A trip to the Vatican is a real event even for an experienced traveler. It’s not often that you get the chance to visit the smallest state on the planet, which is a special enclave on the territory of Rome. The Pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, permanently resides here.

Dwarf state on the map of the world and Europe

Find a city on political map the world is not so simple because small sizes and small population.

Even after arriving in Rome, an inexperienced tourist will need a little time to get his bearings and find out the way to this mini-country.

In the capital of which state is it located?

The Vatican occupies a small part of the center of Rome and is based on the famous Vatican Hill, located in the northwestern part of the capital. It is separated from the Tiber River by only a few hundred meters.

Story

Although officially a state with this name exists only since 1929, the history of this religious public education dates back about 2 thousand years.

In ancient times this territory was called Ager Vaticanum and was located far outside of Rome, representing a swampy area. Villas and gardens were built here for the mother of the infamous Roman Emperor Caligula, Agrippina.

A little later, by order of the same Caligula, a small hippodrome. According to legend, it was on it that the Apostle Peter, a disciple of Christ, was crucified in 64 AD. e.

In the middle of the 8th century. arose on the territory of the present Vatican Papal State, in 1870 captured by the newly proclaimed Kingdom of Italy. In 1929, after negotiations between representatives of the Roman Catholic Church and dictator Mussolini, the modern Vatican was formed.

Useful information

The Vatican is an absolute theocratic monarchy governed exclusively by Holy See.

The highest rank of the Holy See, which holds full legislative, executive and judicial power on the territory of this state, is the Pope, who is elected for life.

After his death and during the conclave sessions that lead to the election of a new Pope, his functions are assumed by Kamerlengo.

Square The Vatican is only 0.44 square meters. km, and the population is just over 800 people. The official language is Latin. 100% of Vatican residents permanently residing in this city-state profess the Roman Catholic faith. You can pay for purchases here in euros.

The country does not border the sea and there are no mineral resources here. Be prepared for constant ups and downs: the local landscape is quite hilly.

To enter the Vatican visa required Italian or standard. A tourist visa can be obtained from the Italian Embassy by presenting the following documents:

• Original invitation or a certificate from the tour operator;
• Medical insurance;
• Certificate from place of employment, indicating your income;
• 2 profiles;
• Photo size 3x4 cm.

The visa gives the right to stay in Italy (including the Vatican) for 2 weeks, and obtaining it will cost $36. However, remember that there are no hotels owned by the Catholic Church: you will have to return to Rome to spend the night.

Popular cities, tour prices, currency, transport in Italy - you will find this and much more in.

Climate

The Vatican's climate is soft Mediterranean type. It is hot, dry and even sultry, and winters here are relatively warm and rainy. The thermometer rarely drops below +5°C, and in summer period The average air temperature is approximately +25°C.

The most precipitation falls, and its average annual amount reaches 700 mm. It snows extremely rarely in the Vatican.

Best time This is also the autumn months for visiting this tiny state.

How to get there?

To make your trip quick and enjoyable, it is important to find out in advance which way is best to get to the Vatican territory.

Travel from Russia

The Vatican does not have its own airport, so Russians need get to Rome. Alitalia and Aeroflot flights depart from here every day (flight time is 3.5 hours). Residents can fly to Rome by purchasing a ticket on the Rossiya State Transport Company flight, which is scheduled to depart twice a week.

There is no direct train connection between Rome and Rome. If desired, you can get to the Italian capital with two train transfers in Germany, but it is very expensive and will take about 50 hours.

If you want to get there by bus, you will also have to go through several transfers on the territory and travel for more than 2 days, which is very tiring.

1. St. Peter's Square with the cathedral of the same name, which features magnificent works art by Raphael and Michelangelo;
2. Apostolic Palace, uniting dozens of unique museums, including the Egyptian Museum, the Pio Clementino Museum, Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Library with many ancient manuscripts;
3. Park area, where small temples, beautiful fountains and original sculptures nestle under the canopy of oaks, olives and cypresses;
4. Etruscan Museum dedicated to history ancient people, who once lived on Roman lands;
5. Pinakothek, where thousands of works of art are stored outstanding artists all countries and eras.

