Flags of the World Series: Vatican City

Vatican City is an independent city-state enclaved within Rome, Italy. Established with the Lateran Treaty (1929), it is distinct from yet under "full ownership, exclusive dominion, and sovereign authority and jurisdiction" of the Holy See. With an area of 44 hectares, and a population of about 1,000, it is the smallest sovereign state in the world by both area and population. The Vatican City is an ecclesiastical or sacerdotal-monarchical state ruled by the pope who is the bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church. Since the return of the popes from Avignon in 1377, they have generally resided at the Apostolic Palace within what is now Vatican City, although at times residing instead in the Quirinal Palace in Rome or elsewhere.

Stamp on postcard:
Pontificate of Pope Francis (from set of four), issued on 6.2.2018.
European Year of Cultural Heritage (from set of four), issued on 3.5.2018.


Thank you, Margarita!

Vatican City: The Creation of Adam

This is my first postcard from Vatican City -  The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo!

The Creation of Adam is a fresco painting by Michelangelo, which forms part of the Sistine Chapel's ceiling, painted c. 1511–1512. It illustrates the Biblical creation narrative from the Book of Genesis in which God breathes life into Adam, the first man. The fresco is part of a complex iconographic scheme and is chronologically the fourth in the series of panels depicting episodes from Genesis. It is the most well-known of the Sistine Chapel fresco panels, and its fame as a masterpiece of art is rivaled only by Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.

The stamp is Christmas (from a set of two), issued on 19.11.2015.


Thank You very much, Luca!