Your final day in Rome will be spent in the Vatican City, which is the world’s smallest nation.
Vatican City is essentially a nation within the city of Rome. It is so little that you can traverse it in a short amount of time. It serves as the foundation of Roman Catholicism.
There are four key attractions for tourists here:
Be ready to be amazed because the Vatican Museums are home to one of the world’s greatest collections of art. The Raphael Rooms, The Tapestries Hall, and The Maps Room were highlights. Best appreciated on a guided tour; details are provided below.
- Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel, whose ceiling is the absolute highlight for many tourists, is also housed in the Vatican Museums. painted by a teenage Michelangelo, who spent 4 years painting frescoes while lying on his back to decorate the ceiling. Later, he came back to paint the Last judgement on the chapel’s side. This is amazing considering he was a sculptor rather than a painter.
This masterpiece will live long in your memory. The conclave, during which the cardinals chose a new pope, also took place in the Sistine Chapel.
- Piazza San Pietro (Saint Peters Square)
The lone and principal square in Vatican City is this one. It is the location where worshippers used to congregate when the pope celebrates mass, and you have seen it in pictures before. The Square was created by Bernini, and admission is undoubtedly free.
- St. Peter’s Basilica
This is the sizable church in St. Peter Square that is devoted to Saint Peter. The Vatican Museums visitors can escape the line by entering the basilica right after leaving the museums, but lineups may be lengthy otherwise.
The magnificent Dome, which was also created by Bernini, and Pietra, a statue by Michelangelo, are the church’s principal attractions. As you must ascend the steps, I advise visiting the dome first. (and a different ticket is required for that).
The ideal method to make the most of your three days in Rome and visit the Vatican:
All locations are accessible on your own, but your experience will be constrained and you will probably waste time in queue. Start early to fit in extra activities in the afternoon.
Both St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter are open to the public without charge, however reservations are required to enter the Dome of St. Peter.
A pre-purchased ticket is required to enter the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums. Additionally, if you have a Rome Tourist Card or Omnia Card, you can reserve a time slot. The choice to skip the queue is also available.
However, taking one of these two suggested tours is the best way to take in the Vatican:
- Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel: Skip-the-Line Guided Tour
Visit the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums without waiting in queue for tickets. Admire well-known creations by artists like Bernini, Raphael, and Michelangelo. Saint Peter’s Square access. Depending on what suits you most, you can choose among trips that are 2, 3, or 4 hours long.
- Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and Gardens: Skip-the-Line Guided Tour
This tour is perfect you if you want to see the Sistine Chapel, the museums, and the stunning Vatican Gardens.
- Castle Sant’ Angelo
After your morning in Vatican City is over, proceed towards the castle-fortress Castle Sant Angelo, which was built in AD 139. Emperor Hadrian, whose remains is buried here, constructed it. It houses the National Castel Sant’Angelo Museum, which has a significant collection of sculptures, paintings, and weapons from the Middle Ages.
The pope has previously utilised the hidden passageway (Passetto di Borgo), which connects to the Vatican, to flee when things were dangerous.
Ponte Sant’Angelo, the bridge in front of the stronghold, provides particularly wonderful views of the fortress (take a picture), and if you continue on it, you will soon return to Piazza Navona.
Rome offers so much that you could spend your entire life exploring it, but if you followed this plan, you would have seen all the major sights.
There are two wonderful ways to end your vacation in Rome.
At Pincio Gardens, you might want to start by watching the sunset. People congregate on the terrace, where there is frequently live music, to watch the sunset (which is late in the summer but may be different in the off-season).
Joining a culinary tour is the alternative, a more thrilling choice that also addresses the question of “what should I eat for dinner in Rome”! When it comes to food tours, Rome is among the top European capitals (believe me, I’ve taken a couple throughout the continents).
Here are 3 Rome food tours you might want to take into account for your final evening in Rome. You have a fallback option because some of them might be booked solid.
- Street Food Tour of Rome with Local Guide
a 2.5-hour guided walking tour of Rome that involves sampling local cuisine. Pick a small-group or private tour to sample artisanal treats like pizza, suppl, and gelato.
- 4-Hour Food Tour by Night
The city’s most culinary neighbourhoods are visited during this evening food tour. Rome offers some of the best cuisine, wines, and regional goods in the world, all of which you may sample. contains more than 20 tastings.
- Pasta & Tiramisu Workshop with Dinner
a culinary course in the middle of the city. Learn how to create excellent homemade pasta and the traditional Tiramisù dessert using just basic, seasonal ingredients. After class, savour the meal you prepared.