The Vatican is an ancient place with thousand years of history, so if you come here, the guides will tell you a lot of interesting things about its past and present. You will learn that:

• The name of the state and the hill on which it is located comes from the Latin word vacitinia, which means "divination";
• All inhabitants of the city are in the service of catholic church. Only church ministers, service personnel or military personnel from the Pope's Swiss Guard can obtain Vatican citizenship;

About half the population has a passport stamped by the Holy See, confirming their status and citizenship. However, it is not inherited and is subject to cancellation upon completion of work in the Vatican.

• There is a building in the country whose lighting and heating are provided exclusively by solar panels;
• 95% of Vatican City residents – male;
• The city-state is completely devoid of industry and agriculture, and the only source of income is taxes levied on Catholic dioceses around the world;
• People live here dozens of nationalities, however, their level of education is so high that the literacy rate in the country is 100%;
• The only banking institution operating in the Vatican is called "Institute of Religious Affairs";
• The country has one of the highest crime levels in the world: most crimes are committed by tourists and employees living in Rome.

From this video you can find out where the Vatican is located and other interesting information:

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The Vatican is located in the western part of Rome, the capital of the Italian Republic, on the right bank of the Tiber River, which cuts the city into two parts.

Borders and area of ​​the Vatican

On all sides, the Vatican borders only with Italy.

The Vatican State covers an area of ​​0.44 square kilometers.

Vatican Map

Time zone

Population

800 people

Language

The official languages ​​are Italian and Latin.

Religion

Catholicism.

Vatican City Climate

The climate on the territory of the Vatican is Mediterranean type. Average temperatures in winter range from 0 °C to +12 °C, in mid-summer from +20 °C to 28 °C. Winters are most often warm, frosts and snow are extremely rare.
The amount of precipitation is significant only in autumn, while in summer it falls very little.

Finance

The official currency is the Euro.

Medical care and insurance

The Vatican has paid and expensive healthcare. Having health insurance before your visit is encouraged, but not required.

Mains voltage

International dialing code

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The Vatican is a tiny state located in the center of Rome. But it is still difficult to imagine what the Vatican is like. Country? City? Tourist complex? Possessions of the Pope? Everything about the Vatican and myths about the smallest state in the world is described in this article.

What is the Vatican

The Vatican City State is the residence of the Pope and is located on the territory of Rome. The form of government is an absolute theocratic monarchy, that is, the head of the country is the head of the church; there are only three countries with this form of government in the world (also the Sultan of Brunei and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). Officially, the state is called the “Holy See”, but is territorially represented by the Vatican City.

St. Peter's Square and Basilica

The Holy See is the smallest sovereign state. The area of ​​the Vatican is only 440 square meters or 0.44 hectares, on the world map it is smaller than a dot. The official language is Italian, but is often used in official documents Latin names. You can pay in euros. The majority of the Vatican's 1,000 population are Italian wage workers. Citizenship is received only by people serving the Holy See; it cannot be passed on by inheritance.

All branches of power in the country are concentrated in the hands of the sovereign of the Holy See, in other words, in the hands of the Pope. The pope is elected by the cardinals for life. There are also many legislative and executive bodies: the Pontifical Commission, the Roman Curia, the Secretariat of State, the Ecumenical Council and others. The Supreme Church Court handles the proceedings, and the Papal Guard serves to maintain order.

Scheme: Vatican on the map

History of the Vatican

The place on the outskirts of ancient Rome was chosen even before the official recognition of Christianity as a religion: here are the gardens and villas of Agrippina, who was the mother of Emperor Caligula. Later, although Christianity became the state religion of Italy, the Catholic Church had very little land of its own.

In the Middle Ages, kings were afraid of the strong Pope and tried to limit his territorial possessions. However, by 1870, from lands donated or otherwise transferred to the use of the church, the Papal State had emerged. It occupied more than half of the Apennine Peninsula, but the Kingdom of Italy destroyed this state entity.

Statues in St. Peter's Basilica

In history, this period was preserved as the “Roman Question”; it was not resolved until the 20th century. In the summer of 1927, the Italian government, led by Benito Mussolini, and the Holy See sat down at the negotiating table in the Lateran Palace. On February 11, 1929, three legal documents were signed - the Lateran Agreements. These papers recognized the sovereignty of the Vatican State, described its territories and defined the relationship between the Church and Italy. That same year, the Vatican adopted its own constitution.

