The Tiny Country Where the Pope Rules -

At just 121 acres and a population just over 800, Vatican City is the world’s smallest independent state. It is a hub of Catholicism and a sanctuary of artistic and historical wonders.

We usually opt to take self-guided tours however we decided to take the guided tour because they offered skip-the-line access.

Table of Contents

St Peters Square

The most famous square in Vatican City, St. Peters Square, is the grand entrance to Vatican City. This vast, elliptical piazza is framed by two sweeping colonnades and adorned with majestic statues of saints. The colonnades symbolize the arms of the Church.

If you’re visiting on a Wednesday, you might catch the Pope’s general audience.

At St. Peter’s Square center stands the Ancient Egyptian obelisk, brought to Rome by Emperor Caligula in AD 37. The Obelisk is a testament to Rome’s historical conquests and a focal point of the square.

St. Peter’s Basillica

As one of the largest churches in the world, St. Peter’s Basilica is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. The church is very grand with statues of Jesus and the Apostles. An iconic sculpture is Michelangelo’s Pietà, a breathtaking sculpture depicting Mary holding the body of Christ.

The Dome

My favorite part of visiting Vatican City was climbing to the top of Michelangelo’s dome. Well really not the climbing part, but the panoramic views of Vatican City and Rome were worth it. The ascent involves a combination of elevators and stairs, culminating in a spectacular vista.

The climb to the top will take 551 steps that gradually get narrower and narrower.

The first couple hundred steps take you to the roof, the remaining few hundred are inside the dome.

As you get higher the turns are tighter, but the views are absolutely worth it. The visibility from the top is amazing.

The views from the top of St. Peter’s Basilica are phenomenal.

Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel, renowned for its stunning frescoes by Michelangelo, is a must-visit. The chapel serves as the site of the papal conclave, where new popes are elected. It was so much smaller than I anticipated and very crowded. Due to the small space it was one of the most crowded sights we saw in Rome.

Highlights:

The Ceiling: Gaze up at Michelangelo’s iconic ceiling, depicting scenes from the Book of Genesis, including the famous Creation of Adam.
The Last Judgment: The altar wall features Michelangelo’s powerful depiction of the Last Judgment, a masterpiece that evokes awe and contemplation.

Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums house one of the most extensive art collections in the world. It isn’t like any other museum as it is more of a complex and the fifth largest museum in the world. There are over 460,000 square feet to cover and it’s kind of overwhelming. Spanning over 70,000 works, the museums offer a journey through art history, from ancient civilizations to the Renaissance.

Highlights:

Raphael Rooms: Explore the Raphael Rooms, adorned with frescoes by Raphael and his workshop, including the School of Athens.
Gallery of Maps: Walk through the Gallery of Maps, featuring stunning topographical maps of Italy painted in the 16th century.
Gallery of Tapestries:
Pio-Clementine Museum: Discover the Pio-Clementine Museum, home to classical sculptures like Laocoön and His Sons.