Vatican on the map of Europe in Russian. Vatican - where is the smallest state on the planet located? Geography and population

The Vatican is one of the smallest states in the world. The city-state of the Vatican is located on the territory of Rome, it is the central object for all the Catholics of the earth. Here is the Holy See - the modern administrative body of the Catholic Church. You can list the regalia of the Vatican for a long time, for example, this is the only country where the official language is Latin.

Pio Clementino Museum in the Vatican

By the way, all the attributes of a secular state are present here - it has its own flag and coat of arms, there is a constitution, banknotes, and stamps, which almost all philatelists of the world dream of.

The border of the state of the Vatican City lasts only a little over three kilometers. On guard of the borders of the Vatican are:

• noble guard;
• palace guard;
• the gendarmerie of the Pope himself;
• Swiss Guard.

Most of the territory of the state is not accessible to tourists. By the way, it is impossible to get to the Vatican right away - there is no own airport (as well as a TV channel or its own mobile operator), so first you need to get to Rome. And the state of the Vatican itself is located right in the very center of Rome, and you may not even notice how you cross the border of the capital of Italy and this tiny state. To go to the Vatican you need or have any other European state.

Map of the Vatican showing the main attractions

There are no outposts, border guards or other distinguishing features of crossing the border.

It is impossible to obtain citizenship of the Vatican - only citizenship of the Holy See. By the way, this status is not possible to obtain in any way, except for special deeds for the Catholic Church.

Less than a thousand people live in the Vatican - 842 people according to last year's data, all of these people in one way or another serve the church cause and are Catholics. There are practically no weddings here, the birth of babies is rarely celebrated - most often the Vaticans gather in order to bury one of the townspeople.

As already mentioned, there is no airport on the territory of the Vatican. The nearest airport in Rome receives international flights of Aeroflot and Alitalia, which are made daily.

Also in the Vatican there is a railway station, Roma San Pietro station. By railway you can get to the Vatican from Rome and nearby territories, electric trains and trains run almost all the time, about five times in one hour. From the main station in Rome to the station in the Vatican - twenty minutes.

You can visit Catholic Mecca at any time, the mild climate of Italy allows tourists to enjoy the views at any time of the year. In July and August, the hottest here, the temperature is kept at thirty-five degrees, however, in relation to the Vatican, this statement is not entirely true.

St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican

The bulk of St. Peter's Cathedral gives tourists coolness, and the Sistine Chapel maintains a special temperature regime that is favorable for murals and frescoes. By the way, a beautiful Christmas tree is set up in the Vatican for Christmas, and The eternal City during the Christmas holidays - the most pleasant place.

It is not possible to solve the housing issue in the Vatican, there are no hotels and hotels, so all accommodation options are only in Rome.

The capital of Italy can hardly be called cheap, so it should be borne in mind that high-level hotels will cost significantly more than in less popular countries. It is also impossible to eat in the Vatican - of course, you cannot die of hunger here, there are cafes at the museums, and there you can drink coffee with cakes or sandwiches.
Most often, tourists dine in Rome, and return to the Vatican for spiritual food.

Why go to the Vatican

Where is the state of the Vatican? For those who want to find the Vatican on the map or right in Rome, the white line will be a clue - it is this line that separates the Vatican from Rome along the outer line of the square around St. Peter's Basilica. In addition to the white line, part of the Vatican is protected by a high wall - this impregnable structure was erected a long time ago, more than four centuries ago.

A solid structure was supposed to protect the supreme Catholics from any aggression. The square is usually open to visitors, but it also happens that it is closed - usually these are security measures for holding solemn and official events.

What to see in St. Peter's Square

It is better to go down to the square from Sant'Angelo, the street of Reconciliation leads there from the castle - of course, the guidebooks scold it mercilessly, but only here you can enjoy one of the optical illusion effects.

Panoramic view of Reconciliation Street and St. Peter's Basilica

The fact is that the dome in the process of movement will gradually disappear - this is because the facade of the cathedral is significantly pushed forward. The square itself is a fascinating place, and there is a lot of interesting things besides the cathedral.

In the middle of the square there is an obelisk made of granite - an ancient Egyptian observer of the execution of one of the apostles (it is easy to guess that Peter himself), in the upper part of the obelisk you can see perfectly preserved fragments of the Holy Cross.

Bernini's colonnade is located around the square, and in the center, near the obelisk, there are circles indicating the geometric center of Bernini's structure. If you stand in a circle, the colonnade becomes translucent - this is another optical effect of the greatest architectural structure.

On the right side of the square behind the colonnade you can see the Apostolic Palace. This is one of the funniest buildings in the Vatican.

The building of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican

The fact is that the Apostolic residence was built without an architectural plan - each new dad, who sat on the throne, completed the construction of the palace of the Apostles at his own discretion. The first palace from the square requires special attention - in the second window on the right you can see the pope himself, who blesses all those gathered on Sundays at noon.

Guardsmen also deserve the attention of tourists. You can see them near the Bronze Gates of the Basilica, at the cathedral exit, behind the left side of the colonnade near the papal auditorium (the guardsmen are easily identified by their yellow, blue and red striped uniforms). Near the gate to Sant'Angelico, you can see the ordinary, undress uniform of the guards - blue tones.

