About
The Vatican City, one of the most sacred places in Christendom, attests to a great history and a formidable spiritual venture. A unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces lie within the boundaries of this small state. At its centre is St Peter's Basilica, with its double colonnade and a circular piazza in front and bordered by palaces and gardens. The basilica, erected over the tomb of St Peter the Apostle, is the largest religious building in the world, the fruit of the combined genius of Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini and Maderno.
Supporting sources: Legacy import provenance, Wikipedia
Plan your visit
Hours
Public access to Vatican exterior areas and St Peter's Square is generally daytime and security-controlled. Vatican Museums: Monday-Saturday 08:00-20:00 (final entry 18:00); last Sunday of each month 09:00-14:00 (final entry 12:30) except listed feast-day closures.
Admission
Free
When to go
- Time of day: Morning, Afternoon
Features & amenities
What to expect
- Indoor + outdoor
What to bring
- Water
- comfortable shoes
Good to know
- Partially accessible
- Watch out for
- The Vatican Museums state that tickets should only be purchased through the official portal tickets.museivaticani.va and warn about lookalike scam domains charging inflated prices.
Tags
Inside Vatican City
Planning Vatican City
The rest of my Vatican City saves, on the city's planning pages.