The Holy See Holy - - Vatican City Vatican Tourist Info: Tourist Vaticani near Piazza Santa Maria Vaticani a is also there where delle Grazie, Bus 49 stops near parking garage. the entrance and tram 19 also buses of A number stops nearby. City Vatican close to go Vatican City Tourist Information Information Tourist City Vatican Peter’s is on the left side of St. in and has lots of good Square and a small shop selling formation and jew souvenirs, guides, maps, is open information Tourist elry. 8:30-6:30. Monday-Saturday, stop to the The closest Metro entrance is Cipro-Musei museum Transportation & Transportation - -
decorated the altar wall. Biblical decorated the altar wall. created scenes on the walls were including famous artists, several by and Botticell Perugino the election of the new pope by pope by the election of the new painted Michelangelo the cardinals. with the famous ceiling frescoes, the central scenes depicting cre and ation and the story of Noah, Sistine Chapel: built from was The Sistine Chapel the pope’s 1473-1481 as both for and the venue private chapel nationals, between 19 and 30 years and 30 years 19 between nationals, high school gradu single, of age, They 174cm tall. ates and at least Swiss also completed have must military service. The Swiss Guard have guarded guarded have Swiss Guard The they Today since 1506. City Vatican Swiss in the traditional still dress recruits Guard costume. Guard Catholic Swiss be Roman must The Swiss Guard: Swiss The Saint Peter’s Square and Basilica:
Saint Peter’s Basilica, built on the site of a church covering Peter’s tomb, is one of the larg- est churches in the world. Entrance to the church is free but visitors must be properly dressed, with no bare knees or shoulders. Saint Peter’s Basilica is open daily, 7AM - 7PM (until 6PM October - March). Masses, in Italian, are held all day on Sundays. Saint Peter’s Basilica sits on Saint Peter’s Square, a top religious and tourist destination. Many important art works, including Michelangelo’s famous Pieta, are in the church. You can also visit the Pope’s tombs.
As the mother church of the Catholic faith and the largest church in Christendom, Saint Peter’s Basilica is one of the top sights to see in Rome and the Vatican City. With its im- pressive dome, the focal point of Rome’s cityscape, and gilded treasures, Saint Peter’s is Vatican City, also called the Holy See, without doubt pleasing to the eye. But the church also draws millions of visitors each year is a tiny sovereign independent state because it is the resting place of many former popes including John Paul II and Saint Peter, rested in the heart or Rome. Each Christendom’s first pope and the founder of the Catholic Church. Pilgrims also flock to year, over 3.8 million people visit Saint Peter’s during religious holidays, such as Christmas and Easter, as the pope performs Vatican City. The Holy See is the seat special masses at the basilica during these times. of the Catholic religion and home of the Pope since 1378 and Vatican City Saint Peter’s Basilica Visitor Information gained independence from Italy on 11 Location: Piazza San Pietro (Saint Peter’s Square) February, 1929. The pope lives in the Hours: Daily, 7am-7pm. papal apartments in the Vatican and the Admission: Free church of the Pope, St. Peter’s Basilica, Cupola: 8am - 5pm, open until 6pm April 1 - September 30. 5 euro (2011) taking the steps is in Vatican City. The Vatican is only (551) only or elevator plus 320 steps, 7 euro (2011) .44 sq. km. and has a population of Information: Saint Peter’s Basilica website; Tel. (0039) 06-6988-4466 (0039) 06-6988-4866 less than 1000. Visitors enter Vatican Tip: Visitors who are not dressed in the appropriate attire will not be allowed entry into City through St. Peter’s Square. The the basilica. Refrain from wearing shorts, short skirts, or sleeveless shirts when you’re visit- best way to walk to Vatican City from ing Saint Peter’s and/or bring a shawl or other cover-up. historic Rome is over the Ponte St. Angelo bridge. Across the bridge, one arrives at Castel St. Angelo, just outside Vatican City. Castel St. Angelo has a connecting passage to the Vatican once used by fleeing popes.