The left corner of the beautiful square attracts many tourists, the Vatican post office is located here - tourists from all over the world send postcards with local stamps from here.
The square can also be visited at night - everything is well lit here.

Saint Paul's Cathedral

This is the second most popular among tourists Roman and, accordingly, the Vatican attraction. The first is the Colosseum. The doors of the cathedral are open from early morning until evening, tourists come here already at seven in the morning.

It is difficult to plan a visit to St. Peter's Basilica in advance, it is difficult to predict. Just going around St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican is enough for half an hour, if you pay attention to each sculpture, it will take at least two hours, and if you still pay attention to the treasury, climb the dome, visit the grottoes, then even a day may not be enough.
The treasuries display various relics, tiaras of popes, and many other treasures that will attract not only lovers of jewelry and history, but also those who are ready to admire beauty. There is also a memorial plaque with a list of popes who are buried in the cathedral itself.

By the way, it should be borne in mind that you won’t be able to see the entire cathedral - most of it is closed to the public. In order to see those parts of it that are interesting, it is best to stock up on a plan - it will indicate altars, chapels, tombs and other historical and cultural values.

Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums refer to various museums and exhibition halls with a total length of nine kilometers. What will tourists see there? Traces of the culture of ancient and modern civilizations, mysterious statues of pharaohs and stunning mummies, the amazing beauty of Michelangelo's creations, Raphael's Stanzas and the unimaginable bust of the Pope with a red nose - tourists rub it.

The cost of visiting all the Vatican Museums (including the Sistine Chapel) is 16 euros.

The Pinakothek deserves special attention; it has amazing collections of Byzantine and Roman school paintings dating back to the earliest milestones in human history. The Vatican Pinakothek was founded at the end of the 18th century. A collection of works at different times adorned the papal chambers, until one day it was collected first in the Belvedere Palace, and then in a separate building, which was erected especially for it.

Belvedere Palace building

The Sistine Chapel used to be a house church in the Vatican, and the modern chapel is a museum of Renaissance art, as well as a meeting place for the conclave where the new pope is elected by the cardinals. The art of the High Renaissance, the Sistine Chapel receives about ten thousand people a day in order to show the stunning murals of Botticelli and Michelangelo, Ghirlandaio and Perugino hidden behind its walls.

The Vatican is a tiny state located in the center of Rome. But it's still hard to imagine what the Vatican is like. A country? City? Tourist complex? Possessions of the Pope? Everything about the Vatican and the myths about the smallest state in the world is described in this article.

What is the Vatican

The city of Vatican City is the seat of the Pope and is located on the territory of Rome. The form of government is an absolute theocratic monarchy, that is, the head of the country is the supreme person of the church, there are only three countries with such a form of government in the world (even the Sultan of Brunei and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). Officially, the state is called the "Holy See", but territorially represented by the city of the Vatican.

Piazza and St. Peter's Cathedral

The Holy See is the smallest sovereign state. The area of ​​the Vatican is only 440 square meters or 0.44 hectares, on the world map it is less than a dot. The official language is Italian, but official documents often use Latin names. You can pay in euros. Most of the population of the Vatican, numbering 1000 people, are Italian wage workers. Citizenship is received only by people serving the Holy See, it cannot be inherited.

All branches of power in the country are concentrated in the hands of the sovereign of the Holy See, in other words, in the hands of the Pope. The pope is elected by the cardinals for life. There are also many legislative and executive bodies: the Pontifical Commission, the Roman Curia, the State Secretariat, the Ecumenical Council and others. Litigation is handled by the Supreme Church Court, and the Papal Guard serves to maintain order.

Scheme: Vatican on the map

History of the Vatican

Location on the outskirts ancient Rome was chosen even before the official recognition of Christianity as a religion: there are gardens and villas of Agrippina, who was the mother of Emperor Caligula. Later, although Christianity became the state religion of Italy, the Catholic Church had very little land of its own.

In the Middle Ages, kings were afraid of a strong Pope and tried to limit his territorial possessions. However, by 1870, the Papal State had been formed out of lands donated or otherwise transferred to the use of the church. It occupied more than half of the Apennine Peninsula, but the Italian kingdom destroyed this state entity.

Statues in St. Peter's Basilica

In history, this period has been preserved as the "Roman Question", it was not resolved until the 20th century. In the summer of 1927, the Italian government, headed by Benito Mussolini, and the Holy See sat down at the negotiating table in the Lateran Palace. On February 11, 1929, three legal documents were signed - the Lateran Accords. These papers recognized the sovereignty of the state of the Vatican, described its territories and determined the relationship between the Church and Italy. In the same year, the Vatican had its own constitution.

In 1957 new country began to cooperate with the UN, and since 2008 with the international Interpol. Due to the limited territory, the embassies of many countries in the Vatican are located on the soil of Rome. It turns out that the Italian embassy in the Vatican is located in Italy.

Additional Information! The history of the word Vatican itself is also interesting. It comes from the name of the Vatican Hill, on top of which the city is located, and was first used only in the text of the Lateran Accords. The official name of the state is translated from Italian as "State of the City of Vatican".

