Vatican City of Rome

When you cross into the Vatican City of Rome, you have actually left Italy. Although you don’t have to have your passport stamped, the Vatican City is actually an independent city-state, with a population of approximately 300. It has its own armed force, the Swiss Guards, who you will easily recognize in their brightly striped pantaloon uniforms that were supposedly designed by Michelangelo. The Vatican also has its own postal system, which is known to be more reliable than the Italian system. There are three main sites to see in the Vatican City. St. Peter’s Basilica and its piazza, the Vatican museums (including the Sistine Chapel) and if you are having good weather, the Vatican gardens as well. When visiting, it’s important to realize that St. Peter’s and the Vatican museums are not located next to each other – in fact, the walk to the museums is quite a distance from St. Peter’s. There is a shuttle that leaves from the tourist office in St. Peter’s Square that will save you quite a walk. The museums are home to Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel, but that is actually the last stop on the tour. You’ll pass through literally miles of rooms, including works by Raphael, Caravaggio and other masters. If you don’t have time for the full tour, you can follow signs that will take you on a shorter route to the Sistine Chapel.