Even if you have just 3 days in Rome, spending one whole day at the Vatican will be worth your time.
The Vatican is not just the most revered institution for Christians throughout the world but it's also an architectural marvel. You will not find a better example of such a perfect amalgamation of Roman, Baroque and Gothic architecture in one monument.
The stunning colonnade at St. Peter's Square, the iconic Dome that is visible from the River Tiber and the crowds that make this place come alive are sights that should not be missed.
Close to 25,000 people visit the Vatican daily, giving this place an irresistible vibe. And the sheer grandeur of the place seems to overwhelm you.
5 Most important things that you need to know before visiting the Vatican
First, If you're living around the city centre in Rome, then the best way to get to Vatican City is by Metro Line A. Get down at the metro station Ottaviano-S just outside the Vatican and walk right in.
In fact, you can walk to the Vatican from anywhere in Rome. I am quite sure the saying 'All roads lead to Rome' must have started because of this. But remember there is a lot of walking involved during the day, so save up your energy for that.
Second, The Vatican is a separate country with its own flag and occupies only 0.49 square kilometres.
Entry and Visa to the Vatican is free although you must buy tickets for the museums and entry into the St.Peter's Basilica. Do not depend on buying tickets at the last moment. The queues are really long and mostly the tickets will be sold out for the day. You must buy them in advance. I am not a big fan of conducted tours but in the case of the Vatican, I'd say not just tickets, you must book the conducted tour also in advance. We did not have a pre-booked tour, so there was a lot of commotion in the morning when we reached.
Third, The Vatican is the seat of the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church worldwide. Since it is a deeply revered religious institution, it is advisable to wear covered modest clothing. I have heard that visitors who are not appropriately dressed can be refused entry into the chapel. There are restrictions on certain types of footwear too. Please check their website https://www.vatican.va/ for more details and updates.
Fourth, If you're keen on seeing the museums, then keep aside at least 4 to 6 hours for your Vatican trip. There are massive crowds and queues everywhere. The absolute not-to-miss attraction in the museum is the Sistine Chapel.
Fifth, There are lots of attractions at the Vatican. So, knowing what you wish to see beforehand and planning your trip here is important.
We wanted to see St. Peter's Basilica and the museums but because of a massive surge of crowds that day, we ended up in the wrong queue leading to the tombs. Getting out of the queue and entering the relevant one took over 2 hours.
List of Attractions at the Vatican
St. Peter's Square
This is the entry point to the Vatican right outside St. Peter's Basilica. Access to the square is free with no restrictions on clothing etc. If you have less time, then you can see the Vatican from the outside here and its most distinguishing feature, the dome and the massive colonnade on the facade of the church.
St. Peter's Basilica
This is the seat of the Pope and Christianity. Since it's an active church there are days for ceremonies and processions when it might be closed to the general public.
Please check the official website https://www.vatican.va/ for updates before you plan your visit.
Many artefacts and attractions inside the Basilica are very intriguing with years of history behind them. In my opinion, the best way to see this is with a conducted tour or an audio guide to fully appreciate the beauty of this place.
My Tip -
As soon as you enter the Basilica, close to the entrance, is the sculpture of Pieta.
This beautiful sculpture depicts the Virgin Mary holding the dead body of her son Jesus Christ. This is the only sculpture to have been signed by Michelangelo.
There are a lot of people struggling to see this artwork, so wait for your turn patiently. This is like watching the famous Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum in Paris. You just have to wait for your turn.
Entry to the ground floor of the Basilica is free but please mind the dress code.
St. Peter's Dome
The Dome, designed by Michelangelo is truly magnificent. One just can't stop looking at the intricacy of its design from the square below.
If you wish to go to the top, then entry is paid and it takes 300 steps to climb to the top. We gave this one a miss since we were short of time, but if you can, then I am sure it's worth its while.
Vatican Obelisk
The 25.5 m high obelisk is in the centre of St. Peter's Square and you can't miss it. It was brought from Alexandria, Egypt. What makes it special is that it is the only remaining standing obelisk in Rome since Roman times.
Vatican Museums
You must have read a lot about the Vatican Museums. There are a total of 54 galleries that are collectively called museums.
The museums are massive, filled with jaw-dropping artworks full of colour and creativity. We spent almost 3 hours, gaping at the stunning art pieces and collectables the museums have to offer.
There are artworks from across civilizations. The Raphael Rooms are also quite interesting. There are depictions of many important historical events here.
The star of this trip is, of course, the Sistine Chapel.
The chapel is stunning to say the very least. The fresco by Michelangelo of the Last Judgement on the chapel's altar wall is truly awe-inspiring.
Most of us are just tourists and not connoisseurs of art but the drama and colour of this fresco exude grandeur and richness that is sure to catch your fancy.
The famous painting on the ceiling in the chapel is the depiction of God extending his hand towards Adam. We have all seen this artwork in the famous Hollywood movie '2012' when an apocalypse hits the world and St. Peter's Basilica is shown crumbling down.
You have to crane your neck to see this artwork and you will be amazed at the intricacy and the delicacy of the work.
You will need at least 3 hours to go through the museums including the Sistine Chapel.
My Tip -
Must book all your Vatican tickets in advance. Must take a pre-booked guided tour of the museums. Otherwise, though you can see the stunning artwork, you won't be able to comprehend the historical significance of it.
Before I visited the Vatican, I thought guided tours were for history buffs only but in the Vatican, you will not mind becoming a student of history for this one time.
Photography is strictly prohibited inside the Sistine Chapel, so try to ingrain as much as you can on your memory.
Vatican gardens
If you have any time left after you visit St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican museums, then you must visit the Vatican Gardens. They are massive and cover over half of the total area of the Vatican.
They have stunning fountains, the Belvedere Courtyard and the perfectly manicured Italian Garden. Interestingly, a part of the Berlin Wall is also put on display here. This was a gift to the Vatican.
Access to the gardens is paid. We had spent a greater part of the morning trying to figure out our plan at St.Peter's Basilica, so there was no time and energy left to see the gardens, but with better planning, this should be included in your Vatican itinerary.
Our entire day trip to the Vatican lasted over 8 hours. Overall, it was a great trip. My only regret is that we should got history lessons from pre-booked conducted tours instead of planning lessons for a trip to the Vatican!
I hope this blog will help all those who are planning to visit the Vatican.
Nonetheless, we came face to face with so much history, art and architecture, that have all been kept alive in this smallest country of the world.
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