Attractions map

More than 4 million tourists flock to Rome every year to visit the Vatican. Some are attracted by the weekly audience with the Pope, which takes place on Wednesdays at 10:30 am local time. But most people are interested in the unique beauty of architectural monuments and sights of the city.

Saint Paul's Cathedral

Usually they enter the city through the rounded St. Peter's Square, in the middle of which stands an Egyptian obelisk. Further on, the majestic St. Peter's Cathedral, built in the 16th century on the burial site of St. Peter, appears. Above the building different time Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini and about a dozen other architects worked. On the map of the Vatican, it can be seen that, together with the square, the ensemble has the symbolic shape of a key.

The Sistine Chapel

Nearby is the Sistine Chapel, built in 1481. Many recognize the building as unremarkable in appearance, but the main value is the paintings on biblical scenes. But shooting murals is prohibited, you need to good vision to view pictures from the ceiling. No less famous is the male choir of the chapel, a feature of which is the performance without musical accompaniment.

Gardens

Immediately behind the cathedral are a garden that occupies most of the territory of the state. Once it was built for walks and the solitude of the Pope. Now they are well-groomed lawns and plantings, which is not surprising, because more than 20 people take care of the land. There are many fountains and expositions in the garden, which are united by a branching network of paths.

Double spiral staircase in the Library

Library

Behind the Sistine Chapel you can find the Apostolic Library. It was founded in the 15th century and today more than 1.5 million books and half a million other exhibits are stored here. But this place will interest not only lovers of reading, especially since not all halls are free to visit. The building itself is beautifully decorated and pleasing to the eye with incredible images, here is the famous spiral staircase, twisting into a double snail.

Museums

Just behind the library are the Vatican Museums and the Pinakothek. In general, one thing can be said about the Vatican Museums: there are a lot of them. Most of the museums were founded by the Popes and bear their names (Museums of Pio-Clementine, Chiaramonti, Pio-Christian), there are museums and halls dedicated to historical eras and ethnic groups (Gregorian Etruscan, Gregorian Egyptian, Ethnological Missionary and Historical Museums, Collection contemporary art). Some rooms for other purposes also later became museums, such as the Borgia Apartments or the Niccolina Chapel.

Pope

The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, the supreme ruler of the Holy See and the Vatican. The pope is considered the direct successor of Saint Peter, who was the first bishop of Rome.

During the existence of the church, 266 popes were replaced, of which 40 were recognized as antipopes, that is, people who illegally seized the title. Urban VII died of malaria 12 days after he was elected pope, the shortest pontificate ever. But during his time in the title, he managed to ban smoking in public places. Stephen III lived even less in the role of Pope, who died three days after his election and did not have time to take up his duties.

Since 2013, the post of Pope has been occupied by Francis, in the world by Jorge Mario Bergoglio. This is the first Francis in the history of the papacy. The pontiff has a Twitter page, but he doesn't watch TV because he took a vow.

Important! In addition to weekly audiences, you can write to Francis by post at the Courtyard of Santa Marta, 00120 Vatican City.

Who guards the city

The only armed forces of the Vatican are the Swiss Guard of the Pope. This army is the oldest in the world, and was organized in 1506 by order of Pope Julius II. This pontiff is considered one of the most warlike, because during his reign he conquered significant territories.

Pope Francis and his guards

In 1506, 150 Swiss guards were nailed to the Vatican. The Pope chose the Swiss because they were renowned for their bravery in battle and their loyalty. The Guardsmen are recognizable by their bright yellow and blue uniforms, which, with some modifications, they still wear to this day. The army is armed with modern pistols and machine guns when accompanying the Pope, while the palace guards carry traditional halberds.

Despite the small number (the number of guards rarely exceeded 200 people, now 110 soldiers serve the Pope), the army took part in the hostilities and always coped with its direct duties - the protection of the Pope. In addition, the guards take part in ceremonies, which serves as entertainment for tourists.

How to get to the Vatican for a tour

Despite the fact that the Vatican is not large, there are many historical monuments and works of art collected here, so the guides have something to show in the city. But it makes sense to walk on your own. Admission to some attractions is free, such as St. Peter's Square and Cathedral, the Library. For others you will have to pay: the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums (one general ticket) or access to the dome of St. Peter's Basilica.

Interesting! Most excursions are on European languages, but you can also find Russian-speaking tourist groups or buy a personal guide. Each guide makes a route himself, but if you want to visit the maximum number of attractions, you will have to disappear for 4-6 hours. Therefore, it is better to dress comfortably.

The Vatican has its own dress code, tourists have the right not to be allowed in if:

• shoulders and knees will not be covered;
• there will be a deep neckline;
• there will be rough inscriptions on the clothes;
• Men are not allowed to wear hats.

Note! During a popular period, queues can take up to 3 hours, so it is often more profitable to book tickets in advance on the official website. The longest queues are in the morning, and after lunch the excitement subsides. In addition, you can walk around the museums during the audience with the Pope, in the morning of Wednesday there is always less queue.

