Visiting Vatican City & the Holy See

The independent city-state of the Vatican (Città del Vaticano) was founded under the Lateran Treaty between the Italian State and the Roman Catholic Church in 1929. It sits on the right bank of the Tiber River in the western part of Rome.

The Vatican is the smallest republic or sovereign nation in the world, and it houses all the highest governing bodies of the Roman Catholic Church, including the Pope’s residence. Its area is only 0.44 square kilometres or 0.17 square miles.

Today, the population is multinational and consists of about 500 people.

What Can You See Inside the Vatican?

The Vatican City State is one of the most famous destinations among travellers from all over the globe. Around 30,000 visitors arrive each day.

Don’t forget that if you plan to visit the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, the Gardens, the dome and St Peter’s Basilica, you should check the opening hours. Morning is the best time, as there are fewer tourists.

You can book tickets online in advance on the official Vatican website for a reservation fee of €5. Moreover, you don’t have to pay to enter St Peter’s Basilica, as there is no entrance fee. The entrance to the basilica is on the right-hand side of St Peter’s Square.

It is often better to explore the Vatican with a licensed tour guide, who will explain the city-state’s history, its artworks, local life and the most notable events.

You can compare guided tour offers at vaticanmuseums.tickets/tours/.

In addition, there are many shops where you can buy Vatican-related souvenirs.

Museums & Sistine Chapel

The Vatican Museums house impressive collections of art, ethno-anthropology and archaeology amassed by the Popes over several centuries. Some of the Apostolic Palace’s most historically significant and artistically valuable rooms are open to visitors. As part of the museums, the Sistine Chapel was built by the architect Giovannino de’ Dolci in the late 15th century by order of Pope Sixtus IV.

Inside, the chapel’s ceiling is painted with famous frescoes by Michelangelo. The Sistine Chapel is open to visitors except when a papal conclave is under way. Its frescoes are renowned for their intricate detail.

Mass

Masses with the Pope take place in St Peter’s Basilica, in St Peter’s Square, or both, depending on the celebration and the number of visitors.

Most Masses are celebrated inside the basilica, which has a capacity of more than 15,000 worshippers. The Holy See issues various types of tickets for basilica Masses—tickets for Cardinals, Governors and Diplomats, Bishops, Priests, special guests and the public. These tickets are always free of charge.

However, Masses in the square can accommodate up to 80,000 visitors, and you do not need a ticket to attend. Papal audiences take place on Wednesdays and Sundays. You can check the schedule on the official Vatican website. Mass cards are available during each service.

You can collect tickets directly from the Swiss Guards at the “Bronze Door” in St Peter’s Square from 08:00 until 20:00 (summer) and 08:00 until 19:00 (winter), usually from three days before the Mass.

Church of St.Peter

St Peter’s Cathedral, designed by Donato Bramante, is a unique Renaissance monument and an embodiment of the Vatican’s wealth in the Square.

Carlo Maderno designed the façade of the cathedral. Michelangelo Buonarroti crowned the structure with its iconic dome. St Peter’s Cathedral is recognised as one of the greatest achievements in world architecture, and entry is free.

We recommend a sunrise tour of St Peter’s Basilica and Castel Sant’Angelo, including a climb to the dome of St Peter’s Cathedral, where you will skip the queues and enjoy the city at its most beautiful.

St. Peter Square

Thousands of tourists and pilgrims travel to the Vatican every year to receive the papal blessing and admire its unique monuments of architecture and history.

The twenty-five-metre Egyptian obelisk rises in the centre of Rome’s largest square, St Peter’s Square. Visiting the Vatican is one of the must-see experiences during a trip to Rome. To avoid spending the whole day in crowds, visit at sunrise. Much of the city-state is off limits to regular tourists, but there are many official tour services directly on the square.

The square measures 340 by 240 metres. The surrounding colonnade comprises 284 columns created by Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini. The façade of the square is 114.69 metres wide and 48 metres high.

It features Corinthian columns and pilasters with an imposing cornice and a central tympanum crowned by a balustrade with thirteen statues.

