The Prati district of Rome borders the northeast corner of Vatican City. From its pastel-colored architecture to its well-thought out street plan, the visitor can immediately tell that this is one of the more “modern” (if not, pricier) areas of the Eternal City. And because of this proximity to the Catholic City-State, also an ideal starting point for any adventure to the Vatican.
I believe the closest word to describing St. Peter’s Square and Basilica in Vatican City is ineffable. There is no amount or quality of words, sounds, or images to capture the magnificence of this holy space. It should be on the bucket list of anyone who visits Rome. I will avoid ruining the experience and leave the reader with just the subtlest of peeks.
The adjoining Vatican Museum is a treasure trove of the world’s great artistic masterpieces and one of the hottest shows in town. The lines to get in can be extremely long, especially during the summer months when the cruise ships expel their passengers. It is highly advised that tickets be purchased in advance on the Vatican Museum website if planning on visiting.
TRAVEL TIP: The Roma Pass (FAQ 1.4) discussed previously can not be used for entry into the Vatican Museum.
TRAVEL TIP: Due to the sheer volume of visitors, the Museum allows entry to only a certain number of guests in allotted time slots; these time slots are chosen during the ticket purchase process on the Museum’s website. For a smooth and enjoyable experience, purchase tickets far in advance as the date and time of your visit might be unavailable the closer you are to your trip.
TRAVEL TIP: Scalpers and so-called tour guides at the museum entrance and the surrounding vicinity may offer to sell you tickets; avoid them or, at the very least, seriously scrutinize their offerings if you missed out online.