How to get to the Vatican, where is the entrance

Everyone knows that the center of the Catholic world is in Rome. But where exactly is the Vatican in Rome? The route to it will depend on where you leave from. If you use the subway, you have to walk. After all, the city is located between the Ottaviano and Cipro stations. You can also get there by bus, there are about a dozen routes nearby. You can try to drive any building or attraction into the search engine.

Important! The city-state is surrounded by a fence, you can enter through the Museums or St. Peter's Square. It is better to choose the road to a certain place, because the path from one entrance to another can take up to half an hour.

Frescoes in the Vatican Library

How to buy tickets to the Vatican: online booking, remote purchase. How much should I book

You can pay for a pass to some attractions or buy a whole tour, both group and personal. You can buy tickets at the box office directly in the Vatican or book on the official website.

By booking tickets online, you can avoid queues. Registration costs 4 euros*. Ticket prices may vary depending on promotions and routes. A visit to the Museums and the Sistine Chapel is worth *:

• 17 euros per adult;
• 8 euros for students and schoolchildren (upon presentation of a document);
• 5 euros for children from 6 to 12 years old;
• free for children under 6 years old.

Tickets can be booked a month in advance. To do this, on the official website of the Vatican (available only in English or other European languages), you need to select "tours". A list of all possible tourist routes will appear. Next, you need to choose the day and time of the visit, additional options (audio guide). You can pay by bank cards. You can book up to 10 tickets.

The Vatican is a place with more than two thousand years of history, this is an incredible concentration of ancient relics in a small area, this is the heart of the Catholic world and European culture, the most popular foreign tourist route.

*The indicated prices are valid for September 2018.

A trip to the Vatican is a real event even for a sophisticated traveler. Infrequently, there is a chance to visit the smallest state on the planet, which is a special enclave on the territory of Rome. The Pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, lives here permanently.

Dwarf state on the map of the world and Europe

Find city on political map the world is not so easy because of small size and small population.

Even after arriving in Rome, it will take a little time for an inexperienced tourist to orient himself and find out the way to this mini-country.

What country's capital is it located in?

The Vatican occupies a small part of the center of Rome and is based on the famous Vatican Hill located in the northwestern part of the capital. Only a few hundred meters separate it from the Tiber River.

Story

Although officially the state with this name exists only since 1929, the history of this religious state formation has about 2 thousand years.

In ancient times, this area was called Ager Vaticanum and was located far outside of Rome, representing a swampy area. In this place, villas were built and gardens laid out for the mother of the infamous ancient Roman emperor Caligula, Agrippina.

A little later, on the orders of the same Caligula, a small hippodrome. According to legend, the apostle Peter, a disciple of Christ, was crucified on it in 64 AD. e.

In the middle of the VIII century. on the territory of the present Vatican arose papal state, in 1870 captured by the newly proclaimed Kingdom of Italy. In 1929, after negotiations between representatives of the Roman Catholic Church and the dictator Mussolini, the modern Vatican was formed.

Useful information

The Vatican is an absolute theocratic monarchy, governed exclusively by Holy See.

The highest rank of the Holy See, to whom all the fullness of legislative, executive and judicial power belongs on the territory of this state, is the Pope, who is elected for life.

After his death and during the meetings of the conclave that lead to the election of a new pope, his functions are assumed by camerlengo.

Square The Vatican is only 0.44 sq. km, and a population of just over 800 people. The official language is Latin. 100% of the Vatican permanent residents in this city-state profess the Roman Catholic faith. You can pay for purchases here in euros.

The country does not border the sea and there are no minerals here. Be prepared for constant descents and ascents: the local landscape is quite hilly.

To enter the Vatican visa required Italian or Standard. A tourist visa can be obtained at the Italian Embassy by presenting the following documents:

• Original invitation or a certificate from the tour operator;
• Medical insurance;
• Certificate from the place of employment, indicating your income;
• 2 profiles;
• Photo size 3x4 cm.

The visa gives the right to stay in Italy (including the Vatican) for 2 weeks, and its receipt will cost $36. However, remember that there are no hotels in the possession of the Catholic Church: for an overnight stay you will have to return to Rome.

Popular cities, tour prices, currency, transport in Italy - you will find this and much more in.

Climate

The climate of the Vatican is mild mediterranean type. it is hot, dry and even sultry, and the winters here are relatively warm and rainy. In the column of the thermometer rarely falls below + 5 ° C, and in the summer average temperature air is approximately +25°C.

Most of the precipitation falls, and their average annual amount reaches 700 mm. Snow in the Vatican is extremely rare.

Best time to visit this tiny state - this is - and the autumn months.

How to get there?

To make the trip quick and pleasant, it is important to find out in advance which way is best to get to the territory of the Vatican.

Travel from Russia

There is no airport in the Vatican, so the Russians need to get to Rome. Alitalia and Aeroflot flights depart from here every day (flight time is 3.5 hours). Residents can fly to Rome by purchasing a ticket for a Rossiya flight, which is scheduled to fly twice a week.

There is no direct rail link between and Rome. If desired, the Italian capital can be reached with two transfers to trains in Germany, but it is very expensive and will take about 50 hours.

If you want to get there by bus, you will also have to go through several transfers in the territory and travel more than 2 days, which is very tiring.