In 1957, the new country began to cooperate with the UN, and since 2008 with the international Interpol. Due to the limited territory, the embassies of many countries in the Vatican are located on Roman soil. It turns out that the Italian embassy in the Vatican is located in Italy.

Additional information! The history of the word Vatican itself is also interesting. It came from the name of the Vatican Hill, on the top of which the city is located, and was first used only in the text of the Lateran Agreements. Official name State is translated from Italian as “State of the Vatican City”.

Attractions map

More than 4 million tourists flock to Rome every year to visit the Vatican. Some are attracted by the weekly audience with the Pope, which takes place on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. local time. But most are interested in the uniquely beautiful architectural monuments and sights of the city.

St. Peter's Cathedral

Usually you enter the city through the rounded St. Peter's Square, in the middle of which stands an Egyptian obelisk. Next comes the majestic St. Peter's Cathedral, built in the 16th century on the burial site of St. Peter. Above the structure in different times Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini and about a dozen other architects worked. The map of the Vatican shows that, together with the square, the ensemble has the symbolic shape of a key.

Sistine Chapel

Nearby is the Sistine Chapel, built in 1481. Many people recognize the building as unremarkable in appearance, but main value present paintings of biblical scenes. But photographing the frescoes is prohibited; you need good eyesight to see the pictures under the ceiling. No less famous is the male choir of the chapel, the peculiarity of which is its performance without musical accompaniment.

Gardens

Immediately behind the cathedral there is a garden that occupies most of the territory of the state. It was once built for the Pope's walks and solitude. Now they are well-groomed lawns and plantings, which is not surprising, because more than 20 people take care of the land. The garden has many fountains and displays, united by a branching network of paths.

Double Spiral Staircase in the Library

Library

Behind the Sistine Chapel you can find the Apostolic Library. It was founded in the 15th century and today more than 1.5 million books and half a million other exhibits are stored here. But this place will be of interest not only to those who like to read, especially since not all rooms are free to visit. The building itself is beautifully decorated and delights the eye with incredible images; there is the famous spiral staircase, twisting into a double snail.

Museums

Just behind the library are the exhibition complex of the Vatican Museums and the Pinacoteca. In general, one thing can be said about the Vatican museums: there are a lot of them. Most of the museums were founded by Popes and bear their names (Museums of Pius Clement, Chiaramonti, Pio Cristiana), there are museums and halls dedicated to historical eras and ethnic groups (Gregorian Etruscan, Gregorian Egyptian, Ethnological missionary and History Museums, Collection contemporary art). Some rooms for other purposes also later became museums, for example, the Borgia Apartments or the Niccolina Chapel.

Pope

The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, the supreme ruler of the Holy See and the Vatican. The Pope is considered the direct successor of St. Peter, who was the first Bishop of Rome.

During the existence of the church, 266 popes were replaced, 40 of them were recognized as antipopes, that is, people who illegally seized the title. Urban VII died of malaria 12 days after being elected Pope, his shortest pontificate. But during his time in the title, he managed to ban smoking in public places. Stephen III lived even less as Pope, who died three days after his election and did not have time to begin his duties.

Since 2013, the post of Pope has been occupied by Francis, in the world Jorge Mario Bergoglio. This is the first Francis in the history of the papacy. The pontiff has a Twitter page, but he doesn't watch TV because he made a vow.

Important! In addition to weekly audiences, you can write to Francis by mail at Courtyard Santa Marta, 00120 Vatican City.

Who guards the city

The only armed forces of the Vatican are the Swiss Guard of the Pope. This army is the oldest in the world, and was organized in 1506 by order of Pope Julius II. This pontiff is considered one of the most warlike, because during his reign he conquered significant territories.

Pope Francis and his guards

In 1506, 150 Swiss guards were brought to the Vatican. The Pope chose the Swiss because they were famous for their bravery in battle and loyalty. Guardsmen can be recognized by their bright yellow and blue uniform, which, with some improvements, they wear to this day. The army is armed with modern pistols and machine guns when accompanying the Pope, and the palace guards carry traditional halberds.

Despite its small numbers (the number of guards rarely exceeded 200 people; now 110 soldiers serve the Pope), the army took part in hostilities and always coped with its direct responsibilities - protecting the Pope. In addition, guardsmen take part in ceremonies, which serves as entertainment for tourists.

