Known as the country within a country and the smallest country in the world, Vatican City is an independent city-state located in Rome, Italy.
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| The famous entrance to the Vatican from Castel San't Angelo |
When you're visiting Rome, going to the Vatican is something you shouldn't miss. Here's what you need to know before you go.
About Vatican City
Vatican City spans just a little over 100 acres and is governed by a monarchy with the pope at its head. It has less than 1,000 official residents.
As a country, it produces its own Euros and has its own stamps. It issues passports and license plates, has a post office, and even has its own flag and national anthem. However, it has no hospitals and no delivery rooms so no one can be a Vatican citizen by birth. You can only get citizenship if you work in a certain capacity in the service of the Holy See.
Vatican City is also home to the world's shortest railway, with two 300-meter tracks and one station: Citta Vaticano. These railroad tracks were built only to transport goods.
This tiny city-state is where you can find St. Peter's Basilica - one of the holiest Roman Catholic sites. Apart from being the center of the Roman-Catholic religion and the permanent base of the popes, Vatican City is also a cultural center. It also houses some of the world's most famous works of art.
How to Get to Vatican City
Since it's close to the city center of Rome, Vatican City is easily accessible by public transport - either by metro or bus. Everything is accessible by public transport in Rome. All you need is Google Maps and mobile data.
By Metro
There are two metro stations close to Vatican City, depending on which direction you come from: Ottaviano and Cipro, both via Line A. Once you get off at either of these stations, Vatican City is only a 5-minute walk.
By Bus
When getting around by bus, you can take either bus 64 or 81. If you will be taking bus 64, get off at the last stop which is Piazza Stazione S, and then walk for 15 minutes to Vatican City. If you will be taking bus 81, get off at Piazza Risorgimento, and then it's a 5-minute walk to Vatican City.
Vatican City Dress Code
When visiting the Vatican, there's a particular dress code that you need to follow. It's one of the holiest places in the world so make sure that you are dressed conservatively, or else you won't be allowed entry to any of the buildings.
That being said, do not wear revealing clothes such as short skirts, dresses, and shorts. Avoid sleeveless tops or anything with a low neckline. When visiting during the summer and you're wearing a sleeveless top because it's warm outside, make sure to bring a scarf or shawl to cover your shoulders when entering the church and the Vatican museum.
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| in front of St. Peter's Basilica |
Things to Do in Vatican City
Even though it's a very small country, there are several points of interest that you can visit at the Vatican. It may not be as exciting as some of the activities in your Europe itinerary but I would recommend not missing out.
Visit St. Peter's Basilica
Apart from being one of the world's holiest Roman Catholic sites, St. Peter Basilica is also the resting place of its titular. St. Peter was the head of the twelve Apostles of Jesus and later became the first Bishop of Rome, making him the first pope.
Entrance to the basilica is free but there are long queues to get inside. This is why I'd recommend getting a guided tour of the basilica so you get to skip the line and make the most out of your visit.
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| St. Peter's Basilica |
Check Out St. Peter's Square
This is the large plaza located directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica. At the center of the square is an ancient Egyptian obelisk, erected at its current site in 1586.
The square was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini almost 100 years later, and that includes the massive Doric colonnades that welcome visitors into the Vatican. The square also features a granite fountain constructed by Bernini in 1675.
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| fountain designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini |
Take in the Art in the Sistine Chapel
Mainly used by the Sacred College of Cardinals when electing a new pope and for other important papal ceremonies, the Sistine Chapel is also, in itself, a huge work of art. Its ceiling was painted by none other than Michelangelo and it took four years to complete.
Once you're inside the chapel, pick a spot and listen to the Sistine Chapel audio guide by Rick Steves to fully immerse yourself in the art.
The Sistine Chapel is truly one of the most impressive places in the Vatican, but you can only enter it when you take a tour of the museums which brings us to the next item on this list.
Tour the Vatican Museums
When visiting the Vatican, you should definitely take a tour of the museums. This will probably take up a good 2 or 3 hours of your day, but it is worth it.
The Vatican Museums are made up of multiple museums. Purchasing a ticket gets you into all of them, plus the Sistine Chapel.
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| one of the galleries in the Vatican Museums |
Out of all the museum tours I did in Europe, this was easily my favorite. The Vatican Museums house the works of some of the world's most important and celebrated artists like Michaelangelo, Raphael, Caravaggio, and Bernini.
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| one of the famous statues in the Vatican Museums, "Perseus Triumphant" by Antonio Canova |
I hope this post was helpful if you're planning to visit the Vatican while you are in Rome. If you booked a guided tour that includes the basilica, the museums, and the Sistine Chapel, then you'd be able to do all the activities above in just half a day.
The highlight of my visit to the Vatican is touring the Vatican Museums. It was the most impressive museum I've ever been to and I believe it deserves its own blog post. And that's coming up next.
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