When we returned from our European tour I was asked one question the most: “What was your favorite part of the trip?” Honestly, it’s very hard to narrow it down. When you’re in Europe for two weeks and experienced what we did in that time, you can’t just pick one thing over another. I also think it’s difficult because it was my first time in Italy and France, so everything was new to me. As tough as it was to pinpoint just one thing about the trip, I decided to pick a favorite from each country. My pick for Italy is Vatican City. Rome was a very close second, but since our rental apartment was right around the corner from St. Peter’s Square, and the fact I find the Catholic faith fascinating, I’m going with the Vatican which is a country of its own.
No, I am not Catholic. However, I find the customs and rituals fascinating. I mean come on, using white smoke to announce a new leader? That’s awesome! Anyway, this is supposed to be about Vatican City, not Catholicism. When our taxi was taking us from the airport to our apartment, I saw St. Peter’s Square and couldn’t believe we were so close. Walking there only took 15 minutes. It was a sight to behold. I did my best to plan our excursions ahead of time, and in this case, I’m very happy I did. Like our other excursions, I worked with City Wonders. The itinerary was breakfast in the courtyard, followed by a guided tour through the museums then the Sistine Chapel.
Unfortunately, cameras were not allowed in just about every area of the museums and the Sistine Chapel, and they do enforce it, but I was able to take some pictures in other areas. When you finally make it inside the chapel, talking is not allowed. Security enforces that as well. The Chapel is a holy place and a sight to behold. It’s a humbling experience. When you look up at the ceiling you can’t help but wonder how Michaelangelo did it. The precision, the details, his time. You can’t take your eyes off it. I was stunned. I’ve included a picture of it below, but I did not take it.
The artwork in the museums is also worth a look. Go downstairs and view where the previous late popes are laid to rest. Unfortunately, you can’t take pictures down there either, but I was fascinated by the history of this place. I wanted to see the late Pope John Paul II’s tomb, but it was closed off. Maybe you’ll have better luck than we did.
I highly recommend finding a touring company, such as City Wonders, to help you plan your trip to the Vatican, especially if you don’t want to wait in line. People were lined up at 5 AM just to get in. Thanks to City Wonders, we walked right in without waiting. It is worth the investment, trust me on that.
There are, obviously, many things to do in Rome and beyond, but seeing the Vatican in person was truly an experience I will never forget. If you’ve ever been to the Vatican, tell me about your experience. Or, is it on your bucket list? Thanks for reading and feel free to share my Substack page with your friends and family.