How to get to the Vatican on a tour

Despite the fact that the Vatican is not large, there are many historical monuments and works of art collected here, so tour guides have something to show in the city. But it makes sense to walk on your own. Entrance to some attractions is free, such as the square and St. Peter's Basilica, the Library. For others you will have to pay: the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums (one general ticket) or access to the dome of St. Peter's Basilica.

Interesting! Most excursions are conducted in European languages, but you can also find Russian-speaking tour groups or buy a personal guide. Each guide makes his own route, but if you want to visit maximum quantity attractions, you will have to disappear for 4-6 hours. Therefore, it is better to dress comfortably.

The Vatican has its own dress code; tourists have the right not to be allowed in if:

• shoulders and knees will not be covered;
• there will be a deep neckline;
• there will be rude inscriptions on clothes;
• Men are prohibited from wearing hats.

Pay attention! During popular periods, queues can take up to 3 hours, so it is often more profitable to book tickets in advance on the official website. The longest queues in morning time, and after lunch the excitement subsides. In addition, you can walk around museums during an audience with the Pope; on Wednesday mornings the queues are always shorter.

How to get to the Vatican, where the entrance is located

Everyone knows that the center Catholic world is located in Rome. But where exactly in Rome is the Vatican? The route to get there will depend on where you are leaving from. If you use the metro, you will have to walk. After all, the city is located between Ottaviano and Cipro stations. You can also get there by bus; there are about a dozen routes nearby. You can try typing any building or landmark into a search engine.

Important! The city-state is surrounded by a fence and can be entered through the Museums or St. Peter's Square. It is better to choose the road to a specific place, because the journey from one entrance to another can take up to half an hour.

Frescoes in the Vatican Library

How to buy tickets to the Vatican: online booking, remote purchase. How much should I book for?

You can pay for admission to some attractions or buy an entire excursion, both group and personal. You can purchase tickets at the box office directly in the Vatican or book on the official website.

By booking your tickets online, you can avoid queues. Registration costs 4 euros*. Ticket prices may vary depending on promotions and routes. A visit to the Museums and the Sistine Chapel is worth*:

• 17 euros per adult;
• 8 euros for students and schoolchildren (upon presentation of a document);
• 5 euros for children from 6 to 12 years old;
• free for children under 6 years old.

Tickets can be booked a month in advance. To do this, on the official Vatican website (available only in English or other European languages), you need to select “tours”. A list of all possible tourist routes will appear. Next, you need to select the day and time of visit, additional options (audio guide). You can pay bank cards. You can book up to 10 tickets.

The Vatican is a place with more than two thousand years of history, it is an incredible concentration of ancient relics in a small area, it is the heart of the Catholic world and European culture, the most popular foreign tourist route.

*Prices shown are current as of September 2018.

For those who are traveling to Rome for the first time, we have compiled three routes with which you can see all the main city attractions in 3 days of leisurely walking. There is no point in rushing in Rome, it is better to come back here again;) On our first excursion we will walk around the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica.

Rome sightseeing map. Follow along and get the opportunity to save this route to your maps.

1. Vatican Museums

It is no secret that the Vatican Museums are one of the largest treasuries of world treasures. Perhaps the most famous exhibit in the Vatican's collection of attractions is the Sistine Chapel, so it's worth visiting this place if only for that. Unfortunately, photography is prohibited in the chapel, but you can endlessly look at the ceiling and walls painted by Michelangelo, Raphael and Giotto. At the entrance to the Vatican Museums, do not forget to take a museum audio guide in Russian for 7 euros - the excursion will be more interesting.

Entrance to the Vatican Museums

Note: The Vatican Museums apparently were designed by good merchandisers: to get to the Sistine Chapel, you will have to go through a dozen very interesting and beautiful halls. But the trouble is that, when you approach the chapel, you no longer have the enthusiasm for the most interesting and delicious things. In general, save your energy - the Vatican, like any other museum, is best absorbed in small portions, biting off the most delicious pieces first;)

2. Apostolic Palace

While walking through the halls of the Vatican, do not miss the courtyard of the Apostolic Palace, especially in clear weather. In the center of the courtyard is the famous sculpture of Arnoldo Pomadoro" Globe", purchased by Pope John Paul II in 1990.

