A standard work on the Vatican, the great center of ancient and modern culture. A collection of illustrations, photographs and treatises by authors who were chosen for their particular expertise to do justice to the subject treated. Arranged into four parts entitled: history and general description of the Vatican palaces and gardens; state apartments and chapels; Vatican museums and collections and the mosaic factory; Vatican administration. Vastly illustrated with hundreds of photographs, many of which have never been seen before, illustrations, diagrams and plates.