No tour of Rome is complete without visiting the smallest state in the world
In addition to the many beauties that Rome offers, visiting Vatican City during a stay in the Italian capital is a must. The smallest state in the world is a popular tourist destination not only because it is one of the holiest places in Christianity, but also because it is home to many religious and cultural sites. It represents the main attraction for millions of pilgrims and tourists each year – young and old – from around the world, who plan to visit the renowned must-see sights such as St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world, the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel. Some works, such as Michelangelo’s Pietà and famous frescoed ceiling depicting Genesis, are simply unmissable. However, there is so much more to see and do when visiting the Vatican. Only expert local guides can help you experience the full range of emotions that this place can give. If you want to visit the beauties of the Vatican and learn about its secrets and riches, book one of the Vatican tours in Rome by Walks Inside Rome.
Explore the famous highlights and discover the hidden treasures of Vatican City
The history of the Vatican is often overlooked, in the shadow of the history of ancient Rome and the Roman Empire. Yet, the history of the Vatican is inseparable from that of the city of Rome: the history of the capital of Christianity and the Holy See of the Catholic Church has been known to the Romans since ancient times.
With an area of 44 hectares, Vatican City is the smallest independent city-state in the world which is about as large as an average city park, it can be said that its territory is equivalent to about one-eighth of New York’s Central Park. It can also boast the distinction of having the smallest population in the world, with about 1,000 inhabitants. Despite this, Vatican City is considered a real state: it prints stamps, issues passports and registration plates, has a flag and an anthem, radio stations, an ATM, and a drugstore, and it is also home to the shortest railway in the world, two 300-meter platforms and a single station, which is used only for the transport of goods.
The borders of Vatican City extend for only 3.2 km within Rome. It lies on Vatican Hill in northwestern Rome, just west of the Tiber River, and covers only 121 acres but it exercises spiritual influence over millions of Roman Catholics. Although it lies entirely within the city of Rome it is considered foreign soil even to Italian citizens.
The Vatican is the only state to be fully designated a World Heritage Site. It was added to the list in 1984 and includes both Vatican City and its other extraterritorial properties of Rome.
Our best tours of Vatican City
Thanks to its small size, the Vatican is easily accessible on foot but it is extremely ambitious to think of being able to visit it on your own. Each site deserves time and attention so that you can explore it calmly, moreover, the opening hours are different and there are always a lot of crowds. Better to rely on expert local tourist guides.
In an exciting tour, in the company of a Vatican tour guide expert in art history, architecture, and archaeology the greatest masterpieces of ancient and Renaissance art will be revealed to your eyes, passing through the Vatican Museums, the most beautiful in the world, up to the Sistine Chapel, now seat of the Conclave and private chapel of the Pope, masterfully frescoed by Michelangelo Buonarroti, Botticelli, Perugino, Rosselli, and Raphael.
You just have to choose the tour that’s right for you and your family:
- private tour
- semi-private tour
- small group tour
- tour specific for kids
Vatican tours in Rome: Walks Inside Rome takes you on an unforgettable experience through the wonders of Vatican City
Walks Inside Rome provides a variety of exciting, engaging, and educational guided tours in Rome and other Italy destinations. Thanks to a historic partnership with the Vatican City, for over 20 years we have welcomed and guided our guests through a series of different tours created to showcase the dynamic offerings of the Vatican, from ancient artifacts to modern collections, from magnificent papal palaces to lush landscaped gardens.
As the most popular tourist destination in Rome is almost always very busy (even early in the morning …), luckily, with us, you have the option to avoid long hours of queuing through our special access to Vatican Tours by buying skip-the-line tickets. A service you would not find through most other tour operators in Rome.
Contact Us!
Would you like to discover the Vatican and its secrets? Do you want to know more about it? Check out our catalog of tours and experiences, visit our website or contact us directly. We look forward to meeting you soon so we can start exploring Italy together!