Sculpture "Globe" in the Vatican

3. Belvedere

Here, in a small Roman courtyard, you will find two of the most famous statues: Laocoon and Apollo Belvedere.

Laocoon

4. Sistine Chapel

Along the walls of the chapel there are wooden benches where you can sit and, with your head up, find the famous fresco “The Creation of Adam”. But this is only a small part - all the walls and ceiling of the chapel are painted by the most famous masters of the early and mature Renaissance: Giotto, Raphael, Michelangelo...

Scene "Creation of Adam"

5. Exit from the Sistine Chapel

From the chapel, turning to the left will take you back to the museum on Michelangelo's famous staircase, and turning right will take you to St. Peter's Basilica, bypassing all the queues. Few people know about this exit, it is intended for groups and certified guides, but if you pretend to be a rag and turn right at the end of the Sistine Chapel, you will get to the Cathedral, saving time;)

Michelangelo's staircase in the Vatican

6. St. Peter's Basilica

You can get to St. Peter's Basilica in two ways: either by standing in line at the right wing of Bernini's colonnade that encircles the cathedral (it leads into the interior of the Cathedral and directly to the observation deck of the dome), or by entering the Cathedral through the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican Museums.

Climb to dome of St. Peter's Basilica- This is a must-have program for any traveler. From here you have stunning views of the Vatican, the Vatican Gardens, Castel Sant'Angelo and the right bank of the Tiber. We recommend taking an elevator ticket. It costs 2 euros more than a regular ticket, but will save you a lot of energy, which you will still need to walk around the city.

View from the observation deck on the dome of St. Peter's Basilica

7. Interior of St. Peter's Basilica

You need to get into the cathedral itself at least to see the most grandiose temple of all time, the bronze canopy of Bernini and the “Pieta” of Michelangelo. “Pieta” or “Lamentation” is a very famous religious plot, when the Mother of God holds the body of the dead Christ on her knees, only what was taken down from the cross. The sculpture is small in size and is stored behind glass. But this does not at all interfere with seeing the settled dead body, the lifelessly hanging hand of Christ and the completely girlish face of the sad Virgin Mary.

"Lamentation of Christ" - Michelangelo's first and most important pieta

8. St. Peter's Square and Bernini's Colonnade

In the center of the square, don't miss the Egyptian obelisk. At one time, Rome, like many European cities, was once again gripped by “Egyptomania.” In particular, this obelisk was brought by Emperor Caligula, then built by Emperor Nero on his circus, and already in the Middle Ages, the Roman pontiffs interpreted the concept of an obelisk or stele as a “lamp of faith”, demolished the statues of emperors crowning them and erected statues of the apostles and the Mother of God on them or, at the very least, just stars. By the way, there is a legend that the ashes of Caesar himself are kept in a bronze ball on the obelisk...

St. Peter's Square in Rome

9. End of the tour at via Concializione

At the end of our first walk, we suggest walking along Conciazione Street to the Castel Angela. From here there are some excellent panoramic views of St. Peter's Basilica framed by the streets.

The Vatican in Rome is a unique “state within a state,” the residence of the Pope and the center of the entire Catholic world. In addition, it is also a real cultural treasury, full of architectural, sculptural and pictorial values, an amazing historical monument, and for Christians - the center of the most important Christian relics. And although all this is located on a piece of land with an area of ​​only 44 hectares, sometimes you need to visit Rome and the Vatican several times to see all the beauties of this tiny state.

What's the best way to plan a visit to the Vatican? Given the incredible wealth of the museum's collections, the sheer size of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, and the variety of attractions, it makes sense to plan a visit to the Vatican yourself. This will give you a wonderful opportunity to proceed from your own interests and capabilities. Standard excursions, as a rule, allow you to walk “over the top” and “run through” the most famous places in the Vatican. But only an independent trip allows you to consider what is interesting to you, to explore places at your own pace and in accordance with your preferences. Let's figure out how to visit the Vatican on your own and get the most out of it.

How to choose a time to visit

Despite the modest size of the Vatican, huge queues of tourists and believers from all over the world flock to it every day. To save energy, have time to see more and avoid crowds, it is best to go to the Vatican in the morning, while you are full of energy and before it is filled with tourist groups. St. Peter's Cathedral is open from 7 am, the Vatican Museums - from 9.00.