The distance from St Peter’s Square to the Vatican Museums is a 1 km walk

Gardens

The gardens of the Vatican are among the most protected places in the world.

They are considered some of the most beautiful gardens in Europe. Those with special access can relax in perfect tranquillity amidst the greenery and silence. Moreover, 20 gardeners tend the gardens on a regular basis.

There are many fountains, but the most impressive is the Galea Fountain, built in the 17th century. This small replica of an Italian galea sprays water from 16 cannons. You can buy tickets for the Vatican Gardens on the official website by making a reservation.

A tour with an audio guide is also available, allowing you to explore the entire Vatican—including the gardens—in one day by train and shuttle bus:

Another option is to take a guided tour from the official website for groups of up to 15 people who wish to visit the Vatican Museums or the Vatican Gardens. These tours run at specific times and on certain days of the week, so check availability for your dates in advance. It is definitely worth visiting the gardens.

Read about my experience visiting the Vatican Gardens.

Dress code

Entry to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Gardens is subject to a strict dress code. Men must wear long trousers and at least short sleeves, while women should ensure that shoulders and knees are covered.

Tours & Tickets

• Entrance to St Peter’s Square is free.
• Entrance to St Peter’s Cathedral is also free, but queues can be long. Opening hours are 07:00–17:00, except on Wednesdays and Sundays. On Wednesdays the basilica opens at 12:00. Security includes metal detectors at the entrance. You can usually skip the queue if you arrive before 08:00.
• The dome of the cathedral is Rome’s highest viewpoint. You can buy tickets just before the climb. The cost is €8 on foot (≈£7) or €10 by lift (≈£9). Access to the dome is only via the cathedral. In the afternoon, queues can reach around 30 minutes.
• Vatican Museums: admission is €21 (17 + 4 online reservation fee) ≈£18. We recommend buying tickets online in advance, as availability for each date is limited.

Must-see Attractions in the Vatican

There are many sights and masterpieces to see in the Vatican, but make sure you visit these highlights:

1. The Sistine Chapel — one of the greatest treasures of Vatican City and the world, renowned for its frescoes and for being the chapel where popes are elected and crowned.
2. Michelangelo’s Pietà — the masterpiece that launched Michelangelo’s career, depicting the Virgin Mary cradling Christ’s body after the Crucifixion.
3. The dome of St Peter — the highest viewpoint in Rome, completed by Giacomo della Porta in 1590, offering stunning views of Vatican City and Rome.
4. Raphael’s Rooms — the four Stanze di Raffaello on the second floor of the Apostolic Palace, decorated by Raphael and his workshop between 1508 and 1524.
5. Gallery of Maps — forty wall maps showing the Italian regions and papal territories during the reign of Pope Gregory XIII (1572–1585), painted by the geographer Ignazio Danti.
6. Pinacoteca — eighteen rooms commissioned by Pius XI (1922–1939) and completed in 1931, housing paintings collected by various popes; many works were taken to Paris by Napoleon in 1797 and returned after the Congress of Vienna in 1815.
7. The Pope’s Garage — an underground exhibition with more than a dozen ornate papal carriages and several papal cars.

Name of the City-State

The name of the city-state comes from the hill on which it stands — Vaticanus. The Vatican’s territory is enclosed by medieval walls. Within the city-state are religious and cultural sites such as St Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums, which feature some of the world’s most notable paintings and sculptures.

History

When discussing the creation of the Vatican State, remember that the Pope once ruled the Papal States, which covered most of Italy. Catholic popes tried to prevent Italian unification for fear of losing control of at least one of the Papal States. In 1861 Italy was unified under the King of Savoy, but Rome and Latium remained unconquered. On 20 September 1870 Italian troops entered Rome, making it the capital of the new kingdom. In 1929 Benito Mussolini signed the Lateran Treaty with the Holy See, establishing the Vatican State.

Within the Vatican are palace complexes, the Vatican Gardens, art galleries, museums and various administrative buildings. The border with Italy passes through St Peter’s Square, though it is not marked on the ground. Under the principle of extraterritoriality, some sites on the Italian side belong to the Vatican, including the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, the Santa Maria di Galeria radio station and the summer papal residence at Castel Gandolfo.

