June 28, 2025
Since its 1484 construction the Vatican’s Belvedere Palace has been painted a cream color using paint that contains actual milk (most recently ecologically sourced from Pope Francis’s own cows). The nearly 600 marble statues around the Vatican are cleaned using oils derived from oregano and thyme.
ONE GOOD LINK
BRITANNICA.COM
7 Masterpieces of Painting in Vatican City
Vatican City is an independent nation-state—the smallest in the world—with a staggering collection of artworks. Here are just seven paintings you shouldn’t miss. Earlier versions of the descriptions of these paintings first appeared in 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die, edited by Stephen
Get One Good Fact delivered to your inbox every day.
-
Jun 27
Why do Taiwanese garbage trucks play “Fur Elise”? -
Jun 26
Where did the postmaster general once fall in the line of presidential succession? -
Jun 25
Why did a company try to make cows smell like humans? -
Jun 24
What animal can move so fast it vaporizes water? -
Jun 23
Why do so few Dutch people use bicycle helmets? -
Jun 22
If smoking is banned, why do airplanes still have ashtrays? -
Jun 21
Which industry once conspired to make inferior products? -
Jun 20
Why did Neil Armstrong almost not make it to the Moon? -
Jun 19
Which historical event was followed by “the scatter”? -
Jun 18
How did one inventor severely damage the planet twice?