Vatican

The Vatican

What would Rome be without a visit to the Vatican? Situated on the hill of the same name on the right bank of the Tiber River, the Vatican is only 44 hectares in size and is the smallest state in the world. The state in its current form dates back to a treaty signed with Italy in 1929. The enclave has about 1,000 inhabitants.

Besides St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel are a big tourist attraction. The museums consist of different departments and those who want to visit the museums should plan a little time. In several different collections, some of the biggest art treasures of the world are shown here. The museums are divided into several sections that range from oriental antiquities to a ethnological collection. The Vatican Picture Gallery features works by renowned artists such as Michelangelo and Raphael. A visit to the Sistine Chapel is also included in a visit to the museums.

More than half of the small state is made up of the Vatican Gardens. The gardens are only open to visitors on a guided tour. A guided tour is very interesting and along the way the visitor learns many interesting facts about the Papal States. Each pope made changes in the gardens according to his own taste. For example, Pope Paul VI had a helipad built.

The Swiss Guard has been responsible for the security of the Vatican and the Pope since 1506. You will encounter the young Catholics from Switzerland in their striking uniforms everywhere when you visit the Vatican.

The Vatican also has its own post office and in the souvenir shops you can get stamps to send your holiday greetings home from the small state. Big advantage: The holy mail is much faster than the Italian mail!

Tip of the editors

In front of the Vatican and the entrance to the Vatican museums, there are often very long queues during the day. To avoid these, tickets can also be purchased in advance online on the website of the Vatican Museum with an additional charge of 4 euros per ticket.