Vatican City

Destination #7: Vatican City

Year of Visit: 2007


Vatican City is a sovereign city state located within the city of Rome, Italy.

It is also the smallest state in the world and home to the Papal seat.

I was there over the winter of 2007.

Located on the west of the Tiber river, it wasn't all that difficult to get there.

We traveled around Rome in the reliable public bus system so likewise we took a bus from Rome's Termini railway station to get to Vatican City. The Termini railway station is also the main terminal for buses and there is a tourist information centre at the bus hub with signs indicating which number to take to get to the various tourist spots.

How do you know where to get down?

Always have a map in hand, look out for road names or make sure you can recognise some important landmarks just in case none of them on the bus can speak English.

Tech savvy nun with one hand on the wheel and another holding on to her mobile phone.

This is the St. Peter's Square with dozens of taxis.

We only allocated one full day for Vatican City so we had to choose between the St. Peter's Basilica or the Vatican Museum. There was a long queue to enter St. Peter's Basilica and we wouldn't know how long it will take us to enter the so called 'greatest of all churches of Christendom' so we opted for the Vatican Museum which also has a reputation as one of the greatest museums in the world.

That Pope will normally appear from the balcony in the middle to address the people on Christmas day. There were preparations for the occasion when we were there but unfortunately our trip to Italy didn't coincide with Christmas day. Instead, we had such a bad Christmas in London which we will not forget. haha!

source: Wikipedia - The interior of the St. Peter's Basilica.

You must visit the St. Peter's Basilica if you have time!

The Swiss Guards whose history dates back to the 15th century.

They are well known for they loyalty and courage. They are responsible for the safety of the pope and the security of the various entrance and access to the Vatican City.

There are several criteria to fulfill to become a Swiss guard.

• Catholic.
• Single male.
• Swiss citizen.
• Completed basic training with Swiss military.
• Between 19 and 30 years of age.
• At least 174 cm tall.

Take a 10 minutes walk from St. Peter's Square and you will come to the entrance of the Vatican Museum or Musei Vaticani which houses century old collections. Mind you, on the last Sunday of each month, the Vatican Museum is open to the public for free. Avoid the last Sunday of each month unless you are prepared to wait in the queue for hours.

According to the museum, as of 2007, they were visited by 4,310,083 people.

My friends and I included.

The entrance exit.

The entrance looked a little more chaotic.

The Vatican Museum is definitely one of the best museums i have ever visited. It is huge and it will take you hours to explore and to appreciate the collections and various art works. A visit to the Vatican Museum includes the famous Sistine Chapel.

Collections from Egypt?

Among the architecture marvels in the museum.

Some historic carving.

The Gallery of Maps. It's not the 16th century map paintings on the walls which caught my attention but the paintings on the ceiling! haha!

So beautiful isn't it?

Looks like somebody from the Roman Empire era to me, but without pants?!

Some of the sculptures had their penis stolen or maybe dropped off over the years.

Another painting, i see Jesus, The Trinity, Virgin Mary and the Pope.

I can't remember if this painting was taken in the Sistine Chapel.

The staircase of the Vatican Museum. Even the staircase is itself an art!

The Courtyard.



Some of the Pope mobiles or transporters used by the Pope.

More information of the Vatican Museum here.

If you're a student, you will get a discount for your ticket.


Last but not least, a Christmas themed Coca-Cola can for Coca-Cola can and bottle collectors!