A unique visual portrait of one of the world"s greatest religious and artistic centres.

The Vatican is the world"s smallest sovereign state, with a population of around 800 people, but at the same time it is the nerve centre of the Catholic Church. Home to the Pope - the Church"s spiritual leader - the Vatican"s influence around the world remains out of all proportion to the tiny area it occupies.

• Take a visual journey through the most colourful and spectacular festivals and events in the Vatican"s year: from Advent to Christmas.

• Trace the eventful story of the papacy from the martyrdom of St Peter, through the glorious artistic achievements of the Renaissance, to the spiritual messages and moral concerns of the modern popes.

• Enjoy photographic tours of the Vatican"s striking architecture, from the awe-inspiring St Peter"s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, to its gardens, art galleries, historic churches, and grand papal residences.

• Discover what happens within the city"s walls: who lives in the Vatican, how is it run, and what lies behind the rituals, pomp, and pageantry? Unique photographic interviews with the men and women who spend their working days within its walls reveal the hidden face of the city.

• Experience a unique glimpse into the Papal Treasury - storehouse of the Vatican"s fabulous liturgical treasures, gathered over the centuries.