According to the observations of many travelers, the days freest from crowds are Tuesday and Thursday. The busiest day is Wednesday, as the Pope speaks in St. Peter's Square on Wednesdays. On Sunday the Vatican is quite free, but only because all the museums are closed.

The time of year also affects the number of visitors to the Vatican. January and February are the best months for those who appreciate art and want to enjoy it to the fullest, at a relatively relaxed pace and without ending up with the incredibly dense crowds congregating in the Sistine Chapel.

On the last Sunday of the month, admission to the Vatican Museums is free. Many tourists are tempted by this, however, the incredible overload of the Vatican with the number of visitors these days can spoil the impression and bring nothing but fatigue.

It should also be remembered that in some cases the Vatican is completely closed to tourists - this is due to events and visits of high-ranking guests.

Opening hours of St. Peter's Basilica: from October 1 to March 31 – 7.00-18.30 (closed January 1 and 6); from April 1 to September 30 – 7.00-19.00.

Opening hours of the Vatican Museums: Monday to Saturday – 9.00-18.00 (entrance and ticket office until 16.00). From May 6 to July 29 and from September 2 to October 28, the museums are also open on Friday nights (19.00-23.00, entry until 21.30). Closed on Sundays, except the last Sunday of the month (from 9.00 to 12.30 admission is free!)

How to best plan a visit to the Vatican

Two places in the Vatican attract especially many tourists. And each of them is distinguished by its gigantic size and abundance of attractions. This St. Peter's Cathedral And . Each of these places has a separate entrance (to the Museums - paid, to the Cathedral - free). When planning your visit, keep in mind that exploring the museum's collections alone can take a whole day! And this despite the fact that only a small part of the treasury of world art is on display for tourists in museums - some rooms are closed to the public. As, incidentally, the part of the Vatican where the Pope and the administrative bodies of the Catholic Church live and conduct their business is also closed.

Is it worth visiting both the cathedral and the Vatican Museums on the same day? It depends on your interests and physical capabilities. If you plan to carefully study the rich collection of Museums, we recommend planning a visit to them on a separate day. Even a simple walk through the vast Vatican Museum complex can be tiring, and if you linger in each of the halls to look at the exhibits, the visit will definitely be lengthy. Will you still have the strength to explore the cathedral after this? It's very individual. And St. Peter's Cathedral deserves a separate careful study.

You only have to pay for admission to the Vatican Museums. There is no charge to visit St. Peter's Basilica, and it is accessible to visitors throughout the day (except when the entire Vatican is completely closed). Thus, you can save energy by dividing your visit to the Vatican into two parts, one of which will be entirely devoted to exploring the museum complex, and the second to visiting St. Peter’s Basilica and the adjacent square.

If you have little time in Rome, and you want to do as much as possible in a short time, then you can easily visit both the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica in one go. But in this case, determine in advance what exactly you want to see in the Museums so that you can immediately rush to the halls that interest you. Otherwise, you risk staying there for a long time.

If the standard program is not enough for you, and time allows, you can also order an additional excursion to Vatican Gardens (Giardini Vaticani)- the “green heart” of the tiny state. Beautiful sculptures, historical fountains, rare plants, and magnificent landscape design make this park area, which occupies more than 20 hectares, a pleasant island of nature and art. Visiting the Vatican Gardens is only possible on an organized tour, which must be booked in advance.

One of the most difficult to reach, but interesting places Vatican - ancient necropolis, located under St. Peter's Basilica, under the Vatican Grottoes, at the floor level of the oldest basilica, built in the 4th century. Ancient frescoes from the early Christian period have been preserved in the necropolis. And the main shrine and value of these “Vatican dungeons” is tomb of St. Apostle Peter. It was above it that the basilica was once built, it is the resting place of the apostle that is the spiritual center of the Vatican, it is above this tomb that the main altar of the cathedral is installed. Access to St. Peter's Tomb and the ancient Roman necropolis requires special advance reservations.

How to get to the Vatican on your own

As an enclave state, the Vatican is located on the territory of Rome, the Italian capital. And despite the formal status of a city-state, the border between Italy and the Vatican is very arbitrary and is crossed freely.

