Vatican City, also called the Holy See, is a small independent sovereign state. Vatican City is only 0.44 square kilometers. and it has a population of less than 1,000. Vatican City gained independence from Italy on February 11, 1929. More than five million people visit Vatican City each year.
The Holy See is the seat of the Catholic religion and the home of the Pope since 1378. The Pope lives in the papal departments of the Vatican, and the Pope’s church, St. Peter’s Basilica, is located in Vatican City.
Vatican City
The Vatican City is surrounded by Rome. Visitors enter Vatican City through St. Peter’s Square. The best way to walk to Vatican City from historic Rome is via the Ponte St. Angelo bridge. Across the bridge, one arrives at Castel St. Angelo, just outside of Vatican City. Castel St. Angelo has a passage connecting to the Vatican once used by fleeing popes.
Where to stay near Vatican City
If you plan to spend a lot of time visiting the attractions of Vatican City, it may be convenient to stay in a hotel or bed and breakfast near the Vatican. Here are the best places to stay in Vatican City.
Vatican Museums
The Vatican Museums are the largest museum complex in the world with more than 1400 rooms. The Vatican Museum Complex includes the museum, galleries with 3,000 years of art, the Sistine Chapel and parts of the papal palace. There is an astonishing amount of art, including a room of works by Raphael. The Pinacoteca Vaticana is probably the best picture gallery in Rome with many Renaissance works. One of the most impressive rooms is the Hall of Maps, with murals of ancient maps of the papal lands.
Visiting the Vatican Museums
At the Vatican Museums, you can choose from four different itineraries, all ending at the Sistine Chapel. Due to the immensity of the museum, it is advisable to take a guided tour of the Vatican Museums. Visitors booking guided tours or booking tickets in advance enter without waiting in line. The museums are closed on Sundays and holidays, except the last Sunday of each month, when they are free. Here is the information to visit the Vatican museums and book tickets. Select Italy also sells skip-the-line tickets to the Vatican Museums that you can purchase online in US dollars.
Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel was built between 1473 and 1481 as the private chapel of the Pope and the place for the election of the new Pope by the cardinals. Michelangelo painted the famous ceiling frescoes, with the central scenes depicting the creation and history of Noah, and decorated the wall of the altar. The biblical scenes on the walls were created by several famous artists, including Perugino and Botticelli. See the information, art and history of the visit to the Sistine Chapel.
St. Peter’s Square and Basilica
St. Peter’s Basilica, built on the site of a church that covers Peter’s tomb, is one of the largest churches in the world. Entrance to the church is free, but visitors must be dressed appropriately, with no bare knees or shoulders. St. Peter’s Basilica is open every day from 7 am to 7 pm (until 6 pm from October to March). Masses, in Italian, are held all day on Sundays.
St. Peter’s Basilica is located in St. Peter’s Square, an important religious and tourist destination. Many important works of art, including the famous Pieta by Michelangelo, are in the church. You can also visit the tombs of the Pope.
Vatican transportation and tourist information
The Vatican City Tourist Information is on the left side of St. Peter’s Square and has good information and a small shop that sells maps, guides, souvenirs and jewelry. Tourist information is open from Monday to Saturday from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm
The closest metro stop to the museum entrance is Cipro-Musei Vaticani, near Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie, where there is also a parking garage. Bus 49 stops near the entrance and tram 19 also stops nearby. Several buses go near Vatican City (see links below).
Swiss guard
The Swiss Guard has guarded Vatican City since 1506. Today, they still wear the traditional costume of the Swiss Guard. Guard recruits must be Swiss Roman Catholic citizens, 19-30 years of age, single, high school graduates, and at least 174cm tall. They must also have completed Swiss military service.
Sant’Angelo castel
Castel Sant Angelo, on the Tiber River, was built as a tomb for Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century. In the Middle Ages, it was used as a fortress until it became a papal residence in the 14th century. It was built on top of the Roman walls and has an underground passage to the Vatican. You can visit Castel Sant Angelo and in summer there are concerts and special programs. It is also a pedestrian zone, so it is a good place to walk and enjoy the river. See the Castel Sant Angelo visitor’s guide
Special visits and useful links
- The Pope : The Pope holds General Audiences with the Holy Father on Wednesday at 10:30 am, but you must have a ticket (which is free) to attend. See how to order tickets for a papal audience or you can reserve tickets for the papal audience for a reservation fee and transportation from your hotel through Select Italy. On Sundays at noon, the Pope usually delivers a blessing from his window to the people gathered in St. Peter’s Square. The Pope also presides over special services and Masses, some of which also require a ticket.
- Vatican Gardens : 23 hectares of beautiful gardens with a small villa and medieval fortifications separate the Vatican from Rome on the north and west sides. Guided tours of the gardens are available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays by sending a request to [email protected]
- Underground Vatican – You can visit the tomb of St. Peter and the Vatican excavations on a guided tour by reservation only.
- San Pedro Dome : You can visit the spectacular San Pedro Dome for a fee from 8:00 am to 5:45 pm (4:45 pm, October-March). The entrance is from the right side of the porch of the basilica.
- Guided Tours : Although I’m not a huge fan of guided tours, I was very happy to have one at the Vatican. The Vatican Museum is huge and crowded so it was very helpful to have someone with knowledge to direct me and tell me interesting information about the Museum and its exhibits, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica and made my visit more enjoyable. . I took a tour with Miles & Miles. Select Italy offers a Raphael and Michelangelo tour that includes the museums, the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael rooms of Pope Julius II. The best way to see the Museums and Sistine Chapel without the huge crowds is to take a guided tour before or after hours.
