Vatican City: The Ultimate Guide

I never, in my life, imagined that I would ever visit Vatican City.

In fact, until recently, I did not even know that Vatican City was actually open to the outside world for tourism purposes. (And I have the audacity to call myself a travel blogger…)

I visited Vatican City with very little background information so I really had no expectations about what I would see.

I can now confidently say that a trip to Rome is just not complete without a visit to Vatican City. Trust me on this one.

If you’ve ever wondered what it is like to visit Vatican City, read on to find out how my experience really went.

Where In The World Is Vatican City?

Vatican City is an internationally recognized city-state the size of a small town. In fact, you can walk the entire perimeter of this country in a matter of 40 minutes. It lies near the center of Rome surrounded by high walls nearly all the way around.

Does It Cost Money To Visit?

Technically, no! You can in fact visit Vatican City for free. After reaching Rome, Italy, you can then go in to explore such locations as St. Peter’s Square where the Pope himself will often host Sunday mass. You can also enter St. Peter’s Basilica, a beautiful Renaissance-era church unlike many you will ever lay your eyes on. (The Pope will often host Mass inside here as well.)

Tip! Did you know that you can actually get married in one of the world’s most famous churches? If you have the patience to request the venue at least a year and a half in advance, you can have the wedding of your dreams in the world-renowned St. Peter’s Basilica.

Do You Have To Be A Catholic To Be Allowed In?

It is a common misconception that you have to be Catholic in order to enter Vatican City. There is no religious test or oath you have to pass in order to pass through the gates. On the contrary, Vatican City appears to welcome people of all faiths and this was apparent to me by just simply taking a quick glance around at the diversity all around. It would appear to be in the Vatican’s best interest to be so welcoming in order to rake in tourism money and to have their city-state continue to be such a highly sought-after tourist attraction. Regardless of your religious background, I think you will find the incredible collection of art, some of which is secular, to be worth the visit to Vatican City alone.

Is There A Dress Code?

Yes, virtually anyone can enter the gates of Vatican City. But that does not mean you can wear whatever your heart desires. Frequent travelers will be familiar with the common rules when it comes to dressing modestly before entering temples or places considered holy. Well, Vatican City is no different. Make sure you refrain from short shorts, miniskirts, sleeveless tops, and even hats. You do not need to wear specifically religious garb, crucifixes, or anything of the sort unless you should feel inclined.

What Am I Not Allowed To Bring?

Entering such a historic place, you will be tempted to bring all the camera equipment you own. But there is something to keep in mind here. Vatican City is notoriously crowded. I was told this, and I brushed it off because I could not imagine constant shoulder-to-shoulder crowds moving an inch a minute. But, depending on when you go, these conditions are exactly what you will face specifically while tunneling through the massive Vatican Museums. Having said that, it is highly recommended that you do not take a backpack. If you do, you may run the risk of being forced to check it in the cloakroom (which is provided free of charge.) If you do manage to get your backpack successfully through security, it is possible that it will be in the way of those around you.

So, which items are strictly forbidden? They would include umbrellas, selfie sticks, tripods, luggage, and of course, alcohol, and anything that could be considered a weapon for security reasons.

It can sometimes rain in Rome/Vatican City so instead of bringing an umbrella which will not be permitted inside past the cloakroom, opt for a poncho.

Do People Actually Live In Vatican City?

Believe it or not, people actually do live in Vatican City…but not very many. According to Vatican.com, “Unlike other countries citizenship in Vatican is not granted by birth but by appointment. Normally the citizenship is terminated when the appointment is over. Vatican Citizenship is extended also to spouses and close family (parents or descendants) of the Vatican citizen, but only if they are actually living together.” In most all cases, Vatican citizenship is not a lifelong occurrence because no one is ever born within the city walls (since there is no hospital.) It is estimated that less than 1000 people currently have citizenship and not all of them even live within the city walls. Additionally, only a tiny percentage of them are women, and they generally serve the role of nuns or laywomen.

For a unique perspective of what it is like to live in Vatican City, click here!

What Makes Vatican City So Special?

The answer to this one is a long and complicated one so i will just stick to the basics.

Vatican City is one of the last absolute monarchies in the world, alongside places such as Brunei, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Swaziland. This means that the head of the monarchy, typically a King, has total authority unrestricted by any laws of the land. In this day and age, most countries are ruled by some sort of democracy in which the power, in theory, belongs to the voting public.

Vatican City is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church due to it’s historical role in shaping this world religion. Devout Catholics around the world look to Vatican City as a spiritual homeland and source of their faith. Many Catholics believe that believers should journey to Vatican City at least once in their lives, similarly to the significance of Mecca to the Muslim faith.

Vatican City is also home to a huge array of pristine European art that can be found no where else on Earth. Within Vatican Museums lies over 20,000 pieces of art, with an additional estimated 50,000 pieces of art currently in storage! Tourists interested in history will find no shortage of gems from the art on the walls, to the religious St. Peter’s Basilica and Sistine Chapel, to the historical St. Peter’s Square.

