A visit to the Vatican Library

In January 2011, Morley Safer and "60 Minutes" got rare access to the Vatican Library, located in the Vatican City, the seat of the Holy See. It was founded over five centuries ago, when Europe was coming out of the Dark Ages.

The library is closed to the public, as it is a place for scholars only. There are manuscripts going back nearly 2,000 years on music and math, warfare and exploration, even cookbooks and love letters. In all, there are about two million printed books in its inventory.

One of the treasures in its collection is the spectacular Bible commissioned in 1476 by the Duke of Urbino. The Bible took years to make by hand, and is decorated with real gold.

"60 Minutes" producer David Browning checks out one of the library's ancient maps. One of them was drawn 50 years before Columbus: at its edge, the Towers of Paradise are depicted.

Correspondent Morley Safer, checking out some of the extraordinary art adorning the walls of the Salone Sistino of the library.

Morley Safer, preparing for an interview in the Salone Sistino of the Vatican Library.

07_Greathall.JonathanPartridge.JPG — CBS/Diane Beasley

Cameraman Jonathan Partridge, setting up for the shoot in the Salone Sistino.

Producer David Browning, watching the set-up of the interview through a monitor.

The library doesn't just hold books and maps: there's a huge collection of ancient coins, including the money used in Palestine 2,000 years ago. There are the kind of silver coins Judas was said to have been paid to betray Christ.

The library's most valued documents go back almost 2,000 years, nearly to the time of Saint Peter, the first pope, whose tomb lies beneath the basilica that bears his name.

The library does not lend out books, except to one person: the pope.

To maintain the books, the library has a restoration lab, which Morley Safer and "60 Minutes" got to check out.

The specialists in the lab spend their days patching and strengthening ancient pages, scratching off paste put on by well-meaning restorers centuries ago, paste that is turning to acid, eating away at the page.

Associate Producer Diane Beasley, admiring the splendor of the Vatican Library's Salone Sistino.

St. Peter's Basilica is the centerpiece of Vatican City. The Vatican is actually a tiny, sovereign country, surrounded by the city of Rome, Italy.