An independent city-state stretching just over 100 acres, Vatican City is the smallest country in the world! At just 1/8th the size of Central Park in New York, Vatican City has a population of approximately 900 people and is fully encircled by the city of Rome, Italy. Headquarters of the Catholic Church, this small country also features many of the world’s greatest art museums and is home to the largest art collection in Europe with over 65,000 masterpieces. From museums to galleries, to history and more, a trip to Vatican City will not disappoint!
#1 – St. Peter’s Basilica
Climb the Scala Regia steps to St. Peter’s Basilica, the world’s largest Christian Church and burial place of many popes. Enjoy viewing the church’s many beautiful works of art, highlighted by Michelangelo’s famous Pietá sculpture of Jesus on the lap of his mother Mary after the crucifixion. You can also visit the Vatican Grottoes, located beneath the church, where you will discover the tombs of the many previous popes who once ruled Vatican City!
#2 – Vatican Museums
With 54 different galleries, the Vatican Museums attract millions of visitors each year. Here, you can view the Pinacoteca Vaticana featuring works by Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci and the Collection of Modern Religious Art with almost 800 works by 250 artists, including such famous names as Rodin, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Kandinsky, Chagall, Klee, Dalí, and Picasso. You can also explore the Museo Pio-Clementino, a display featuring ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, or visit the four Raphael Rooms painted by the famous Renaissance artist, Raphael.
Click here for a virtual tour of the Vatican Museums!
#3 – Sistine Chapel
Take in the beauty of Vatican City’s world-famous Sistine Chapel and admire the fabulous frescoes by Renaissance artists Botticelli, Perugino, and Ghirlandaio and the stunning ceiling artwork completed by Michelangelo from 1508-1512. The Sistine Chapel was built during the 15th century under Pope Sixtus IV and today serves as a site for Papal ceremonies during the election of a new Pope.
#4 – Vatican Gardens
Visit the magnificent Vatican Gardens which cover more than half of Vatican City! Featuring three different styles, Italian, English, and French, the Vatican Gardens date back to medieval times and include a complex landscape of sculptures, fountains, forests, and floral arrangements. The gardens were first designed by Pope Nicholas III during the late 1200s and have grown significantly over the centuries now covering over 57 acres of Vatican City.
#5 St. Peter’s Square
In order to reach St. Peter’s Basilica, you must first cross through St. Peter’s Square. This giant plaza hosts several significant religious events and is known to be one of the largest and most beautiful squares in the world. Built during the 17th century, you can walk around the ancient plaza and admire the surrounding renaissance architecture or view the two magnificent fountains that sit on each side of St. Peter’s Square. If you’re lucky, you might even have the opportunity to watch the Pope give a Papal address here!