Visiting Vatican City is a gift that you absolutely have to give yourself once you arrive in Rome. Prepare yourself to discover its wonder.
The Papal State is a nation within the Italian state that contains treasures of rare beauty within its 44 hectares. Some names? St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museums, Vatican Gardens … are you ready to find out more about one of the smallest states in the world?
St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel
Fasten your seatbelts, our exploration of the places to visit in Vatican City starts at St. Peter’s Basilica.
The best artists of all time have given their contribution and their inspiration to create one of the largest basilicas in the world. It is certainly the largest of the 4 papal basilicas of Rome. The works began in 1506 and its commission was originally given to Bramante. In every phase, from the initial planning to the impressive monument we see today, there is the contribution of numerous and illustrious artists.
The Basilica of Saint Peter is a treasure chest. Along the sides of the 90-meter-long central nave, precious decorations illuminate your gaze at every step, not to mention the statues carved by famous sculptors. It-s impossible to draw up a list of everything there is to see in just a few lines. The building in itself, with the colonnade that embraces its visitors and the cupola that dominates Rome’s skyline, is an open-air monument. If we still need to convince you to visit it, we need only to write a few words: the Pietà, the Sistine Chapel and their common denominator, Michelangelo Buonarroti. La Pietà, one of the most famous sculptures of all time, is contained in a secure display case, protected from those who would try to deface this marvellous sculpture, as has happened in the past. This 174 cm tall sculpted block of marble is the result of the talent of a very young Buonarroti, he was in his early twenties at the time, and the work is considered one of the greatest western artistic productions of all time.
The Sistine Chapel, however, is a micro world in the Basilica. Famous everywhere, shown to the public thanks to numerous television documentaries in which Italian scholars have explained its every feature, the Chapel is without a doubt the protagonist of your day in the Vatican. But hold on tight, only with Dragonfly Tours will you have the unique opportunity to access the Sistine Chapel exclusively, and without waiting in any lines, and let yourself be carried away by the amazing art that surrounds you. Yes, you read that correctly, you can visit the Sistine Chapel after the opening hours to the public. It’s your chance for an unprecedented visit.
Already can’t wait to admire The Last Judgment?
Did you know that in fact the Sistine Chapel’s real name is Cappella Magna and was called “Sistina” in honor of Pope Sixtus VI who ordered its restoration? And that the painted surface covers about 1,100 square meters (almost 12,000 sq. ft)? Is this not enough reason for you to book your unique visit and have a VIP pass, something that Hollywood stars like Charlize Theron and Will Smith have already done.
Vatican Museums and Gardens
The Sistine Chapel is the final jewel that you will also visit at the end of your itinerary inside the Vatican Museums, 7 km of exhibition halls and corridors to stroll through to see a magnificent collection of countless works of art that the popes have accumulated over time. The museums are named in the plural precisely because they are a set of exposition halls ranging from ancient art to contemporary art of every genre and form, including artists like Matisse and Dalì. There are 30,000 admissions per day, but if you want, you can be the only visitor of this place where art reigns supreme.
Did you think that the beauty of the Vatican ended with its museums? You couldn’t be more wrong. The Vatican Gardens, the Papal state’s hidden green lung, will amaze you. Initially a place of rest for the pope, now they display unique monuments that also bear the signatures of great architects and painters. To preserve the garden’s beauty and charm, it is possible to visit them only on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm.
How to visit Vatican City and discover its world? Put yourself in the hands of our specialized team and choose your day tour of the Vatican.
Curious Facts About the Swiss Guard
Did you know that in Vatican City there is the smallest army in the world with only 110 recruits? It is that of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, the security corps set up to protect the Pope.
The official birth date of the Swiss Guard is January 22nd, 1506, and every year since then, on May 6th, in memory of the Sack of Rome during which the Swiss fought bravely to protect the Supreme Pontiff, the recruits swear an oath in the courtyard of Saint Damasus following a traditional ceremony. From that moment on, the soldiers have worn their “eccentric” and recognizable uniform whose designer has been the subject of debate for a very long time. For many years the design of the uniforms was attributed to Michelangelo, but this cannot be confirmed. The design of the uniform, with its iconic blue, red, and gold stripes, would seem in fact to be traced back to the Guard commander Jules Repond, who was inspired by Raphael, especially for the size of the sleeves.
Who can become a Swiss guard? All young men between 19 and 30 years of age of Swiss nationality who are at least 1.74 cm tall (5ft 9in,), high school graduates, single, and good at not being distracted by the many tourists who are accustomed to taking selfies while the guards are “at work.”