Evening star., 1937-02-21
HOLY WEEK DRAWS
TOURISTS TO ROME
Vatican City Expected to
Become Focal Point of
Easter Time Visits.

ROME. February 20.-As one stands
before the Basilica of st. Peters and
gazes down the colonnades through q
forest of 2s4 giant columns which
form the mammoth Latin Cross from
Cathedral Square, he thinks of the
great Popes and epochs which have
made Rome the symbol Of Christianity
throughout the ages. As he treads
upon the scene, the four rows of
columns seem to emerge into one,
exhibiting the true miracle Of inten-
tion by the artists as seen from the
Egyptian obelisk.
A further glance at the 164 statues
which adorn the architectural marvels
of the plaza, he recalls the Sistine
Chapel, the treasured paintings and
sculptures Of Michelangelo, Raphael,
Leonardo de Vinci and Bernini. The
curiosity to see within the Vatican
City has always been the objective in
q Rome visit, and each year the
registar shows an increasing number
Of visitors.
Holy Week In March.
This year the holy calendar dates
Of Good Friday, Holy Saturday and
Easter fall in March, with indications
that more tourists will visit the
Eternal City. than in years.
From the great structure Of the
Basilica, sos feet long and 464 feet
high with its 778 columns and ii
altars built over the place where the
Apostle st. Peter was buried. one
enters the tiny kingdom of the Vati-
| can City and views its administrative
quarters. At the gate and entrances
he is met by the Swiss Guards. The
city" the glorious citadel Of the
Fopes. became an indepenent State
in 1929 and covers an area Of 440, ,00G
square meters of which $1,000 are
occupied by the buildings OF the Vati-
can. Within the civic center are the
quarters of the governor who is
sovereign of the State of the Vatican
City, the central council, the law
courts. wireless and radio stations. The
district is embellished by the costumes
Of the pontifical armed corps. COM
prising the noble guards, the Swiss
guards and the Palatine guards OF
honor.
Big Stretch Of Garden.
The gardens which preserve their
characteristics of the seventeenth cen-
tury extend from the pontif1cal pal
ace to the walls Of the Leonine City
In the gardens are the beautiful foun-
tains. Temple of Madonna and the
| famed decorative art. Passing to the
right Of the Basilica Is the first group
within which the pope dwells. Adorn-
| ing the east side of the Cortile del
Belvedere, rich in the designe
creations Of Bramantes decorations
| is the Vatican palace containing the
Sistine Chapel and the priceless art
of the ages. Near are the Vatican
Etruscan and Egyptian museums and
the picture gallery. From the wing
of Sixtus v are the entrances to the
grand hall which leads to the great
library.
The services Of holy week are full CT
fervor and poetry. exemplified in the
great churches of Rome and especially
the Lateran on Holy Saturday.
According to an old custom the
bells that have remained silent since
Maundy Thursday come to life again
simultaneously on Saturday at 10
o'clock with the air of Rome vibrating
with their pealing. The three great
cathedrals of St. Peters, st. Johns
and Santa Maria Maggiore usher ir
the Easter services Almost simul-
taneously all churches of Rome take
on the Easter ceremonials. The
churches are beautifully decorated.