The Vatican is a unique "state within a state", a popular tourist center and a religious shrine for millions of Catholics from all over the world. It has its own government, bank and armed forces, and all the subjects of this enclave state have a passport.
You can get to the Vatican from almost anywhere in Rome by public transport. Walking enthusiasts will love the walking route from the center of Rome or Piazza Venezia to the enclave.
Tourists from all over the world come to the Vatican to see with their own eyes the unique frescoes of the Sistine Chapel, visit St. Peter's Cathedral or visit the Vatican Gardens. Other attractions in the Vatican include Raphael's Stanza, the Vatican Library, the Egyptian and Etruscan museums, and the Pinakothek.
Pilgrims most often visit their shrine during the election of a new Pope, as well as at Christmas and Easter. For its visitors, the Vatican offers a variety of souvenirs - stamps, money with local symbols, travel albums, postcards and magnets.
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What to see in the Vatican?
The most interesting and beautiful places, photos and a short description.
St. Peter's Square
One of the most famous landmarks of the Vatican. St. Peter's Square, built in the 17th century, is located in front of the cathedral of the same name. The line, visually continuing the symmetrical semicircles of colonnades that form the square, is the outer border of the Vatican. The square is decorated with two fountains and an Egyptian obelisk brought by Caligula to Rome.
Apostolic palace
The official residence of the Pope consists of a whole collection of palaces, galleries and halls, united by passages. The Apostolic Palace houses the Papal Apartments, several chapels, the office space of the Roman Catholic Church, and the Vatican's museums and library. Here you can visit the Pinacoteca, the Sistine Chapel and Raphael's Stanzas.
Saint Paul's Cathedral
St. Peter's Basilica is the real heart of the Vatican. In the 4th century, a small basilica was erected over the supposed tomb of the Apostle Peter, which in the 16th century it was decided to rebuild into a grandiose cathedral. The building was consecrated in 1626. Such great masters as Raphael, Michelangelo and Bernini worked on the creation of St. Peter's Cathedral.
Grotta di lourde
The artificial cave of Grotta di Lourde, located in the territory of the Vatican Gardens, is a miniature copy of the French Lourdes Grotto. The reason for the construction of the Grotta di Lourde was the Pope's dogma in 1854. Construction of the cave began in 1902 and was consecrated by Pope Pius X on March 28, 1905.
The Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel is a unique religious and cultural monument of the Renaissance. Not too remarkable in appearance, the Sistine Chapel became famous all over the world thanks to its frescoes. Works by Botticelli, Rosselli and Perugino in 1536-1541 were supplemented by Michelangelo's grand Last Judgment. Currently, the Sistine Chapel is used for holding conclaves.
Pinakothek
The Vatican Pinakothek was founded in the 18th century by Pope Pius VI, and received its own building in 1932. This art gallery, open to the public, consists of 18 rooms, in which more than 400 paintings are exhibited in chronological order from the 12th to the 19th century. Here you can see the works of Caravaggio, Raphael, Giotto, Perugino, Titian and other famous masters.
Vatican gardens
The famous Vatican Gardens were first mentioned in the 13th century, when their main use was to grow vegetables, fruits and medicinal plants. Now the Vatican Gardens, with an area of more than 20 hectares, have a decorative value, and you can visit them only with a guide. There is a heliport for connections with Rome airports.
Raphael's Stanzas
Raphael's Stanzas are called four small rooms in the Papal Palace, decorated with frescoes by the great painter. Work in these premises was carried out from 1508 to 1517. Some of the frescoes that adorn, in particular, the Hall of Constantine, were made after the death of Raphael by his students.
Villa Pia
The Villa of Pope Pius IV, also known as the Casino Pius, was built in the middle of the 16th century. Currently, the building houses the headquarters of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. Villa Pia consists of two pavilions and two covered walkways. All rooms are decorated with frescoes and statues, and the floors are tiled with majolica tiles.
Pio Clementino Museum
The Pio Clementino Museum of Ancient Art was created on the instructions of Pope Clement XIV and Pius VI, for which it got its name. This vast museum was founded in the 18th century in the Belvedere Palace. Here are collected sculptures depicting people and animals, several mosaics and sarcophagi, as well as many Roman busts.
Church of Santo Stefano degli Abyssini
The Church of Santo Stefano degli Abyssini is considered one of the oldest churches in the Vatican. It was built in the 5th century, but after a while it was destroyed. In 1159, the church was rebuilt again, after which it underwent several renovations. Today Santo Stefano degli Abyssini is a working church, decorated with a unique 15th century fresco.
Borgia Apartments
The Borgia Apartments are located on the floor below Raphael's Stanzas. These rooms at the end of the 15th century were the private chambers of Pope Alexander VI. The apartment consists of five rooms decorated with frescoes. Pope Alexander VI personally chose the subjects for the drawings. Apart from the rooms, the Borgia apartments also include the treasury and the Pope's bedroom.
Swiss Guard
The Swiss Guard was created in 1506 and is currently the only armed forces of the Vatican. Guardsmen take part in masses and diplomatic receptions, they guard the chambers of the Pope and the Secretary of State, and also guard the entrance to the Vatican and all floors of the Apostolic Palace.
Niccolina Chapel
The very modest room of the Niccolin Chapel (only 6.6 × 4 m) consists of two tiers. This is one of the oldest premises of the Apostolic Palace. The walls of the Nikkolina chapel are decorated with unusually beautiful frescoes dedicated to the life of St. Stephen and St. Lawrence. The famous Italian artist Fra Beato Angelico performed the painting.
Gregorian Etruscan Museum
Since 1828, traces of ancient settlements have been discovered in Southern Etruria. It was decided to collect all the finds discovered during these excavations into one exhibition. This is how the Etruscan Museum was created, which was opened in 1837. Various household items, a bronze statue of Mars and a marble portrait of Athena are exhibited here.
Pinia's courtyard
The Pinecone Courtyard, as the courtyard of Pinia is also called, is one of the attractions of the Vatican. This place got its name in honor of the bronze cone located in front of the Bolvedere Palace. In 1990, Pinia's courtyard was additionally decorated with a huge spinning golden ball about 4 meters in diameter.
Vatican Apostolic Library
The collection of the unique Vatican Library began in the 15th century. Currently, it includes a huge number of books (including in Latin and Greek), manuscripts, prints, maps and coins. The library rooms are decorated with frescoes on a religious theme.
Gregorian Egyptian Museum
Founded in 1839, the Gregorian Egyptian Museum contains various pieces of art from the Egyptian dynasties. The museum consists of 9 rooms, which display ancient Egyptian sarcophagi, mummies, statues and steles, household items of the ancient Egyptians, as well as Christian and Islamic ceramics.
Chiaramonti Museum
Chiaramonti is an antique museum of classical sculpture, created between 1805 and 1807. The museum consists of a large arched gallery called the Corridor and two halls. Chiaramonti houses sculptures of the Roman era, art objects dedicated to Roman and Greek mythology, as well as more than 3 thousand fragments of unique inscriptions.
Leonin wall
The medieval fortress, called the Leonine Wall, surrounds, in addition to the Vatican, the Borgo region. After the Saracens attacked Rome in 846, it was decided to start building a defensive wall. The Leonin Wall, designed to protect the Vatican from Muslim attacks, was built from 848 to 852.