1. St. Peter's Square with the cathedral of the same name, which presents magnificent works of art by Raphael and Michelangelo;
2. Apostolic Palace, which brings together dozens of unique museums, including the Egyptian Museum, the Pio-Clementino Museum, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Library with many old manuscripts;
3. Park area, where small temples, beautiful fountains and original sculptures nestled under the shade of oaks, olives and cypresses;
4. Etruscan Museum, dedicated to history ancient people who once lived in Roman lands;
5. Pinakothek where thousands of paintings are stored outstanding artists all countries and eras.

The Vatican is an ancient place with a thousand-year history, so if you come here, the guides will tell you a lot of interesting things about its past and present. You will learn that:

• The name of the state and the hill on which it is located comes from the Latin word vacitinia, which means "divination";
• All the inhabitants of the city are in the service of catholic church. Citizenship of the Vatican can only be obtained by church ministers, service personnel or military from the Swiss Guard of the Pope;

Approximately half of the population has a stamp of the Holy See in their passport, which confirms their status and citizenship. However, it is not inherited and is subject to cancellation upon completion of work in the Vatican.

• There is a building in the country, the lighting and heating of which is provided exclusively by solar panels;
• 95% of the inhabitants of the Vatican male;
• The city-state is completely devoid of industry and Agriculture, and the only source of income are taxes levied on Catholic dioceses around the world;
• People live here dozens of nationalities, however, their level of education is so high that the literacy rate in the country is 100%;
• The Vatican has a single banking institution called "Institute of Religious Affairs";
• In the country one of highest levels of crime in the world: most offenses are committed by tourists and employees living in Rome.

From this video you can find out where the Vatican is located and other interesting information:

The Vatican in Rome is a unique "state within a state", the residence of the Pope and the center of the entire Catholic world. In addition, it is also a real cultural treasury full of architectural, sculptural and pictorial values, an amazing historical monument, and for Christians - the focus of the most important Christian relics. And although all this is located on a piece of land with an area of ​​​​only 44 hectares, sometimes you need to visit Rome, the Vatican several times to see all the beauties of this tiny state.

What is the best way to plan a visit to the Vatican? Given the incredible wealth of museum collections, the vast size of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, and the variety of attractions, it makes sense to plan a visit to the Vatican on your own. This will give you a wonderful opportunity to proceed from your own interests and capabilities. Standard excursions, as a rule, allow you to walk "over the tops" and "run through" the most Famous places in the Vatican. But only an independent trip allows you to consider what is interesting for you, to explore places at your pace and in accordance with your preferences. We will figure out how to visit the Vatican on your own and get the most out of it.

How to choose a time to visit

Despite the modest size of the Vatican, huge queues of tourists and believers from all over the world flock to it every day. In order to save energy, have time to see more and at the same time not push in the crowd, it is best to go to the Vatican in the morning, while you are full of energy and before it is filled with tourist groups. St. Peter's Basilica is open from 7 am, the Vatican Museums - from 9.00.

According to the observations of many travelers, the most crowd-free days are Tuesday and Thursday. The busiest day is Wednesday, as the Pope speaks in St. Peter's Square on Wednesdays. Sunday in the Vatican is quite free, but only because all the museums are closed.

The season also affects the number of visitors to the Vatican. January and February are the best months for those who appreciate art and want to enjoy it to the fullest, at a relatively relaxed pace and without ending up in the incredibly dense crowds concentrating in the Sistine Chapel.

On the last Sunday of the month, admission to the Vatican Museums is free. Many tourists are tempted to this, however, the incredible congestion of the Vatican with the number of visitors these days can spoil the impression and bring nothing but fatigue.

It should also be remembered that in some cases the Vatican is completely closed to tourists - this is due to events and visits of high-ranking guests.

Opening hours of St. Peter's Basilica: from October 1 to March 31 - 7.00-18.30 (closed on January 1 and 6); from April 1 to September 30 - 7.00-19.00.

Opening hours of the Vatican Museums: from Monday to Saturday - 9.00-18.00 (entrance and ticket office - until 16.00). From May 6 to July 29 and from September 2 to October 28, the museums are also open on Friday nights (19.00-23.00, admission until 21.30). Closed on Sundays, except for the last Sunday of the month (from 9.00 to 12.30 admission is free!)

How to plan your visit to the Vatican

Two places in the Vatican attract especially many tourists. And each of them is distinguished by its gigantic size and abundance of attractions. This Saint Paul's Cathedral And . Each of these places has a separate entrance (to the Museums - paid, to the Cathedral - free). When planning your visit, keep in mind that just exploring the museum collections can take a whole day! And this despite the fact that only a small part of the treasury of world art is put on display for tourists in museums - some halls are closed to the public. As well as that part of the Vatican where the Pope and the administrative bodies of the Catholic Church live and go about their business.

Is it worth visiting both the cathedral and the Vatican Museums on the same day? It depends on your interests and physical capabilities. If you are planning a careful study of the richest collection of Museums, we recommend that you schedule a visit to them on a separate day. Even a simple walk through the grounds of the vast Vatican Museum complex can be tiring, and if you linger in each of the halls to view the exhibits, then the visit will definitely be lengthy. Will there be any strength left to inspect the cathedral after this? It's very individual. And the Cathedral of St. Peter deserves a separate careful study.