Several educational institutions are also subordinate to the Vatican, such as the Urban University (founded in 1927) and the University of St Thomas Aquinas (founded in 1909).

Secret archives

The Vatican Secret Archives (Archivio Segreto Vaticano) are the central repository in the city-state for all acts issued by the Holy See.

Each Pope is considered the owner of the archive until his death or resignation, after which ownership passes to his successor. The archives contain state papers, papal account books and correspondence amassed by the Catholic Church over centuries. In the 17^th century Pope Paul V separated the Secret Archives from the Vatican Library, where scholars had limited access. In 1881 Pope Leo XIII opened the archives for research, and thousands of scholars now consult these documents. Tourists cannot enter, but many documents can be explored via virtual tours.

These archives are not secret in the sense of concealed information; in Latin, “secretum” means “private”, indicating the Pope’s personal property. Material relating to contemporary figures after 1922 remains restricted.

Only a few millimetres’ worth of pages have been digitised and are available online at www.vaticanlibrary.va

Many conspiracy theorists claim the Archives contain correspondence between St Paul and Emperor Nero concerning Jesus’ existence. Some even suggest the Vatican may be hiding proof that Jesus did not exist.

Another theory alleges evidence of alien life, with the Pope conspiring to implant humanity with computer chips. Documents attesting to the Armenian genocide by the Ottoman Empire after the First World War are also said to be stored there. Fiction such as Dan Brown’s “Angels and Demons” has popularised myths about the Vatican Secret Archives.

Facts and Figures

The Vatican boasts a unique structure and world-famous masterpieces. Here are some intriguing facts and figures:

• Area: 44 hectares
• The state border is 3 kilometres long
• You can walk across the entire Vatican in about an hour
• Population: 1,100 permanent residents, 95% of whom are men
• Official language: Latin
• ATMs: the only ATMs in the world whose main language is Latin
• Time zone: Central European
• Dialling code: 0-03906
• There are no traffic lights in the Vatican
• Vatican citizens do not pay Italian taxes, even if they live in Rome
• Aircraft are not permitted to fly over Vatican airspace
• The Vatican’s internet domain is .va
• Official website: https://www.vatican.va/
• The Vatican Palaces comprise interconnected buildings with over a thousand rooms, including apartments, museums, chapels, government offices and meeting halls
• The Pope’s residence is the Palace of Sixtus V
• The first Christian emperor of Rome, Constantine, ordered the construction of St Peter’s Basilica on what was believed to be the burial site of St Peter, crucified in 64 AD. The church was completed around 349 AD.
• There have been 266 popes; the first was St Peter in 32 AD
• Three popes were elected under the age of 25. The last was Pope Gregory V, aged 24 in 996
• Three popes were over 80 when elected. The last was Pope Gregory XII, aged 81 in 1406
• In the Middle Ages cardinals often cast a random vote on the first papal ballot to gauge sentiment. In 1334 they all chose the same man, accidentally electing Pope Benedict XII
• Pope Francis once worked as a nightclub bouncer, a janitor and in a chemical laboratory before joining the Jesuits
• Vatican citizens drink more wine per person than any other nationality, averaging about 105 bottles a year, according to the California Wine Institute

Holy See

The Holy See (Santa Sede) is the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome. It is the central point of reference for the Catholic Church worldwide. Moreover, the Holy See is an independent sovereign entity that encloses Vatican City within Rome.

Its principal role is to maintain diplomatic relations with other states and it functions much like a state administered by the Roman Curia.

Is Vatican City a country?

Vatican City is the capital of the Vatican City State, located in Rome, Italy. Its ISO code is 3166-2 and the city code is 379. The Vatican is the smallest country in the world, also known as the Holy See.

Citizenship is granted only to specific categories of people, such as high-ranking clergy and staff who live there. It may also be extended to permanent residents of its extraterritorial possessions and to diplomats accredited to the Holy See. Obtaining a Vatican passport is therefore exceptionally difficult.

All popes are chosen according to strict criteria to ensure they can shepherd this sacred territory. The world’s tiniest sovereign state has its own pharmacies, fire station, shopping centres and more.

