Vatican City: St. Peter's Square and Basilica

Vatican City is a small independent country within the City of Rome and is of course the center of the Catholic world and where the Pope resides.

The "must see's" of Vatican City include the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Square and Basilica.

The Basilica is dedicated to St. Peter, the world's first Pope and this is where his remains are buried.  Standing in the square and facing the Basilica, first you come to the row of columns on both sides, this is Bernini's Colonnade, 284 columns each topped with a figure of a saint.

 The Obelisk in the middle was brouht in from Egypt by the Emperor Caligula.  It stands 90 feet tall and is made of solid granite.

It is hard to appreciate from here the sheer size of this church.  It is huge, covering some six acres.  The dome, designed by Michelangelo, rises to a height of 448 feet and measures 138 feet in diameter.
  
The main altar is directly above St. Peter's Tomb.

Michelangelo's Pieta is housed in St. Peter's, you find it at the first chapel on the right as you enter the Basilica.

There is also an elevator that takes you to the Dome level or the roof of the church.  There are some great views of Rome as you look out.  You can also look to the interior of the dome and the inside of the church, a very impressive sight.

To get to the very top of the dome, there are some stairs, all 323 of them, with a rewarding view of Bernini's Colonnade and beyond. 

If you are short on time or would like to make arrangements in advance, consider these "Skip the Line" tours by Viator, they pre-arrange transportation and tickets for you:

Audience with Pope Benedict XVI at Vatican City Price: US$ 44.00 Viator Bookings are essential if you'd like to attend a Papal Audience with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. Tickets are limited and you must have a confirmed reservation to attend. Book ahead and you won't waste precious vacation time in Rome.	Skip the Line: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Tour Price: US$ 72.11 Viator Take a morning or afternoon tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - and jump the queue by booking ahead. You'll enjoy a mini coach tour of Rome en route to the Vatican and see Michelangelo's famous Sistine Chapel frescoes, without wasting time waiting in line.
Skip the Line: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica Half-Day Walking Tour Price: US$ 36.67 Viator Get much more out of your visit to St Peter's Basilica and the Vatican by taking a guided walking tour. St Peter's and the Vatican Museums can be overwhelming, especially if this is your first visit, so allow your experienced guide to lead the way and share the history, architecture, and politics of the Vatican. As an added bonus, you'll skip the long ticket lines when you visit the Vatican Museums (entrance fees payable direct on the day of travel).	Private Viewing of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums Price: US$ 339.37 Viator This tour gives visitors an exclusive viewing of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums. Michelangelo's masterpiece will leave you captivated as you enjoy it minus the huge crowds. A once in a lifetime opportunity so secure a place on this magical tour in Rome. This is a private two-hour small group tour of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums, for selected nights only.
Skip the Line Private Tour: Vatican Museums and St Peter's Art History Walking Tour Price: US$ 79.22 Viator Explore the art history of the Vatican Museums and St Peter's Basilica in style on a private walking tour with an art expert - and skip the queues. Accompanied by your own private guide who specializes in art history, you'll enjoy personalized attention on your special private tour of the Vatican Museums, without wasting time waiting in line.	Skip the Line Private Tour: Vatican Museums Walking Tour Price: US$ 106.61 Viator Receive the Papal treatment with your very own private tour of the Vatican! You'll receive personalized attention from your guide, and by booking ahead you won't waste any time waiting in line!
Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Tickets Price: US$ 40.94 Viator If you'd like to visit the Vatican Museums without a guide, pre-book and skip the long entrance queues! Your Vatican Museums ticket will be pre-booked and pre-paid, for fast, hassle-free entry.	Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Walking Tour including Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and St Peter's Price: US$ 63.56 Viator Take a small group walking tour of the Vatican Museums and St Peter's Basilica, and jump the queue by booking ahead. Numbers are limited to a maximum of 20 people on this small group walking tour, ensuring you'll receive personalized attention from your guide. And by booking ahead, you won't waste any time waiting in line!

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City Map of Rome Italy:  here we mark all the Rome Tourist Attractions covered in this trip, use this map to orient yourself and plan your activities.

Ancient Rome Buildings: Overview of the Colisseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.  What the buildings looked like in their glory, best way to tackle this sights with kids.

Vatican City: St. Peter's Square and Basilica.

The Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel: Overview of highlights and how to navigate through the maze with the children.

Seeing The Pope at Castel Gandolfo
Our hotel in Central Rome

Day Trips from Rome:   If you have the time, consider going to some other great places easily accessible from Rome: Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, Capri, Florence, Naples, a wine tour through the Chianti region, etc. Here are some ideas and tours offered by Viator from Rome.
Other Fun Things to Do in Rome:  How about a Segway tour of the city?  Or a Photography tour with someone to show you around the best spots for that perfect shot?  Here are some fun tours arranged by Viator,  whether it's a Dinner Cruise on the Tiber or an audience with the Pope.