Top 10 places to visit in Vatican City
10 must-see places and attractions in Vatican City, from famous landmarks to hidden gems, each with a map and photos.
10 places
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1Religious site
St Peter's Basilica
Renaissance basilica over the tomb of St Peter, with Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's baldachin.
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2Museum & gallery
Vatican Museums
Papal collections spanning antiquities, Raphael's frescoed rooms and centuries of European art.
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3Religious site
Sistine Chapel
Papal chapel with Michelangelo's ceiling frescoes and his Last Judgement on the altar wall.
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4Landmark
St Peter's Square
Vast piazza framed by Bernini's colonnades, centred on an ancient Egyptian obelisk.
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5Mountain & viewpoint
St Peter's Dome
Michelangelo's dome, climbable by lift and stairs for views over the square and Rome.
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6Museum & gallery
Raphael Rooms
Four papal apartments frescoed by Raphael and his workshop, including The School of Athens.
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7Archaeological site
Vatican Necropolis
Roman burial ground beneath St Peter's Basilica, visited on small guided tours to St Peter's tomb.
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8Park & garden
Vatican Gardens
Landscaped papal gardens with fountains, grottoes and monuments, visited on guided tours.
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9Religious site
Vatican Grottoes
Crypt beneath St Peter's Basilica holding the tombs of numerous popes, including John Paul II's first.
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10Historic site
Teutonic Cemetery
Quiet walled cemetery beside St Peter's, one of the oldest German institutions in Rome.
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