Rome: St Peter's Basilica and The Vatican

No doubt Rome is on many people's bucket list of places to visit. Which would explain why the city was so mobbed, even in the supposedly off-season month of October. How visitors survive the notoriously long lines at the Vatican museums and St Peter's Basilica (and other popular attractions) in the heat of the summer season is beyond me.

Our recent trip included three days in Rome, and one day was spent at the Vatican. We had bought our Vatican Museum tickets online for 11 a.m. and were pleased to skip the long lines at the entrance. Little did we know that once you get through security, you'll be greeted with throngs of tourists, and group tours aplenty. It was so crowded we gave up using the audio guides; there was simply no room to linger and listen to a specific piece of artwork. We just kept moving along from one section to the other, grabbing the opportunity to take pictures of the impressive artworks here and there.
We love this stunning spiral staircase!
Where we descended and exited the Vatican Museum
Marble basin at the Sala Rotonda
  
ambling down the Gallery of Maps

As we entered the Sistine Chapel, we noticed tourists were already packed like sardines in the room. Security guards were on hand to usher people along. Standing and gazing up at the 68 foot ceiling to admire Michelangelo's famed masterpieces is no easy feat. There were benches all along the sides, if you're so lucky to get a seat to contemplate the biblical frescoes. As I sat there, I realized I'm slowly becoming my aunts. Why go there when you can watch it on TV or YouTube? We're not religious. Nor are we art history fans.
The grand St Peter's Basilica
At St Peter's Square, the line was fairly quick on a Tuesday afternoon. The splendor of St Peter's Basilica awed us as soon as we entered. It is an immense building rich with history, arts and architecture.

Baldacchino is a solid bronze canopy, designed by Bernini
Michelangelo’s most famous sculpture the Pietà
We joined another line to go up to the dome, not knowing that there would be a fee of 8 Euros (6 if you prefer to walk) cash only. We saw the sign after lining up for at least 30 minutes or more. Good thing we had some cash with us. You ride up the elevator, then climb some 161 steps up a narrow passageway that winds around the dome.  This was quite exciting. The reward was a close up look of the dome and a spectacular view of Rome. We had explored the city the day before so we could identify some of the buildings and places.
The Dome
The crowd atop the dome
View of St Peter's Square
Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II (white building in the distance)
View of buildings in Rome
See the railings above the dome? We were there a few pictures earlier
(4th picture above this one)
A 2015 article in The Economist said the Vatican Museums attracted 5.89M visitors in 2014, almost as many as The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, except the Met is 5 times bigger! No wonder we felt so cramped. Perusing the pictures (over 500 of the Vatican alone!) of our trip, we're glad we visited, even if it was stressful at times. Don't roll your eyes when we tell you we ate at the McCafe in the Piazza Spagna area. It is hands down the biggest and most stylish McDonald we've ever been to. The desserts were decadent, the Americano coffee excellent, all served with real good quality utensils (no plastic stuff here)! They even have macarons!
Fabulous desserts in a McCafe in Rome 
If Rome is on your bucket list, do it as soon as you are able. Walking the centuries-old cobblestone roads will take a toll on your feet. Know that lines will be long. Come prepared with a plan to minimize wait times, and you'll have a less stressful vacation.

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Comments

  1. Well written and with enough warts to make it real. Great job.

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  2. Thanks for visiting and for hosting Our World Tuesday!

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  3. Thank you so much for such an honest post. We are in the process of planning for our Mediterranean cruise next year. I will definitely buy my tickets beforehand to the Vatican if we decide we want to do that.

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    1. Our Europe trip also included 3 days in Barcelona, and I hope to write a post on it soon.

      Thank you for reading, Cathy and Rajesh. May I ask how you found my blog?

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  4. Lovely photos! The dome was my favorite part of a similar day to yours. The views are worth a few stairs. We signed up for a tour that started before the Vatican officially opened, so it wasn't crowded at all. Once was enough for me, but I would recommend seeing the Vatican that way instead of fighting the crowds. Ah, Rome!

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  5. I just remember how the Vatican Museum went on and on. It contains so many beautiful things. Thanks for the memories. And I hope you had a great T day too.

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  6. Sorry I'm late visiting. I've not been well most of the day.

    I have a friend who visited the Vatican. She even got to see the pope stick his head out his bedroom window.

    I was fascinated with the architecture and your photos around St. Peter's Square. The Sistine Chapel must have been breathtaking.

    I had heard that McDonald's in Europe and Asia was far different from those in the states. The desserts and coffees you got at that McCafe were incredible. Thank you for taking us to Rome and the McCafe for coffee and desserts for T this Tuesday, Eileen.

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    1. Hope you're feeling better.
      The architecture and artworks throughout the Vatican were stunning indeed.

      We had stopped at the McCafe near the Vatican, and were so impressed we visited another location by the Spanish Steps. Excellent coffee and desserts, served with real plates and utensils!

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  7. This is probably as close to Rome as I will ever get. Your photos were just amazing. Thanks for sharing and Happy T Day

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  8. Looks like a wonderful trip but I am with you about all the tourists. You have some amazing photos and lots of memories.

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  9. Aah! Bringing back memories - a kind guide told us of a quick way to get into the Basilica from the museum. Although several years ago I remember the crowd in the Sistine Chapel! My husband recognised your cake and coffee as a cafe gourmand. Belated Happy T Day, Chrisx

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