Only the entrance to the Vatican Museums is paid. There is no fee to visit St. Peter's Basilica, it is available to those who wish throughout the day (except when the entire Vatican is completely closed). Thus, you can save energy by breaking the visit to the Vatican into two parts, one of which will be completely devoted to visiting the museum complex, and the second - visiting St. Peter's Basilica and the adjacent square.

If you have little time in Rome, and you want to do as much as possible in a short time, then you can visit both the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica at the same time. But in this case, determine in advance what exactly you want to see in the Museums in order to immediately rush to the halls of interest to you. Otherwise, you risk staying there for a long time.

If the standard program is not enough for you, but time allows, you can also order an additional excursion to Vatican Gardens (Giardini Vaticani)- the "green heart" of a tiny state. Beautiful sculptures, historical fountains, rare plants, magnificent landscaping make this park area, which occupies more than 20 hectares, a pleasant island of nature and art. A visit to the Vatican Gardens is only possible with an organized tour, which must be booked in advance.

One of the most inaccessible, but interesting places in the Vatican - ancient necropolis, located under the Cathedral of St. Peter, under the Grottoes of the Vatican, at the floor level of the oldest basilica, built in the 4th century. The ancient frescoes of the early Christian period have been preserved in the necropolis. And the main shrine and value of these "Vatican dungeons" is Tomb of Saint Peter the Apostle. It was over it that the basilica was once built, it is the resting place of the apostle that is the spiritual center of the Vatican, it is over this tomb that the main altar of the cathedral is installed. To get to the tomb of St. Peter and the ancient Roman necropolis, you need a special advance booking.

How to get to the Vatican on your own

As an enclave state, the Vatican is located on the territory of Rome, the Italian capital. And despite the formal status of the city-state, the border between Italy and the Vatican is very conditional and crosses freely.

Getting to the Vatican is convenient by metro. If you plan to start your visit to the Vatican from St. Peter's Basilica, the nearest station is Ottaviano–San Pietro. From the subway exit to the Vatican - 7-10 minutes walk. If you first visit the Vatican Museums, then get to the metro station Cipro. From there you will quickly reach the entrance to the museum complex. In order not to get lost, use the offline map in ours.

Tickets to the Vatican

For entry to Saint Paul's Cathedral There is no charge, as is the entrance to the magnificent square in front of it. But to climb the dome of the cathedral, you need to purchase a ticket (if it includes an elevator ride, it costs a little more than usual).

visit Vatican Museums paid. You can pay only the entrance and explore the museum treasures on your own, or you can order a tour or take a museum audio guide (in the Vatican Museums it is issued with special equipment, which is handed over at the exit). The official audio guide at the Vatican Museums is available in Russian.

ADVICE. The official audio guide will “take you through” all the halls, telling you in detail about the exhibits, but this may also be fraught with the fact that by the end of the route you will be completely exhausted. But the famous Sistine Chapel is located exactly at the end of the route! Therefore, consider the size of the museum, your interests and time frame. Perhaps it makes sense to skip individual rooms so as not to miss the main thing. After all, if you linger in each of the halls, even a day may not be enough to visit the museum!

As a rule, there is a long queue in front of the entrance to the Vatican Museums. Depending on the season, day of the week and time of day, it can be just long or incredibly long. Wasting valuable time in Rome waiting in line is a crime. And avoiding a long wait is very simple - book tickets to the Vatican Museums online. The entrance to the museum is divided into two streams - a huge line stands at the museum's ticket office and consists of tourists who do not have tickets. And for those who have a printout with online booking, there is a special queue that is not large (and sometimes it does not exist at all) and moves very quickly. If you speak English, the most economical and convenient option is to book tickets on the official Vatican website.

The Vatican on your own: what to consider when visiting

When visiting St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, it should be borne in mind that this is a temple that is a shrine for millions of people. Therefore, here, as in other basilicas, there is dress code- knees and shoulders should be covered. You should not go to the Vatican Museums in shorts and miniskirts.

It is important to choose light and comfortable shoes because you will be on your feet all day. And if you decide to climb the dome, you will also have to climb the spiral staircase.

The Vatican takes matters seriously security. You should not take large bags, backpacks, cane umbrellas or long tripods with you to the Vatican Museums - all this will have to be left in the storage room. It is better to go to the Vatican light - this will not only simplify the verification procedure, but will save energy, which will require a lot.

Take a bottle with you water. You will surely spend a lot of time in the Vatican, and it will come in handy for you. Especially in the vast territory of St. Peter's Basilica, where there are no shops. The Vatican Museums have a cafe, but consider the incredible flow of people - it's rare to find an empty seat there.

Accepted in the Vatican Euro. At the same time, those coins minted by the Vatican (each country in the Eurozone produces coins with its own symbols on one of the sides) are themselves a souvenir and are valued by collectors.

At the Vatican cards do not workRoma Pass.