The Vatican Museums

One of the main draws of Vatican City are the Vatican Museums. Blame it on my ignorance, but I actually had no idea before arriving here that touring a large museum would be a main part of my visit to this city. The aim of Vatican Museum is to preserve and promote the Catholic faith through the beauty of art and history. Art can inspire those to adopt, or keep, faith. To view beautiful religious art in person can inspire at the very least, a deep respect for the Catholic faith.

Art, aside from being a credible witness to the beauty of creation, is also a tool of evangelisation. In the Church it exists above all to evangelise: through art – music, architecture, sculpture, painting – the Church explains and interprets the revelation…  The Church has always used art to demonstrate the wonder of God’s creation and the dignity of man created in His image…

-MuseiVaticani.va

There are many separate departments to journey through. You will get the gist of it in one visit, but a true art lover or history buff will want to spend several days here. I did a half day tour and felt that was sufficient enough for me, but to each their own.

Some notable sections include: Gregorian Egyptian Museum, Raphael’s (4) Rooms, Pio Clementino Museum, the Niccoline Chapel, and the Room of the Immaculate Conception.

Sistine Chapel

Upon entering, you will be told that taking pictures is not permitted…but I could not resist. I believe that if you do not want anyone to take pictures of art, then it should not be a public tourist attraction that you are essentially making money off of. I think maybe the real reason they did not allow pictures is because the crowds are so large and hundreds of people trying to take a picture of the exact same thing just slows down the process of getting people in and out. I would also say that it is due to the flash that can be damaging to art. But the art in question is, for the most part all the way up on the ceiling. And if the issue really did have to do with the damaging flash from cameras, wouldn’t photography be banned in all of Vatican City?

***UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, my initial assumption was wrong. The real reason why photos are prohibited in this particular section of Vatican City dates back to a deal made in the 1980s. The Sistine Chapel was in dire need of a renovation but needed the funding to do so. The Japanese company Nippon was the highest bidder but in exchange for their “donation”, Nippon was granted exclusive photography rights.

As a result of the deal, Nippon produced multiple documentaries, art books, and other projects featuring their exclusive photos and footage of the Sistine Chapel restoration, including several celebrated collections of the photographic surveys that informed the project.

-MentalFloss.com

St. Peter’s Basilica

If you want to be absolutely blown away by just stepping into a building, I would highly suggest a visit into St. Peter’s Basilica. Within the complex of the small but mighty Vatican City lies the holiest site in all the Catholic world. St Peter’s Basilica is a church built on top of the tomb of St. Peter and unlike Vatican City, is absolutely free to enter.

The first version of this temple was completed in 349 AD and although it lasted many centuries, a decision was made to rebuild it using the expertise of many famous Renaissance artists of the time. St. Peter’s Basilica as we know it today was completed again in 1626.

The line to enter this church can be quite long, so the quickest way to enter with a guaranteed time slot is with a tour group. With so much to take in, I believe that taking a tour was a great way to see a little bit of everything while getting filled in on important historical context every step of the way.

St. Peter’s Square

If you take a tour, St. Peter’s Square is likely where you will end up at the conclusion. This well known square is a giant gathering place where the Pope actually holds Mass every month for the general public. At the top of the stairs on one side, you will see the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica. All around, you will see the square surrounded by 140 intricate statues of Catholic saints.

Entering St. Peter’s Square is completely free and a great way to wrap up your trip to Vatican City. From here, you can walk right outside of the city walls where you will leave the city-state of Vatican City and officially be back in Italy once more.

The Negative Side Of Vatican City

Vatican City is certainly a beautiful place full of history that I believe everyone should visit at least once in their life. Having said that, it does have a dark side worth mentioning.

Did you know that Vatican City technically has the highest crime rate…in the world? Yes, you read that right. There are 1.5 crimes for every citizen of Vatican City. Of course there is a small population but nevertheless, crime is rampant here. This is where thieves come to thrive. With all the beauty of Vatican City, and with many people visiting for the very first time, it is human nature to pay more attention to the beautiful artwork we have traveled many miles to see in person, than to our wallets and belongings in our pockets.

I urge you all who visit to please be mindful of your belongings at all times. It gets extremely crowded, particularly when walking through the Vatican Museums. It was less of a walk, and felt more like we were being herded like cattle. I am not joking. You may think that everyone else around you is an unsuspecting tourist like you, but this is not always the case. Only bring what you absolutely need, and keep important belongings tied around your neck or in a front pocket, preferably with a zipper. If possible, do not bring a backpack. Can you imagine how devastating it would be to lose your passport or credit card in the middle of your pricey European bucket list trip?

I want to clarify that you should not be fearful while in Vatican City. Use the same amount of common sense that you would use when traveling anywhere. Just know that you will be in very close proximity to strangers at unexpected times, so please be on high alert. For further clarification, here are some great tips to protect yourself from pickpockets.

I really hope that you have learned something new about Vatican City that you hadn’t known before! Have you ever been to Vatican City? Are you planning to go in the future? Was there anything important I missed that you would like to add? Please let me know in the comments below!

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