Vatican City Itinerary: History, Highlights & Must-See Landmarks

This diminutive nation, the smallest country on the planet, has the highest per capita wine consumption in the world; Vatican City has its own unique postal service, autonomous (and some say much more efficient) from that of Italy; you can conduct an ATM transaction in Latin; It is the only UNESCO World Heritage site that makes up an entire country. In Roman times, when the area that would later become Vatican City was called Vatican Hill, Pliny the Elder, the first-century philosopher, remarked that Vatican Hill was only known for snakes and bad wine.

Vatican City may be tiny, but there are ample amounts of things and spaces to explore in this .19-square-mile nation. This Vatican City itinerary will help you get the most out of your time. You can also put yourself in the hands of our experienced local guides to shepherd you through the very best of Vatican City on an action-packed 3.5-hour walking tour. 

Michelangelo designed the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica to be the tallest in the world.

How the Vatican Got to What It Is Today

In order to (literally) get to the Vatican to start your Vatican City itinerary, we have to (historically) get there by giving the intriguing backstory about how the approach to St. Peter’s Square from the Tiber River came into being. 

For centuries, there had been a battle brewing between the new and burgeoning Italian state and the Vatican. When Italy unified in 1861 and solidified its power, taking territory away from the Papal State north and northeast of Rome, the pope had no choice but to become a prisoner in his own domicile. In fact, from 1870 to 1929, the pope never left the Vatican. 

Then, in 1929, with one swipe of a pen, the two sides reconciled; Pope Pius XI signed the Lateran Treaty, an accord with Benito Mussolini, essentially recognizing the other’s existence and setting the boundaries for the Church’s new state. Vatican City, the world’s smallest nation at 108 acres, was born. What happened next is that Mussolini demolished entire blocks of medieval buildings between St. Peter’s Square and the Tiber River, creating a wide boulevard, the Via della Conciliazione (the Street of Conciliation), thus creating one of the most dramatic approaches in the world. 

The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

What should your Vatican City Itinerary contain?

St. Peter’s Square

Piazza San Pietro, or the Square of St. Peter, is one of the most iconic public spaces on the planet. Nearly everyone in the world with a TV has seen images of the pope standing on the balcony of the Basilica of St. Peter overlooking a massive flock of the faithful in the square. 

The square was designed by the great artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the second half of the 17th century. The reason why the space is so wide open—embraced by two huge colonnaded “arms” on each side—is that the pope at the time, Pope Alexander VII, requested a wide-open space so that it could accommodate as many people as possible. 

At the center of the square is an 85-foot-tall Egyptian obelisk, originally taken from Heliopolis in ancient Egypt. During medieval times, there was an unfounded belief that the gilt ball atop the obelisk contained the ashes of Julius Caesar. 

View from St. Peters Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica 

This grand basilica is the most famous Christian place of worship in the world. The gargantuan structure was completed in the early 17th century, almost exactly 1,300 years after the first St. Peter’s was completed on this site. An all-star team of legendary Renaissance and Baroque architects and artists gave a hand in building the “new” St. Peters, including Bramante, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Bernini. Interior highlights that can’t be missed are Michelangelo’s “Pieta” and Bernini’s monumental brass “Baldacchino,” a 100-foot tall “canopy” that serves as the focal point of the church.

The bronze used to make the “Baldacchino” was stripped from the roof of the Pantheon nearby. Likewise, much of the marble used to build St. Peter’s was filched from the Coliseum. Pope Nicholas II had 2,500 wagonloads of marble brought over from the ancient stadium.

There’s often a line to get into St. Peter’s. Admission is free, but there’s a security check upon the entrance. If you take our great insider’s guided tour of the Vatican, you’ll benefit from getting skip-the-line access. 

Read More: Facts about Vatican City

St. Peter’s Basilica in the distance

The Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums are in the top five of the greatest museums on the planet. The collection, founded 400 years ago , boasts some of the world’s most iconic art, including frescoes by Raphael, Da Vinci, and, of course, Michelangelo’s ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. The long fresco-bedecked halls, crammed with ancient statuary and centuries-old maps of the then known world, make for a fascinating few hours of gawking at art. For our Vatican City itinerary, if you want to ensure you appreciate what you’re looking at, consider taking a guided walking tour. 

In the early 16th century, Michelangelo was asked to paint something simple on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. But the famed artist, who at this time was more well known as an architect, decided to challenge himself. The result is possibly the most famous fresco in the world. It took the great artist four and a half years standing on a 60-foot-high scaffolding. 

Toward the end of Michelangelo’s life, he returned to paint the “Last Judgment” on the far wall. If you look closely, you can see how the painting style of the day had changed: from the harmonious Renaissance style on the ceiling to the more chaotic and ornate mannerism on the back wall. Fun fact: the image of St. Bartholomew holding his own skin is actually a self-portrait of Michelangelo.

Tip: Best tips for visiting the Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums house a total of fifty four separate collections!

FAQs

Why should you take a guided tour? 

Vatican City can really pack a big punch for such a diminutive place. You can try to do it on your own—and people have—but with a tour guide to lead you around you’ll get speedy, skip-the-line access and shepherded right to the most iconic structures and pieces of art you came there to see. No planning at all for your Vatican City itinerary; just leave it all up to the guide. Plus, you’ll then be debriefed on exactly what makes the objects in the Vatican are so invaluable and important to humanity. It’s a win-win. 

What time does the tour start and how long does it last? 

The starting time depends on what day you would like to take a tour. The tours, which are offered once or twice per day, are offered in the morning and sometimes in the morning and just after lunch. Check the schedule here. 

When is the best time to visit Rome and Vatican City? 

In terms of weather, Rome can swelter in the summer months and drop down to heavy jacket weather in the winter. For optimum temperatures, the shoulder season—March to May and September-October—are perfect. Also, there are fewer crowds during shoulder season. 

Michelangelo’s work demonstrates his skill in capturing human anatomy and emotion.

One Last Word …

If you’re looking for a deeper dive into Vatican City—one where you can let the guide to all the planning for you—make sure to sign up for one of our small group Vatican tours. Led by local guides, you’ll not only be able to skip the lines, but will have privileged access to this Sistine Chapel at night or early in the morning, enjoying your time in this beautiful site without the massive crowds that build up throughout the day.