Vatican Museums: what to look for

Numerous exhibits in the halls Vatican Museums cover a huge historical span. Antiquity, Renaissance, Baroque and even modern religious art presented here in their entirety and splendor. Collections of outstanding works of art have been collected over the centuries. Even if you choose the most favorable time for visiting the Vatican and prepare well, it is likely that you will not have time to properly explore all 54 rooms available to the general public.

The halls in the Vatican Museums are arranged in such a way that visitors consistently walk all the way through numerous collections of the most valuable works of art to one of the most desirable places - the Sistine Chapel. You won’t be able to get into the most famous chapel in the world right away - you must go through many other museum halls before it.

So, what should you pay special attention to? Everyone has their own tastes and interests, we will highlight only the most famous and popular halls.

Vatican Pinacoteca (Pinacoteca Vaticana)

The Vatican Pinakothek is definitely worth paying special attention to. The Pinakothek was founded in the second half of the 18th century. Here are collected amazing paintings on religious themes. These are mainly works by Italian masters: Giotto, Beato Angelico, Melozzo da Forli, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Caravaggio, Guido Reni, Titian. Among the gems of the Pinakothek's collection are the triptych "Stefaneschi" by Giotto; "Madonna and Child with Saints" and "Resurrection" by Perugino; "Madonna di Foligno", "Transfiguration", "Coronation of Mary" by Raphael; "Saint Jerome" by Leonardo da Vinci; "The Entombment" by Caravaggio; "The Wedding of Our Lady" Lippi and other masterpieces.

Ancient art (ancient, Egyptian, Etruscan)

Among the halls dedicated to ancient art, it is worth highlighting Pia Clement Museum (Museo Pio-Clementino), which houses the famous sculptural group "Laocoon and Sons" and a huge number of other works of Greek and Roman classical art. Also antique works of art can be seen in Candelabra Gallery (Galleria delle Candelabri), Museum of Chiaramonti.

If you are interested in history and culture ancient egypt, a large collection of Egyptian antiquities, including mummies, you will find in Gregorian Egyptian Museum (Museo Gregoriano Egizio). A Gregorian Etruscan Museum (Museo Gregoriano Etrusco) will introduce you to ancient culture Etruscans, which had a huge impact on the culture of ancient Rome.

Early Christian art is represented in Museum of Pio-Cristiano (Museo Pio-Cristiano)- here you will see works of art from the Roman catacombs, sarcophagi, reliefs, tombstones.

Tapestries and vintage maps

In the luxurious upper galleries you can see many rare works of art. For example, in Gallery Arazzi (Galleria degli Arazzi) magnificent old tapestries are kept, made according to the sketches of Rafael Santi by his students. A Gallery geographical maps(Galleria delle Carte Geographice) stores almost fifty old maps of various localities.

Paintings by Pinturicho in the Borgia Apartments

Borgia Apartments (Appartamento Borgia), former personal residence of Pope Alexander VI Borgia at the end of the 15th century, they are distinguished by a magnificent interior. Worked on it, including famous painter Bernardino Pinturicchio.

Stanzas of Raphael (Stanze di Raffaello)

Of the most "delicious" that the Vatican Museums can show, it is also worth noting the famous "Raphael's stanzas". The stanzas are the living rooms of Pope Julius II, the painting of which at one time was entrusted to the young Raphael. It is hard to believe that the once great genius was, in fact, engaged in the interior design of residential premises. Raphael himself painted 3 stanzas, and the fourth was designed by his students according to his sketches after the death of the artist.

The Sistine Chapel (Capella Sistina)

The Sistine Chapel is perhaps the most famous landmark of the Vatican, with which only St. Peter's Basilica can "compete". The name of the chapel is associated with the name of Pope Sixtus V, who ordered the construction of the chapel, which served as a house church. The chapel is famous, first of all, for its murals, in which the genius of Michelangelo was so clearly manifested. The ceiling painting, which is a whole cycle of frescoes on biblical subjects, as well as the painting of the altar wall, illustrating the Last Judgment, makes a special impression on visitors. In addition, such masters of the Renaissance as Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Perugino worked on the design of the chapel.

The Sistine Chapel is not only a monument of the Renaissance, but also a religious building. It is in it that conclaves are held - meetings of cardinals for the election of the Pope.

ADVICE. The Sistine Chapel is located almost at the very end of the path through the numerous halls of the museum complex. For this reason, many visitors enter the chapel already very tired. Add to this the incredible density of the crowd in the chapel (especially in summer season) and get what many tourists call disappointment. After all, being exhausted, it is very difficult to appreciate the ingenious paintings. Therefore, we recommend that you prioritize and calculate your strength in order to perceive art, and not think about tired legs.

Keep in mind that taking photos in the Sistine Chapel is strictly prohibited, as is speaking loudly.

Exit from the museum complex

There are two ways to leave the Sistine Chapel - through the main exit, which leads to the famous Michelangelo spiral staircase, and through the side door, which is intended for the exit of tourist groups and guides. Using the general exit, you will find yourself in several more museum halls, and after you will be waiting for the dressing room and the official exit from the museum.

