Visiting the Vatican and Rome
Located within the boundaries of Rome, Vatican City is the smallest country in the world and the seat of Roman Catholicism. As many as 20,000 visit the Vatican on any given summer day, stirred by the chapel ceilings and art-lined corridors where secret conclaves meet to elect spiritual leaders. Whether you are catholic or not, the Vatican is one of the most spiritually inspirational places in the world.
From the moment we arrived I was awestruck by the overwhelming sight of thousands of other travelers visiting from every corner of the world. We heard so many different languages being spoken as people stop to pose for pictures, arm in arm in front of one of the saintly columns surrounding the plaza.
All roads lead to Rome
The Vatican is open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm (final entry at 4pm). Make a point of spending the entire day at the Vatican if you can. The Sistine Chapel is by far the most famous stop, but it is currently not open to the public (Jan 2020). But, fear not, there are a number of other chapels, museums, nooks crannies and corridors that are just as awe inspiring as the Sistine. Taking into consideration that most of the guided tours are 2.5 + hours, you want to allow yourself the time to engage with your guide, ask questions and pictures whenever allowed.
Snacking on the Move
Making a day of the Vatican comes with a lot of walking and need for snacks. There are a few small cafes, street cart vendors and convenience shops that serve lunch, pastries, snacks and beverages. Perfect foods for eating on the run.
If you choose to bring your own snacks, be aware that security will be happy to remind you that food and drinks are not allowed in all areas of the Vatican. Always look for signs before snacking. Also, a good point to remember is that if you bring a heavy bottle of water, you will have to carry a heavy bottle of water while standing and walking all day.
Go With a Group
Like any great adventure, it's always best with friends. Together you will have a stories and adventures to recount for a lifetime. Even better than bringing your friends, we also recommend seeing the Vatican as part of a private guided tour group. We work with a large number of established tour companies that provide complete Rome tours custom to the needs of your group. Anytime that you can visit a world treasure like the Vatican with a private guided tour, take it. The one-on-one time and wealth of information that well-trained tour guides provide is worth every effort.
Keep it Easy and Safe
With so many people visit the Vatican every single day, making it the public spaces a hunting ground for nefarious predators, pickpockets and thieves. Being aware of the risk and making preparations will keep you and your travel group safe during your visit.
Don’t bring anything that you won’t need during your time at the Vatican. You will be standing a lot, so you’ll be carrying it. If you arrived on a group tour bus, verify that your bus will be locked during your stay at the Vatican and leave anything you don’t need on the bus.
Make sure that there is nothing in your outside pockets.
There will be gypsies, beggars and knock off souvenir stands throughout the courtyard. Most of them are friendly to tourists, but anyone can be taken advantage of at any time.
Keep your head on a swivel. You’ll find yourself getting a neck ache about an hour into your tour. That means that you’re looking up more than you’re watching your surroundings. Be aware.
Photo Ops
The Vatican is an immensely large place. The scale of the courtyard we see behind reporters can’t be conveyed on television. There are beautiful pieces of artwork around every corner. Take it all in, but look at the little things around the Vatican that you wouldn’t expect. Like the fact that there is a beer cart right in front of the main entrance. I liked to think it was “blessed beer”.
Just accept the fact that every photo you take will have a crazy looking European in the middle of a movement that makes them look odd while at the Vatican. This lends itself to some crazy moments.
A couple of photo ops that shouldn't be missed:
Buy and Mail a Postcard from the Vatican gift shop. The official Vatican postage stamps are beautiful, but this tiny self-sufficient post office is the embodiment of snail mail. Your postcard will be a nice surprise when it is delivered the following month.
The Vatican Staircase makes for a beautiful photograph from the top looking down, from the bottom looking up, and midway along the hike.
For more great photo opportunities around Rome, visit www.astrollaroundtheworld.com.