It is convenient to get to the Vatican by metro. If you plan to start your visit to the Vatican from St. Peter's Basilica, the nearest station is Ottaviano – San Pietro. From the metro exit to the Vatican is a 7-10 minute walk. If you are visiting the Vatican Museums first, then go to the metro station Cipro. From here you will quickly reach the entrance to museum complex. To avoid getting lost, use the offline map in our.

Tickets to the Vatican

For entry to St. Peter's Cathedral There is no charge, nor is there a fee to visit the magnificent square in front of it. But to climb the dome of the cathedral you need to purchase a ticket (if it includes an elevator ride, it costs a little more than usual).

Visit Vatican Museums paid. You can pay only the entrance and explore the museum treasures on your own, or you can book a tour or take a museum audio guide (in the Vatican Museums it is issued with special equipment, which is handed over upon exit). The official audio guide in the Vatican Museums is available in Russian.

ADVICE. The official audio guide will “guide” you through all the halls, telling you in detail about the exhibits, but this can also lead to the fact that by the end of the route you will be completely exhausted. But the famous Sistine Chapel is located right at the end of the route! Therefore, consider the size of the museum, your interests and time frame. Perhaps it makes sense to skip certain rooms so as not to miss the main thing. After all, if you linger in each of the halls, even a day may not be enough to explore the museum!

As a rule, there is a long queue before entering the Vatican Museums. Depending on the season, day of the week and time of day, it can be simply long or incredibly long. Wasting valuable time in Rome waiting in line is simply a crime. And it’s very easy to avoid long waits - book tickets to the Vatican Museums online. The entrance to the museum is divided into two streams - a huge queue stands at the museum ticket office and consists of tourists who do not have tickets. And for those who have a printout of an online reservation, there is a special queue, which is never large (and sometimes there is none at all) and moves very quickly. If you speak English, the most economical and convenient option is to book tickets on the official Vatican website.

The Vatican on your own: what to consider when visiting

When visiting St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, you should remember that this is a temple that is a shrine for millions of people. Therefore, here, as in other basilicas, it operates dress code– knees and shoulders must be covered. You shouldn't go to the Vatican Museums in shorts and miniskirts either.

It is important to choose a light and comfortable one shoes, because you will spend the whole day on your feet. And if you decide to climb the dome, you will also have to climb the spiral staircase.

The Vatican takes issues seriously security. You should not take large bags, backpacks, cane umbrellas or long tripods with you to the Vatican Museums - all this will have to be left in the storage room. It is better to go to the Vatican lightly - this will not only simplify the verification procedure, but will save energy, which will require a lot.

Bring a bottle with you water. You will probably spend a lot of time in the Vatican, and you will need it. Especially in the vast area of ​​St. Peter's Basilica, where there are no shops. There is a cafe in the Vatican Museums, but take into account the incredible flow of people - it is rare to find a free place there.

The Vatican accepts payment Euro. Moreover, those coins minted by the Vatican (each Eurozone country produces coins with its own symbols on one side) are themselves souvenirs and are valued by collectors.

In the Vatican cards don't workRoma Pass.

Vatican Museums: what to look for

Numerous exhibits in the halls of the Vatican Museums cover a huge historical period. Antiquity, Renaissance, Baroque and even modern religious art are presented here in all their fullness and splendor. Collections outstanding works arts have been collected over centuries. Even if you choose the best time to visit the Vatican and prepare well, it is likely that you will not have time to fully explore all 54 rooms open to the general public.

The halls in the Vatican Museums are arranged in such a way that visitors go sequentially all the way through numerous collections of the most valuable works of art to one of the most coveted places - the Sistine Chapel. You won’t be able to get into the most famous chapel in the world right away - you must go through many other museum halls to get to it.

So, what should you pay special attention to? Everyone has their own tastes and interests, we will highlight only the most famous and popular halls.

Pinacoteca Vaticana

The Vatican Pinacoteca is definitely worth paying special attention to. The Pinakothek was founded in the second half of the 18th century. Amazing paintings on religious themes are collected here. These are mainly works by Italian masters: Giotto, Beato Angelico, Melozzo da Forli, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Caravaggio, Guido Reni, Titian. Among the pearls of the Pinakothek collection are the Stefaneschi triptych by Giotto; "Madonna and Child and Saints" and "Resurrection" by Perugino; “Madonna di Foligno”, “Transfiguration”, “Coronation of Mary” by Raphael; "Saint Jerome" by Leonardo da Vinci; "Entombment" by Caravaggio; “The Wedding of Our Lady” by Lippi and other masterpieces.