If you understand that you have no strength left at all, or if you want to get into St. Peter's Cathedral quickly and without a queue, then you can go for a trick and try to use a little "cheat" by leaving the chapel through the side door on the right, which is almost always open. This is not quite according to the rules, but usually no one interferes with this - participants in group excursions come out the door, and you may well pass for one of them. Once out the door, you can quickly and without queues get into St. Peter's Basilica.

ATTENTION. It is worth using the “service” door only if you did not leave things in the wardrobe and did not take an audio guide at the entrance to the museum. Keep in mind that if you go through the passage to St. Peter's Cathedral, then you will no longer have a way back to the museum complex.

The Vatican is the seat of the Holy See, the papal court and its attendants. Going there just like that “on a visit” will not work, but you can visit individual attractions. What tourist sites can be seen in the Vatican?

The Vatican is the smallest state in the world, a dwarf enclave state. You can’t go there just like that, “on a visit”, but here you can visit individual tourist sites. Each of them has its own order of visits. What sights can ordinary tourists see in the Vatican?

St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro - Piazza San Pietro) - the largest Roman square, located on the western tip of the Holy City. Piazza San Pietro is surrounded on all sides by a colonnade. A white line is inscribed on the stone tiles along the outer perimeter of the square. This is not just a marking, but the state border of the Vatican. The rest of the territory of the state is surrounded by a medieval high wall.

The impregnable wall was built in the 16th century to protect sovereign territory from external intrusions. The total length of the Vatican state border is three kilometers. You can easily walk around it completely in an hour, although you are unlikely to get interesting impressions from such a trip, because the Vatican is surrounded by ordinary city houses of modern buildings. You can enter Piazza San Pietro freely - it is blocked only during important state events.

It is best to walk to the square from Via della Conciliazione (Reconciliation Street). Along the way, you will get an unforgettable impression of the grandiose facade of the cathedral, which appears before your eyes and, as you approach it, gradually goes down. This visual effect is obtained because the main facade of the cathedral protrudes far ahead of the rest of the building.

Egyptian obelisk

In the very center of Piazza San Pietro stands an Egyptian obelisk topped with a bronze ball. This 35-meter colossus, made of pink granite, was brought to Rome by Emperor Caligula. The obelisk was installed in the square under Pope Sixtus V. It was transferred under the guidance of the architect Domenico Fontana, in 1586. There is a legend that the ashes of Caesar himself are kept in the ball crowning the upper part of the obelisk.

Bernini's colonnade surrounds the square in two giant semicircles. The architectural ensemble of the square, formed by 284 Doric columns and the facade of the cathedral, resembles the outline of a key that opens the gates of paradise. Two points are marked on the square - two small circles made of white marble. These points mark the centers of the circles formed by the colonnades. If you stand on one of these marble circles, then all four rows of columns will merge into one. In this case, the observer will see only the first row of columns located at a considerable distance from each other.

Fountains in the square

It is impossible to see the entire interior of the cathedral in one visit - the interior of the temple is blocked off with barriers, for tourists usually only the side naves and the back territory are left. At the far end of the main nave is the pulpit of St. Petra, created by Bernini, and to the right of it is the monument to Clement XIII, made by Antonio Canova. You will be lucky if you manage to get close to these sights of the cathedral.

Above the tomb of St. Peter is the Papal altar with a 30-meter canopy by Bernini, surrounded by 95 lamps. These inextinguishable lamps illuminate the descent to the tomb of the apostle. Tourists are not allowed to descend to the sacred tomb.

You can take pictures of the interior of the cathedral. To navigate inside the huge temple, grab a good guide from detailed description its altars, chapels and gravestones.

Vatican grottoes

Tourists rise to the dome of the basilica from the street, following the sign. There is always a queue for this climb. For 8 € you can walk up the high stairs, and for 10 € you can take a special elevator up to the middle of the path. This is the highest dome in the world - its height is 136.5 meters. First stop at steep route- balustrade inside the cathedral. It is located above the golden inscription running along the circumference of the inner part of the dome.

Tourists move along the mosaic wall. A fine-mesh net separates those walking from a deep fifty-meter abyss, through which the pulpit and the floor mosaic of the main nave are visible. Only from such a great height can one truly appreciate the beauty of the mosaic composition. Very close to the walkers is the oval dome of Michelangelo. From here you can see the details of his painting.

The second stop on the way is the roof of the cathedral. Huge statues are installed along the outer edge - you can come close to them. Here, right on the roof, there is another post office and a coffee shop.

The third and last stop on the way is the top of the dome. On a narrow staircase laid between the outer and inner shells of a spherical structure, the most persistent travelers pass to the observation deck near the lateral window. The most impressive panorama of Rome opens up from this observation platform.

Vatican Museums

Lateran Palace

The ceremony starts at half past ten in the morning. Already from 9 o'clock pilgrims gather behind the colonnade: nuns, organized groups of different parishes, associations and religious schools, ordinary tourists. The crowd is agitated in anticipation of the Pope, and the guards have to restrain it with great difficulty.

A papal audience is an unforgettable event even for non-Catholics. Tickets for this event are issued by the Prefecture of the Pontifical House.

When visiting the Vatican, remember that a single Roma Pass ticket is not valid on its territory. There is no passport control at the Vatican-Italy border.

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