Vatican City is simply amazing. My wife and I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel and tour this historic and wonderful place. There is so much to see and do that you definitely want to plan a couple of days or at least a full day to see most of the sites. The one thing we didn’t get to do was to see the “Scavi” or the excavations of the underground necropolis under St. Peter’s Basilica. Next time we visit, we will make sure to reserve a time to see this area of St. Peter’s Basilica.
You’ll want to arrive early at the entrance to the Vatican. Don’t be surprised if you have to stand in a line that wraps around the outside of the city’s wall and extends for a very long way. In the high season, expect people to be a little pushy, irritated, and a sea of people moving through the halls and rooms. We were there in November, and the line was still long, but it did keep moving at a steady pace. Once inside, we were able to move at a comfortable pace. We rented a headset so that we could follow along on a self-guided tour. Wear comfortable shoes as you’re going to on your feet most of the day.
There are so many things to see that you’ll be overwhelmed on your first visit. You might want to pick up a map, or Rick Steve’s books (you can get one on Amazon.com here https://www.amazon.com) do a good job of mapping out what to see if you’re limited on time.
The sites you’ll see and experience.
The Vatican City houses the Vatican Museums and Saint Peter’s Basilica, and Saint Peter’s Square, among other things.
When you step into Saint Peter’s Basilica, you will be in awe of the size. To see it in person instead of on TV is simply amazing. The Basilica will hold 20,000 people, and there are even markings on the floor of where other Churches would fit within this Basilica walls. As you enter, make sure to see Michelangelo’s Pietà. Someone tried to deface it, so it now sits behind glass. It’s his only work that he ever signed.
Here are just some of the things we saw. I’ll post more at another time as I have a chance to go through more of my photos. The one place that no photo can do justice to the beauty and reverence (even if you were allowed to take photos) is the Sistine Chapel. Make sure you take the time to stand in silence and appreciate the beauty of the Chapel.
Enjoy the photo’s and please post your thoughts and photos of this most amazing place.
Other great places to visit.
