What to See in Vatican City, Rome, Italy

Home to the Pope, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, countless extraordinary works of art in the Vatican Museums and yet, this country only has a population of about 800. This would undoubtedly make Vatican City the smallest country in the world. Don’t let its size fool you, though, there is an absolutely astonishing amount of history to explore in Vatican City.

Many people seem to think you will not appreciate visiting Vatican City unless you are a devout Catholic. I can assure you this is not the case. The Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica and seeing the Pope in person, in my opinion, is something everyone can appreciate…no matter what you believe in. I really thought seeing the Colosseum would be the most amazing part of our trip to Rome, but Vatican City was by far my favorite part of this adventure.

The Papal Audience is held on Wednesday mornings in St. Peter’s Square and is your chance to see the Pope. The Pope will ride through St. Peter’s Square on his “Popemobile” and hold about an hour long service. If you arrive early, you can get incredibly close to the Pope. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).