"Vatican City - Holy See" Top 5 Page for this destination Vatican City by icunme

Vatican City Travel Guide: 1,707 reviews and 3,742 photos

Lights of Vaticano

My best view of the Vatican

NEWS FLASH - VATICAN MUSEUM can be seen under the stars - Friday evenings from 7 to 11! There is a much different atmosphere at night - serene and quiet - beautifully lit - usually fewer people. Last entry 10 p.m. - same prices as daytime - booking required.

NEWS FLASH Yes, John Paul II is on FACEBOOK]%L

NEWS FLASH ALL PAPAL AUDIENCES ARE CANCELLED FOR JULY 2011

There will be Wednesday General Audiences in April and May. There will be the 12 Noon Angelus on the preceeding and following Sundays in St. Peter's Square (for which tickets are not required). The audiences will be held either in St. Peter's Square or in the Audience Hall next to St. Peter's Basicilia at 10.30 AM. TICKETS ARE REQUIRED.

The Vatican Museum has an online reservation system. With the reservation -- or if you're on a guided tour -- you can bypass the long ticket-buying line. Hallelujah! Without a reservation, it's better to visit in the afternoon, when the museum's notorious ticket lines die down.

Last Sunday of every month is FREE entrance at the Vatican Museum with long ques -- unless you arrive and enter about 11 a.m. and you will still have plenty of time. Officially, the Musueum site says they close at 2. The last entrance is 12:30.

You can request Papal Audience tickets at the links below. Either directly at the Vatican Prefecture of the Papal Household or Santa Susanna, which is the church that serves the American community in Rome, and is always a good source of information and tickets for the Vatican audiences.
Go to: %L[http://www.vatican.va/various/prefettura/index_en.html]Prefecture of the Papal Household
or
Santa Susanna Click on Tickets at the bottom of the Santa Susanna page.

St. Peter's Basilica and related pages will be here in "Vatican City" - the separate City within a Country within Rome.

We posted a Things to Do tip regarding reservations for an Audience with the Pope. Yes, it is possible to request a reservation for an audience - it should be well in advance of your visit to Rome - view details in our tip.
While it is, indeed, not to be missed - it is not my favorite place for devotion and/or prayer, given the constant swarm of tourists and general lack of reverence. This is, unfortunately, a condition that prevails in many churches of Rome where you find the more notable art works.

Vatican a City in its own Country

Pieta encased inprotective glass in St Peter's

SCAVI reservations - The request for a reservation must be made directly by the visitor who wishes to participate in the tour. In the case of someone requesting who is not the visitor, the contact information for the visitor must be given; the Excavations Office will communicate directly with him/her concerning the visit.
There is no time limit for making a reservation. The processing of the request, which can even be immediate, depends on the number of requests presented presented and on the schedule of visits already reserved. Reservations must be requested in writing: by e-mail: scavi@fsp.va or by fax: (+39-06) 6987 3017, or directly in the Excavations Office (entrance to the left of the colonnade).
Full DETAILS on my Scavi - Things To Do tip

SISTINE CHAPEL video tour until you can go in person - awesome!
http://www.vatican.va/various/cappelle/sistina_vr/index.html

Go to FULL SCREEN to view every part of this Michaelangelo masterpiece. Click - zoom - drag your arrow in the direction you wish to view.
In the low left, click on the plus (+) to move closer, on the minus (-)
to move away - hold down left click to rotate. E N J O Y................
TO VIEW EVERY PART OF THE MICHAEL ANGELO'S MASTERPIECE JUST CLICK
AND DRAG YOUR ARROW IN THE DIRECTION YOU WISH TO SEE.

In the low left, click on the plus (+) to move closer, on the minus (-)
to move away. Choir is thrown in for free. Hold down the left clicker on your mouse to rotate the picture.

We'll be adding to this page as we experience the Vatican.

Two very useful websites for Vatican information include:

The Official Vatican website

Most User Friendly Site

Pace e bene,
Carol

Span of Saint Peter's Basilica

A rare moment with few tourists in St Peter's

View from St Peter's Basilica entrance - when you step inside, the sheer span of this Basilica is overwhelming

Pros and Cons

Pros:Astonishing in artworks and in size
Cons:Usually crowded - tourists' general lack of reverence
In a nutshell:A MUST SEE - regardless of your religion...........

Intro Updated May 6, 2011
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Reviews (59)

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Comments (42)

plan09 Apr 17, 2011 at 5:03 AM Report Abuse

Thank you for the information and photos about the display.
breughel Apr 16, 2011 at 7:33 AM Report Abuse

Hi Carol, quite helpful info about the beatification celebrations. Continued.
janetanne Apr 11, 2011 at 11:38 AM Report Abuse

Great tip for staying in the Convents! We have similar places here in Greece, but much more difficult to arrange..you should also be Greek Orthodox.
mvtouring Jan 17, 2010 at 2:14 AM Report Abuse

Vatican city is such a great place for me, wishing you happy travels for 2010. Thanks for lovely tips & photo's ;-)
travelgourmet Dec 21, 2009 at 1:23 AM Report Abuse

One of the most impressive sights in the world. St. Peter's Square, the Basilica and the Vatican Museum.
marielexoteria Nov 15, 2009 at 9:48 AM Report Abuse

Excellent Vatican City page. I didn't know you could book a tour to the City itself, very nice of you not to keep that to yourself hehe :)
hopang Sep 22, 2009 at 8:27 AM Report Abuse

Absolutely amazing Vatican City page with marvellous images. Certainly bring back fond memories of our trip there. We did not make it to Vatican Museum - definitely worth a visit! We hope to visit the museum on our next trip. ~ho & pang
ViajesdelMundo Sep 20, 2009 at 12:48 PM Report Abuse

WOW! such fab, detailed info, Carol! My 1st trip here was in '77with my dear Mother; we climbed up to top of the Vatican--got claustrophia a little; but grt views; now bn awhile since last there 2001 but got to attend a Mass by Pope doing a beatification!
spgood301 Sep 7, 2009 at 10:19 AM Report Abuse

I believe members of Congress still make appointments to the service academies; that hasn't changed from what I know.
gilabrand Sep 2, 2009 at 5:26 AM Report Abuse

Excellent guide to the Vatican. If I go again, I will follow your lead.