Vatican City Population

The Vatican’s population has risen in recent years. For instance, in July 2025 the number of residents was 580, including the Pope.

Today, of the more than 1,000 residents, over 550 hold Vatican passports and citizenship. Many nationalities are represented, and every citizen possesses dual nationality.

Bank

The Institute for the Works of Religion (Istituto per le Opere di Religione), commonly called the Vatican Bank, is a private institution located in Vatican City. It is overseen by a Board of Superintendence, which reports to a Supervisory Commission of Cardinals and ultimately to the Pope. Its president is Jean-Baptiste de Franssu. The institute was founded by a papal decree of Pope Pius XII in 1942.

Wall

According to Roman history, the Leonine City is the part of Rome encircled by the 9th-century Leonine Wall on the opposite bank of the Tiber. Pope Leo IV ordered its construction, and Vatican City lies within this enclosure.

The wall was built in 846 and stands 14 m high, with 44 towers.

However, the Leonine City also includes the Roman rione of Borgo, which is larger than the Vatican itself. On the side facing St Peter’s Basilica the wall is absent, and the boundary is marked only by lines on the ground, so visitors can stroll freely into Vatican territory. The size of the fortification is impressive and easily noticed while walking the surrounding streets.

Although Rome is famed for street art, you will not find any graffiti on this wall.

Radio

Vatican Radio broadcasts in 45 languages. It provides live international audio for all papal ceremonies—including the General Audience, Sunday Angelus, major liturgies and other events. Its main task is to record, translate and distribute audio of the Pope’s public activities and Vatican news. Programmes are offered in English, Italian and Latin, among others, and archives are available online and via the station’s Facebook page. Vatican Radio’s English short-wave service to Asia ceased after nearly 60 years.

• Live translations on FM 105 & 103.8
• Internet radio www.vaticannews.va/it/epg.html

Keys: online manuscripts catalogue, entrance, address, history, collection, secrets

Newspaper

L’Osservatore Romano is the Vatican City newspaper, featuring news, editorials and digital archives. As the daily journal of the Vatican City State, it publishes papal discourses and reports on the activities of the Holy See, along with numerous cultural articles.

It has several sections: Holy Father, Roman Curia, News Services, Vatican City State, Liturgical Year and Liturgical Celebrations.

Flag

The flag 🇻🇦 of Vatican City was adopted in 1929, the same year the Lateran Treaty was signed with Italy.

Modelled on an earlier Papal States flag, it features two vertical bands—yellow (gold) and white—with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal tiara in the centre of the white band.

Library

Pope Nicholas V established the Vatican Library in 1448. He combined 350 Greek, Latin and Hebrew codices inherited from his predecessors with his own collection.

The Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana was officially established in 1475. It today houses more than one million books and a similar number of manuscripts.

The Pope may borrow any volume indefinitely, whereas others have restricted access. An online manuscripts catalogue is available at digi.vatlib.it. The library’s shelves conceal many secrets of world history, and its address lies within Vatican territory.

Pope

The Pope is the head of the Church—often called the “King of Vatican City” and successor to St Peter—an essential figure for more than a billion Catholics worldwide.

He also acts as the Church’s “chief executive”, ensuring order within a two-thousand-year-old institution, and governs the Vatican, the Church’s own state—a considerable responsibility.

Each Wednesday and Sunday you can come to St Peter’s Square for the chance to see the Pope.

Naturally, the Pope lives within the Vatican.

Papal conclave

A papal conclave is the meeting of the College of Cardinals to elect the Pope (the Bishop of Rome).

When the cardinals reach a decision, smoke rises from the Sistine Chapel chimney: black if a vote is inconclusive, white when a new Pope has been elected.

One remarkable fact is that the longest papal election lasted three years. In the 13^th century, at Viterbo, choosing a successor to Clement IV took two years and nine months. Gregory X was finally elected in 1271.

Papal infallibility

Papal infallibility is a dogma of the Catholic Church. It teaches that, by Christ’s promise to Peter, the Pope is preserved from error when definitively proclaiming doctrine on faith or morals. The dogma was declared at the First Vatican Council in 1870. Although the catechism lists many doctrines, only a few have been formally defined with infallible authority.

