Vatican City Attractions: The Eternal Charm of Vatican City

Merely 0.44 square kilometres in size, the Vatican’s cultural, spiritual, historical, and political significance can’t be measured in terms of the area it occupies. Vatican City is a land-locked independent city-state in Rome, Italy. It is an ecclesiastical state; a seat of Roman Catholic power and faith, perhaps the most important in the world.

It exists as an enclave within Rome, on the western bank of the River Tiber. Its size and the nature of its state make it the world’s tiniest independent nation. The city’s borders are lined by medieval and Renaissance walls on all sides except the southeastern part, which is marked by St. Peter’s Square instead.

The Vatican has six traditional entrances with only three open to the public: -

1. The piazza
2. The Arco delle Campane (Arch of the Bells) in the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica
3. The entrance to the ‘Vatican Museum and Galleries’ in the north wall.

The north wall itself is beautifully painted with stories of Christ’s life; the visual narrative is spread out over eight panels, each presented by a descriptive title in the upper frieze. These paintings had begun with ‘The Nativity’ painted by Perugino on the altar wall which was eventually destroyed to make room for Michelangelo’s ‘The Last Judgement’.

Top Attractions in the Vatican City

The central Vatican City attractions are: -

• Peter’s Basilica: Built over the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle
• The Sistine Chapel: Adorned with frescoes by Michelangelo
• The Vatican Museums and Galleries: Home to Raphael’s Stanze (Rooms)
• The Vatican Gardens: Private urban gardens covering more than half the country
• Castle Sant’Angelo: Commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for him and his family, popes later used it at first as a fortress, then a castle, and finally now a museum
• The Borgia Apartment: Home to the decorative frescoes of Pinturicchio

Though its cultural life has seen a significant decline since the Renaissance, a time when Christian art and architecture flourished in the Vatican and Rome alike under the patronage of the Pope, there remains evidence of that great period that attracted thousands of tourists, art lovers, artists, and critics every year. Get ready to know about the many Vatican City attractions that you can visit.

St. Peter’s Basilica: The Heart of the Catholic Church

The first of the Vatican City tourist attractions; this is a beautiful structure of the Italian High Renaissance, the church was a replacement for the weakened Old St. Peter’s Basilica. The old one was built by the Roman Emperor Constantine while the new one was inaugurated on November 18, 1626, by Pope Julius II. It is the most famous work of Italian Renaissance Architecture and also the largest church on Earth by interior measure.

Its design was first conceived by Bramante then it redesigned by Raphael, and then Michelangelo gave it its final form. St. Peter’s is considered to be one of the holiest Catholic shrines and is widely considered to be the greatest of all churches in Christendom. So if there is one Church on Earth you must certainly visit, it is this.

The Sistine Chapel: A Masterpiece of Renaissance Art

Located within the Pope’s official residence in the Vatican City, the Apostolic Palace, this chapel was originally called the Cappella Magna (‘Great Chapel’). It gets its name from Pope Sixtus IV, who had it constructed in 1481. It is a space dedicated to the religious and functionary activities of the Pope and his office.

It is the site at which the new Pope is selected after the demise of the previous one, by the process of the papal conclave. Central to its status as one of Vatican City’s attractions are its gorgeous frescoes. These decorate the chapel’s interiors, the two most famous are the Sistine Chapel Ceiling and The Last Judgement by Michelangelo.

The Vatican Museums: A Journey Through Time

The public museums of the Vatican City house and display the enormous collection gathered by the Catholic Church and the papacy throughout the centuries. These include several of the most famous Roman sculptures and arguably the best masterpieces of Renaissance Art in the world. While 70,000 such works find a home under their roofs, only 20,000 of them are on display.

It was founded by Pope Julius II in the year 1640. It has 24 art galleries in total. After you’ve visited the Sistine Chapel and Raphael’s Rooms, both of which fall en route to the museums, you must feast your eyes on this spectacular display of European Art. On the list of Vatican City’s points of interest, this place ranks high for art lovers.

The Vatican Gardens: A Serene Oasis in the Urban Jungle

Owned by the Pope and located in the western part of the Vatican, these are private urban gardens and parks covering about half of the country. The garden houses buildings such as Vatican Radio (headquarters of the broadcasting service of the Vatican) and the Governor’s Palace (houses the Pontifical Commission) of the Vatican.

These gardens cover 57 acres of the city and were established during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. There are eighteen venerated images of Mother Mary enshrined across the garden. The garden has an official patroness: St. Therese of Lisieux, as designated by Pope Pius XI, she is titled the Sacred Keeper of the Gardens. This is the most serene of Vatican City’s attractions.

Castel Sant’Angelo: A Fortress with a View

Also known as the ‘mausoleum of Hadrian’, this is a huge cylindrical building in Parco Adriano, Rome, Italy. Parco Adriano itself is east to the Vatican City. This is one of the most impressive places to visit in Rome. Built in the time of and commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian to serve as a mausoleum for him and his family, it was eventually repurposed at first as a fortress, then a castle, and finally rendered into a museum. This place stands out for its architectural uniqueness among Vatican Tourist attractions.

At one time, it was the highest structure in Rome. It has an exciting history with several relevant sculptures and artworks on display within it. One can observe its antiquarian architectural aspects such as ‘Hadrian’s Mole’, or the tomb of Emperor Hadrian and the medieval elements that were added to the structure in the 14^th century by Pope Nicholas III upon its conversion into a castle, such as the covered fortified corridor that connects the castle to St. Peter’s Basilica called Passetto Di Borgo.

Spiritual Experiences in Vatican City

1. Attending Mass at St. Peter’s Square: The Vatican holds masses on several and various occasions whether it be Papal masses at St. Peter’s Basilica or the Sunday Mass taking place at 10:30 a.m. every Sunday. The square itself can accommodate about 80,000 people and the Papal masses have a capacity to hold 15,000 people. Some of these events require tickets and it is advisable to arrive one to two hours early in order to find a good spot.
2. The Scavi Tour: Exploring the Necropolis Under St. Peter’s Basilica: This is a one and a half hour guided tour of St. Peter’s underground necropolis. This is an ancient cemetery that houses St. Peter’s Tomb, it is an exclusive tour with a maximum of 250 people allowed everyday with only pre-booked guided groups being permitted.

During this tour, you’ll learn about the ancient burial site, the Roman Tombs, and ancient mausoleums. At St. Peter’s Tomb, you can see the bones of the Prince of the Apostles. This may be a spiritually powerful experience for some.

Rome: Home to the Vatican and Much More

Rome is an ancient city within which the Vatican is an enclave, and both the larger city and the enclave within have much to offer every visitor. It is always a good idea to opt for Vatican City tour packages which keep in mind the preferences and comfort of travelling groups, couples, or individuals. These packages have a well-thought itinerary with comfortable accommodation at great hotels and delicious Italian cuisine. Rich in pasta, fish, fruits, and vegetables, Italian cuisine is one of the most salivating on Earth. The best of Italy awaits you with Rome, the Vatican, and much more.