Vatican City

St. Peter's Basilica

Welcome to the official home of the Pope, the Vatican City, a must do in the city of Rome!  Most important tip on this trip is to prepare yourself to face the crowds, (take deep breaths) and extra time needed to really enjoy the beauty, history, and experience.  This was my second visit to the Vatican City and the Vatican Museum (which holds the Sistine Chapel) and it was just as beautiful as I remembered... Even for me, as someone who isn't Catholic, I was moved by the overwhelming feeling of grandeur within the walls of the Basilica.  The detail put in to every inch of the church, from the floor to the ceiling, the statues, to each individual paining, is really the most impressive part - every wall tells a story, and a guided tour of the entire place could easily take around three hours.  

The whole trip is obviously more of a museum trekking, learning and exploring exercise, rather than a cocktail sipping, magazine reading, sun bathing holiday.  But there is just something about the ancient, historical location that really gets you in the spirit!  Make sure to take your lunch break between the Vatican City and the Museum, or you'll legs will give out on you, and by the time you get to the Sistine Chapel, you will so not care about anything but finding water and a table as soon as possible.  Any of the restaurants in the area will be acceptable, all are priced about the same and served the same pizza, pasta, or meat options.  

The Creation of Man - Michelangelo