First pope

Saint Peter—also known as Simon Peter or Cephas—is regarded as the first Pope. One of the Twelve Apostles, he is believed to have held primacy among them, and Catholic tradition says he later served as the first Bishop of Rome.

John Paul II

Beginning in 1978, Pope John Paul II (1920–2005) was the first non-Italian Pope in more than four centuries.

He was born in Wadowice, Poland, became a vocal advocate for human rights and helped bring about significant political change.

Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI served from 2005, after John Paul II, until his resignation in 2013.

Ordained a priest in Bavaria in 1951, he became a full professor in 1958 and spent many years teaching theology at German universities. Appointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising, he was created a cardinal by Pope Paul VI in 1977. On 29 June 2016 Benedict marked the 65^th anniversary of his priestly ordination.

Pope Benedict XVI’s official website is [www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en.html](http://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en.html)

Pope Francis

Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) was the 266^th Pope and sovereign of the Vatican, serving from his election on 13 March 2013 until his death on 21 April 2025.

Elected in the 2013 conclave following Benedict XVI’s resignation, he chose the name Francis in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi and emphasised a “poor Church for the poor”, mercy, care for creation and outreach to those on the margins.

Pope Francis’s archival website is [www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en.html](http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en.html).

Last Days & Death (2025)

After a lengthy stay in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital in February–March 2025 with bilateral pneumonia, respiratory failure and emerging kidney problems, Francis returned to the Vatican to convalesce.

On Easter Sunday, 20 April 2025, he made a final public appearance in St Peter’s Square—brought out in a wheelchair—to deliver his Easter message calling for global peace. Early on Easter Monday, 21 April 2025, Francis suffered a severe cerebral stroke at his residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae, and died at 07:35 CEST, aged 88. The Vatican reported that the stroke led to coma and irreversible cardiac failure.

His body lay in state in St Peter’s Basilica before the Funeral Mass in the square on 26 April 2025. Honouring his own wishes, Francis was buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore rather than in the papal grottoes beneath St Peter’s.

A nine-day mourning period (novendiales) followed, after which preparations began for a new conclave.

Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A.) is the 267^th Pope and current Bishop of Rome, elected on 8 May 2025 in the conclave that followed Pope Francis’s death.

Introduced with the traditional Habemus Papam from the central loggia, Leo greeted the crowd with, “Peace be with all of you!” He is the first Pope from the United States and spent many years as a missionary in Peru, having served as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops before his election.

He formally inaugurated his pontificate on 18 May 2025, emphasising unity, fidelity to tradition and a resolve not to govern as an “autocrat”.

Pope Leo XIV’s official website is [www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en.html](http://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en.html).

Swiss Guard

The story of the Swiss Guard begins in 1506, when it was founded by Pope Julius II (Giuliano della Rovere), who greatly admired Swiss soldiers. For his protection he enlisted 150 of them. Julius II—nicknamed “the Warrior Pope”—even sent the Guard into battle against the French, who then occupied parts of Italy.

The Guard was nearly annihilated during the 1527 Sack of Rome by German and Spanish mercenaries of Charles V: 147 guardsmen died defending the Pope on the steps of St Peter’s, alongside their commander and his wife, who fought to the death at the basilica entrance. Survivors escorted Pope Clement VII and thirteen cardinals to safety in the Castel Sant’Angelo.

The striking striped uniforms were designed in 1914 by a Vatican seamstress at the request of Benedict XV, likely inspired by a Raphael fresco. Each 6 May—the anniversary of the Sack of Rome—new recruits are sworn in at a solemn ceremony.

Candidates must be aged 18–25 and at least 180 cm tall.

Once enlisted, guardsmen train with swords and halberds like their forebears. While on duty in the Vatican they do not carry firearms—a ban introduced by Pope Paul VI in 1970—and rely solely on halberds to protect the Apostolic See. Alongside prestige and a coveted entry in their employment record, guards receive an attractive salary of about €4,000 per month.