The Swiss Guard - Vatican City

Members of The Swiss Guard - Vatican City

A photograph of the swiss guard was on my shot list on our trip to Europe last year. I wanted to get a photograph of their official dress uniforms and I was also interested in finding out a bit more about their  500 year history. Members of the Swiss guard can be easily spotted around St Peter's Cathedral during the day as it is responsible for the Pope's security as well as the security of the Apostolic Palace.

More images and info inside.

A Member of the Swiss Guard - Vatican City

The inspiration for their official uniforms has been debated for a while. Some say that it was inspired by one of Raphael's paintings of the Swiss Guard carrying Pope Julius II on a litter. The style of uniform worn by those soldiers was said to be common during the Renaissance. A closer version to the modern uniform can be seen in a 1577 fresco by Jacopo Coppi of Empress Eudoxia conversing with Pope Pope Sixtus III. The blue and gold colours on the uniform are said to have been issued by Pope Julius II (his family colours) and the red was issued by Pope Leo to reflect his Medici colours. Apart from the official uniform the Swiss Guard have a more functional "regular duty" uniform as well.

Members of the Swiss Guard - Vatican City

Recruits to the Swiss Guard must be single, Catholic males with Swiss citizenship who have completed basic military training and can obtain certificates for good conduct. They should also have a professional degree or a high school diploma, be between 19 and 30 years of age and at least 174cm tall. However, in 2009 the Commandant of the Swiss Guard, Daniel Anrig, suggested that women maybe allowed to join the Guard at some stage. He did add that the recruitment of women remained far in the future. New guards are sworn in on the 6th of May (the anniversary of the sack of Rome) each year in the San Damasco courtyard in the Vatican. The term of service is between 2 and 25 years.

Member of the Swiss Guard - Vatican City

The history of the swiss guards originates in the 15th century. A number of Popes, including Sixtus IX, Innocent VIII and Alexander VI, recruited Swiss mercenaries to fight wars. During the Italian wars the mercenaries were regular fixtures in the front lines for both the French and the Holy Roman Empire. The mercenaries enlisted when they heard that King Charles VIII of France was going to raise a war against Naples. Amongst the participants in the war was Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere (Pope Julius II). He knew the swiss as he had been Bishop of Lausanne for a number of years. When Cardinal della Rovere became Pope, he asked the Swiss Diet for a constant corps of 200 mercenaries. The first contingent of 150 Swiss soldiers entered the city of Rome on January 22, 1506.

The most significant battle they engaged in was on May 6, 1527 when 147 of the 189 guards died fighting the troops of Emperor Charles V in the "Stand of the Swiss Guard" during the sack of Rome. The remaining 40 guards escorted Pope Clement VII to escape.

All photographs on this post were captured with a Canon 7D and a 24-105mm lens. 

St Peters Square - Vatican City

A fountain in St Peters Square - Vatican City 

While we were in Rome, we stayed just outside the Vatican City. On one of our first nights in the city, I decided to have a look at St Peters square with the hope that it wouldn't be too crowded. It was close to  11.00 PM when I walked in and I was surprised with the number of people still in the square. It was by no means crowded but there were at least a couple of hundred people milling about.

More images after the jump.

St Peters Square from the Basilica - Vatican City

The photograph above was taken from the top of St Peters Basilica. The climb to the top is not too bad but is not for people who are claustrophobic. At one stage you have to walk between the exterior wall and the dome of the basilica and you can't really stand up straight through this section of the ascent. On the way down we were able to walk out onto the roof near the statues.

Statues on the roof - Vatican City

The statues above are from the roof that runs around St Peters Square. I used a circular polariser for this shot and it resulted in an enhanced colour in the sky. Some renovations were being done to the square during the time we were there. These sections were covered in some sort of white material and can be seen in the second image on this post.

The Obelisk at St Peters - Vatican City

The Obelisk which stands in the middles of the square originally stood at Circus Maximus. St Peter was said to have been crucified in front of this Obelisk and it is now revered as a witness to the death of St Peter.

All Images on this post were captured with a Canon 7D and a 24-105mm lens. I also used a circular polariser for the two "daytime" shots on this post.