Ancient art (ancient, Egyptian, Etruscan)

Among the halls dedicated to ancient art, it is worth highlighting Museum of Pius-Clementino (Museo Pio-Clementino), which houses the famous sculptural group"Laocoon and Sons" and a huge variety of other works of Greek and Roman classical art. Antique works of art can also be seen in Gallery of candelabri (Galleria delle Candelabri), Chiaramonti Museum.

If you are interested in history and culture ancient egypt, a large collection of Egyptian antiquities, including mummies, you will find in Gregorian Egyptian Museum(Museo Gregoriano Egizio). A Gregorian Etruscan Museum (Museo Gregoriano Etrusco) will introduce you to ancient culture Etruscans, which had a huge influence on the culture of Ancient Rome.

Early Christian art is represented in Museum Pio-Cristiano– here you will see works of art from the Roman catacombs, sarcophagi, reliefs, tombstones.

Tapestries and antique maps

In the luxurious upper galleries you can see many rare works of art. For example, in Galleria degli Arazzi there are magnificent ancient tapestries made according to the sketches of Raphael Santi by his students. A Gallery geographical maps(Galleria delle Carte Geografiche) stores almost fifty old maps of various areas.

Paintings by Pinturichio in the Borgia apartments

Apartment Borgia (Appartamento Borgia), formerly the personal residence of Pope Alexander VI Borgia at the end of the 15th century, they are distinguished by their lavish interior. The famous painter Bernardino Pinturicchio also worked on it.

Raphael's Stanze di Raffaello

Among the most “tasty” things that the Vatican Museums can show, it is also worth noting the famous “Raphael’s dances”. Stanzas are the living rooms of Pope Julius II, the painting of which was once commissioned to young Raphael. It's hard to believe that once upon a time a great genius was essentially involved in residential interior design. Raphael himself painted 3 stanzas, and the fourth was designed by his students based on his sketches after the artist’s death.

Sistine Chapel (Capella Sistina)

The Sistine Chapel is perhaps the most famous landmark of the Vatican, rivaled only by St. Peter's Cathedral. The name of the chapel is associated with the name of Pope Sixtus V, who ordered the construction of the chapel, which served as a house church. The chapel is famous, first of all, for its paintings, in which the genius of Michelangelo was so clearly demonstrated. Visitors are especially impressed by the ceiling painting, which represents a whole cycle of frescoes on biblical stories, as well as a painting on the altar wall illustrating the “Last Judgment”. In addition, such Renaissance masters as Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Perugino worked on the design of the chapel.

The Sistine Chapel is not only a monument of the Renaissance, but also religious building. It is here that conclaves are held - meetings of cardinals to elect the Pope.

ADVICE. The Sistine Chapel is located almost at the very end of the path through the numerous halls of the museum complex. For this reason, many visitors enter the chapel already very tired. Add to this the incredible density of the crowd in the chapel (especially in the summer season) and we get what many tourists call disappointment. After all, being exhausted, it is very difficult to appreciate the brilliant paintings. Therefore, we recommend setting priorities and calculating your strength in order to perceive art, and not think about tired legs.

Please be aware that taking photographs in the Sistine Chapel is strictly prohibited, as is talking loudly.

Exit from the museum complex

There are two ways to leave the Sistine Chapel - through the general exit, which leads to Michelangelo's famous spiral staircase, and through the side door, which is intended for the exit of tour groups and guides. Using the general exit, you will find yourself in several more museum halls, and after that a dressing room and the official exit from the museum will await you.

If you realize that you have absolutely no strength left, or you want to quickly and without waiting in line to get into St. Peter’s Cathedral, then you can use a trick and try to use a small “cheat” by leaving the chapel through the side door on the right, which is almost always open. This is not entirely according to the rules, but usually no one prevents this - participants in group excursions come through the door, and you may well pass for one of them. Once out the door, you can quickly and without queues enter St. Peter's Basilica.

ATTENTION. You should use the “service” door only if you did not leave things in the cloakroom and did not pick up an audio guide at the entrance to the museum. Keep in mind that if you cross the passage to St. Peter's Cathedral, then you will no longer have a way back to the museum complex.