A guide to the world’s smallest country:

The Vatican City.

Located on the west bank of the Tiber River (Rome, Italy) is the world’s smallest country, the Vatican City. Gaining independence in 1929, the Vatican became a sovereign state set up by The Lateran Treaty. Why? The Treaty wanted the Catholic Church to have its own political independence, ruled by Pope Francis today!

The Vatican City is the pilgrimage centre of the Catholic faith. However, whether you’re religious or not, it is an unmissable scene when visiting Rome. Even though the country is only 110 acres, it is home to a collection of unique UNESCO World Heritage Sites, rich history and stunning architecture. 

We explored the Vatican City on our third day in Rome which became an unforgettable experience. Continue reading this blog to find out about the history, things to do and tips on how to make your experience one of a kind!

Why visit?

The Vatican City has so much to offer. Whether you’re on a budget or a first time traveller, there is something for everyone to enjoy and learn. Home to the world’s largest church (St. Peter’s Basilica), the Vatican welcomes up to 19,000 visitors per day!

The population is built up of the Pope, Swiss Guards, Clergy and State employees, totalling up to only 764 citizens. The population is so small as you can only be granted citizenship based on your influence and authority towards Catholicism. With your visit you can witness how they work and live under such strict regulations with a lifestyle focusing around religious duties. 

The Vatican is also home to the famous Sistine Chapel. The Chapel is a stunning piece of Renaissance architecture that represents Italy’s rich culture.

How we arrived

As we had the full day to explore, we decided to take an early morning walk from our hotel to the Vatican. After about 45 minutes of walking, we stumbled upon the Ponte Sant’Angelo, a bridge crossing the river Tiber. This is how we knew we were nearly there! 

Upon our first approach to the Vatican, we were greeted by its monumental city walls. The Leonine Wall and the Janiculum Walls. These walls span a total of 3.2km and were built to serve a range of crucial purposes. That includes protection from foreign invasion, protection of the city’s wealth and to depict power of the Pope. Established in the 9th century, they still hold significant political and cultural statements today. 

Tickets and important information

As thousands of people visit daily, we recommend pre booking your entrance tickets online a few days before you go. We used a website called musement and purchased the ‘Skip-the-line entrance to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel’ tickets. These cost approximately £48 each however, we didn’t mind paying the price as it meant that we were not waiting for hours to gain entry. Musement also provides many other excursions, attractions and experiences you can do if you wish to take a browse!

We approached our meeting point 15 minutes before our selected time slot. The meeting point was Viale Vaticano, 97, just outside the city walls in which we were greeted by a representative of musement.

As the Vatican is highly religious, it is essential to dress modestly. It is required that you cover your shoulders and knees. Scarves/ shawls are available to buy upon entry however, cheaper if you prepare beforehand. The use of flip flops is also prohibited.

Security measures are also in place upon entry to the city. The Swiss Guards (‘the world’s smallest army’) act as a military unit in order to protect the Pope and the Holy See. In addition to this, any baggage or belongings have to be scanned with prohibited items removed (including selfie sticks). Think of it like security in an airport!

St Peter’s Basilica offers a magnificent Dome Climb in which reaching the top exhibits the most stunning views of the city. More information on this is provided further on in this blog.

The Vatican Museums and The Sistine Chapel

Our first activity of the day was the Vatican Museums. These are open Monday – Saturday (9am – 6pm) and the last Sunday of the month (9am – 2pm). Do not make the mistake of visiting on any other Sunday as they will not be open. Private/group guided tours are available as well as audio guided tours. We did not opt for these however. The tickets we had booked included our entry into the museums, although you can purchase tickets ranging from €8 – €240 depending on the experience you want.

The museum consists of an immense collection of art, galleries, chapels and sculptures. With work by Van Gogh (the painting of Pietà) and Rodin (the statue of The Thinker) the museums hold up to 800 pieces of art. Michelangelo also has a big influence in the museums and chapel. He was an Italian Renaissance architect, sculptor and painter from the 16th century who created the iconic ceiling frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. The frescoes consist of art depicting the creation of Adam and the Last Judgement, both significant times within Catholicism.

The Sistine Chapel is the most important place for the Roman Catholic Church as it is the venue in which Popes are elected and baptisms take place. The iconic ceiling was painted between 1508 and 1512. In which it holds great significance as it portrays the belief of humanity created by god.

The Gallery of Maps is also a must see when visiting. Portraying geography and the Pope’s influence on the church, whilst expressing beauty and stunning masterpieces. It also represents Italian history and culture. The gallery was completed in 1580 and runs parallel up to 120 metres long!

Additional Information

We spent around 2 hours exploring the museum so make sure you leave yourself enough time. It is important to be aware that photography within the Sistine Chapel is forbidden; however, throughout other parts of the museum it is allowed without flash. Make sure you also keep your mobile phone on silent throughout the museums as a sign of respect.

If you feel peckish, there is a cafe within the Vatican museums which is accessible to everyone and accepts cash and card payments.

Gardens of the Vatican

After browsing the museums we took some time to unwind in the Vatican
Gardens. Covering over half of the country’s land, the gardens consist of meaningful fountains and sculptures, it is honestly breathtaking. Whether you’re wanting a relaxing walk or more sightseeing, the gardens are the place to be.

On our walk there were two sculptures that stood out to us. Firstly was the Pine Courtyard, aka the ‘Cortile della Pigna’. Dating back to the ancient Roman times (2 A.D.) the Pine symbolises human/ spiritual enlightenment, rebirth and eternal life.

Secondly was the Sphere within a Sphere sculpture, aka the ‘Sfera con Sfera’. Created by Arnaldo Pomodoro, an Italian Sculptor in a more modern era in 1982-83. The complexity of this sculpture represents the Christian world as it exists today, with symbols of fragility. 

Finally, the Braccio Nuovo stands just behind the Sphere sculpture. A part of the museum dedicated to classical sculptures such as the famous ‘The River Nile’. It is honestly a must see!

St Peter’s Square and The Basilica

To end the day we decided to visit St Peter’s Square and the Basilica, we were so glad that we did! The square is one of the largest and most stunning squares in the world. It is used weekly by the Pope and citizens in order to receive blessings and hold religious events. 

The Basilica is picturesque, with a stunning Dome and awe-inspiring renaissance artwork. It is known as the pilgrimage site for the Catholic Church, why? Because it is understood as the site in which the 1st Pope, (Saint Peter) was buried. The Basilica attracts on average 10 million visitors per year.

When visiting the Basilica the Dome Climb is essential in order to get the best views of Rome! Tickets are purchased at the ticket office upon entry which cost €8 each and must be paid in cash. The climb consists of 551 steps with photo stops along the way. However, if you are not up to climbing that amount of steps, an elevator option is available for an extra €2. We decided to do the step climb but make sure you bring water as it can be very tiring. The Basilica also involves its own security checks so make sure you arrive in enough time.

All in all, the panoramic views are honestly astonishing and creates such a memorable experience!