Vatican City Sightseeing

One of the most sought after sughtseeing destinations for those on a vacation to Italy is the Vatican City. Most people do not know that this is actually sovereign city-state, which means that it makes its own rules and has its own governing system, independent of the Italian system.

The Vatican City is a state within the city of Rome, surrounded by a wall. It was formed in 1929 under an agreement between the Kingdom of Italy and the Holy See and is the smallest independent state in the whole world with only a little over 100 acres. . The Holy See refers to the central governing system of the Catholic Church headed by the Pope, who is also known as the Bishop of Rome.

The Vatican City itself is home to the official residence of the Pope and is visited by millions of people each year sightseeing in Italy.

To get to the Vatican City you will first visit the famous St. Peter's square. This square is characterized by fabulous Baroque architecture from the 17th century, including symbols of the church motherly embracing its people in its arms.

St. Peter's Basilica is another place that I recommend you visit while sightseeing in the Vatican City because it is also found in St. Peter's square. It is the most distinctive building in the Vatican City and this church's dome can be seen for miles around Rome. St. Peter's Basilica seats 60,000 and is said to be the largest building in the Christian church. It is noted for being the burial site of St. Peter who is said to be the founding father of the Catholic Church by being the first Bishop of Rome. The discovery of his tomb was announced in 1950 after a decade of archeological research.

Catholic tradition says that St. Peter is buried under the altar of this Basilica and that all the Popes since then have also been buried in the Basilica the most recent being Pope John Paul II back in 2005. At the entrance to the Basilica are statues of Christ, St. John the Baptist and 11 of the 12 apostles. You can enter the Basilica for free during your Italian sightseeing vacation, but make sure you are properly dressed with no bare shoulders or knees. If you would like to attend mass you should go to the Basilica on a Sunday.

There are several other places to see here during your Italy vacation. The largest museum in the world is also found in the Vatican City. It has over 1400 rooms and galleries that represent 3000 years of art. The Sistine Chapel is also found here and is known for being the private chapel that the cardinals go to when electing a new Pope.

So what is the best way to see all the sights that the Vatican City has to offer during your Italian sightseeing vacation? There are plenty guided tours that can be taken for half a day or a full day. You can take a guided tour of only the museum or a guided tour which includes all the important places of interest in the Vatican City. This will ensure that you don't miss a thing while sightseeing in the Vatican City.

Sightseeing in Rome

Rome is the bustling heart of Italy. A modern capital in every sense of the word yet steeped in history, with a wealth of art, architecture and religion to suit every holidaymaker, traveler, academic or pilgrim.

Over 2,000 years of history have left their mark in all parts of this stylish metropolis. Tradition has it, that the city was founded by Romulus on Palatino one of the 7 hills on which Rome is built. The city stands near the Tevere river, which guarantees that wherever you are, you are never far from a stunning view of the city.

The most essential thing in Rome is good shoes! Good comfortable ones for your walks around the town and a few stylish pairs for evening promenades. Rome is one of the best places in Europe to buy some great designer shoes.

The whole place is like a huge, vibrant, open-air museum. Italians are a friendly people. Expect to be offered help if you are standing on a street corner with a map in your hand and a puzzled look on you face. Style is the order of the day when out in Rome. Good strong, but not bright colors, a scarf flicked fashionably over and a smart bag over your shoulder. No fanny packs please, they do spoil the line of your Gucci you know!

Avoid eating in the tourist cafes around the main spots such as St.Mark’s square as they are overpriced and very often with poor food and service. Go back a couple of streets to the small cafes frequented by the locals and you will get better, cheaper food and also get to dine and chat with the real Romans.

Here are the tops spots for sightseeing in Rome:

• Colosseum - this is probably the most famous landmark in Rome is a huge open-air stadium that could hold up to 50,000 Romans. Built by the Emperor Titus in AD80 it hosted games, gladiatorial combats and even could be flooded with water to provide a setting for reconstructions of famous navel battles.

• Sistene Chapel - Situated at the far and of the Vatican museum, which is a day out in itself. The chapel was in need of a little decoration so in 1508 Michelangelo was brought to paint the 10,000 sq foot ceiling, single-handedly! The resulting work took over 4 years to complete and is considered to be on of the finest works of art in the world.

• Trevi fountain - this is a huge and stunning eighteenth century fountain designed by Nicola Salvi. It is said that if you throw a coin with your right hand over your left shoulder you will one day return to Rome.

• Pantheon - a huge temple built by the Emperor Hadrian around AD120 it had, until 1960, the largest dome in the world. It also still has the original doors, now nearly 1,900 years old. A fascinating and magnificent building.

• Piazza Navona - this square takes its strange shape from the original arena built there for displays of horsemanship. It is now a busy, fun place packed with stalls and eateries in the daytime and portrait and caricature artists at night.

• Trastevere - although this is not the main tourist center of Rome, it a fascinating area full of winding lane and small shops selling interesting and unusual things. Great nightlife, food and a huge Sunday market. It is also home to what is said to be the oldest church in Rome. The beautiful Santa Maria the oldest part of which is said to date from the 3rd century AD.

• Villa Borghese - this is the largest area of parkland in Rome, it is a wonderful place to get away from the noise of the city for a while. It has wonderful trees, quiet walks, a lake where you can rent a boat, and a wonderful art gallery. It also holds outdoor concerts of classical music every July.

There are also many walking tours on offer and these are a great way to see the highlights of the city with a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide. Beware of over enthusiastic street traders in popular tourist spots such as the Trevi fountain.

AlthoughRome is a fairly safe city it is best to avoid the back streets at night. Stick to the main thoroughfares, which are usually a sight in themselves, as the stylishly dressed inhabitants go out for a stroll and a good meal. This can be a great time for “people watching”, especially if you are at one of the pavement tables that many restaurants and cafes have.

But the main focus of any holiday in Rome should always be on the architecture and history which is like nowhere else in the world.