bonus disc was added.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s covered on each of the discs, along with my thoughts:
Disc 1: Here is Peter, The Conclave of Cardinals, A Little State in the Shadow of the Church, and Divisions of His Holiness.
I wanted to like this disc a lot. But I didn’t it. With all sorts of historical information, this should have bee fascinating, but I found the narrative unnecessarily dry, and in some places downright boring. It does, however, set the stage for what’s to come.
Disc 2: St. Peter’s Basilica, Papal Operations and Workers, and The Pope’s Transportation.
Things start to pick up with this disc. Here we learn about the history, architecture, and art of St. Peter’s Basilica. It fascinating stuff! Papal Operations covered a lot of the day-to-day stuff of what it takes to keep the Vatican running, and a little background about the people who make it happen. It was surprising to learn that the Vatican has its own farm and dairy. The Pope’s Transportation covered some of the old coaches through history, including antique automobiles, the Papal chair, right on up to the Pope-mobile. The Pope has vanity license plates — SCV1. Some of the vehicles that you see in this segment are on display at the Vatican Museum.
Disc 3: Papal Antiques, The Papal Gardens, Vatican Residents, and Art Hospital.
There’s lots of art and a fair number of antiques in the Vatican, and a stroll through the Vatican Museum will only show you a part of them. This disc give you a bit more background about the pieces in the collection, along with how they are cared for. You may be able to catch a glimpse of the Vatican garden from the Museum, but you’ll get a full tour on this disc. These gardens have been in place for over 800 years, and you’ll learn about what was in the gardens, how it was maintained, and how it provided a respite for the Pontiff. Also, it’s easy to think of the Vatican as the Pope’s home, and it is. However, there are a great many people in residence there. Some of those residents include the Swiss Guards, and you’ll get to watch an interview with the wife of one of the Guards. It was incredible interesting to learn about what’s involved in being a Guard as well as all that the job entails.
Disc 4: St Peter’s Media, Passing by of Time and the Present, and Sistine Chapel.
This disc will give you a fascinating look at a side of the Vatican that you may not think of — the Press Office of the Holy See. This is where some serious PR strategies are shaped, and if you’ve been following current events, you know that this has been a difficult job of late. This disc also provided a look at the evolution of the Vatican, and traced some history and policies up to current time. While much has remained the same, deeply mired in tradition, religious and otherwise, it is still a city/state that has to face modern challenges much like the rest of the world. The segment on the Sistine Chapel is amazing piece. Whether you’ve seen it or not, you’ll appreciate this explanation of what’s there and how it came to be.
If you’re planning a visit to the Vatican, I’d recommend viewing the DVD set before going. It provides a history and framework of what you’ll see, and some of the bits of information and trivia will give you a richer experience and understanding when you visit. I’d then recommend watching it again upon your return. This second viewing will fill in some of the gaps between the first viewing and your visit, and I’ll bet there will be a few “aha” moments, as you remember some things that you saw on your visit.
Disc 5: Highlights
This is the bonus disc, and while you could watch it first or last, I’d recommend watching it first. It provides a nice overview and explanation of what’s in store.
The Secrets of the Vatican Collection is available from Amazon for $35.99. It’s a good personal purchase, and would also make a great gift if you know someone who has a Rome vacation planned.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of the DVD set from Detroit Public Television for purposes of review.
Photo credit: Amazon
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