Vatican City

On our last morning in Rome, we visited the Vatican. As we observed when we arrived, the lines to get into St. Peter’s Basilica can stretch the equivalent of several city blocks later in the day. It serves a visitor to the Vatican well to show up early, which is what we did. We walked right up to the front door. When we left several hours later, the lines to get serpentined thought St. Peter’s Square, with wait times well exceeding an hour.

In additional to St. Peter’s Basilica being a site of serious religious pilgrimage, it is an architectural treasure. The central dome, which is said to be the largest of any Christian church, covers nearly six acres of space. The great master Michelangelo contributed to the design. Today, visitors can climb to the dome’s base (as short elevator ride or exhausting stair climb). From there, a narrow staircase winds between the two shells of brick making the inner dome and outer domes of the cupola. Those who make it to the top without succumbing to exhaustion or claustrophobia are treated to some of the best views of Rome.