Search - Secrets of the Vatican Collection on DVD

Revisiting the Vatican

Oceanhut | Atlantic Beach, Florida USA | 06/04/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"During our recent trip to Rome, like most tourists, we shopped for a DVD of the Vatican to bring home. As you would imagine, there were many versions, and each more expensive than the other. So,we decided to wait until we returned and look for one on Amazon. Once again, Amazon did not disappoint us. This DVD is a wonderful, informative, pictorial visit to St. Peters' and the Vatican. Statues, places, and things that we were so fortunate to see, are once again revisited on this DVD. I would highly recommend this DVD to anyone planning a visit to Rome, or anyone who wishes that they could."

Magnificent documentary

V. R. Hutter | Durham, NC | 07/10/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This set of five DVDs is a must-have for people who love to travel and who have been, or want to visit, Rome and the Vatican. The series was presented on PBS and presents over seven hours of content. It is the most informative documentary produced in full cooperation of the Catholic Church I have ever seen and is completely up-to-date with the latest Pope and what the Catholic Church faces with today's realities and its challenges. It has fantastic videography and the narration is very helpful, although the narrator translating into English what the people speaking Italian are saying is rather difficult to understand at times. The first disc is a preview of the entire series and gives a taste of the content of each DVD. A disc menu tells you what is being covered and lets you choose which component you want to see next. You are taken behind the scenes of life within the Vatican City-State, some of the history of the Catholic Church which explains some of the traditions, the routines of life in the Vatican, discusses the Swiss Guard and their life in the Vatican, shows the life of the alter boys who live in the Vatican, shows the use of media--print, radio and television, and discusses the symbolism of some of the frescos that I had never really understood or the underlying allegory being presented in the various artworks. It also shows the painstaking restoration of textiles, statues and the frescos of the Sistine Chapel. One of the most astounding secrets is the excavation underneath St. Peter's Basilica seeking the bones of St. Peter--this secret was known by very few people while it was going on and the DVD shows some of the actual excavation and what was found. I highly recommend this set to everyone, and you do not have to be Catholic to marvel at the beautiful artwork commissioned by and maintained in the Vatican for centuries. It is a fantastic bargain at the price and is a keeper in a video library."

Vatican

Patricia Cardinale | 10/13/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This was an item which I anxiously wanted to be enjoyable as it was a birthday gift for my 87 year old father, who is italian and very intelligent, he loves to read and learn about ancient times especially when it has to do with Italy.
Well this item was perfect, the viewing was expectional and the verbal was clear and very understanding for an elderly man.

I was most impressed with the visuals and how it depicted the vatican city and it's artworks.

It was especially informative when relating to the explanation of selection of a new pope. This was fantastic.

I give it a 10 out of 10 love it."