The Vatican Experience

Nov 25th 2025

The Vatican Experience

Wide view of St. Peter's Square in Vatican City featuring the central obelisk and colonnades under a bright blue sky.

 

Hey Y’all!

If you’re new here, I’m just a Southern girl traveling the world with my husband, Mike. We love finding the sweet spots, the good food, and the history—but we also keep it real about the walking, the crowds, and the shoes you actually need to wear.

Today, we are stepping into the heart of Rome. Well, technically, we are stepping out of Rome and into Vatican City.

The Heart of the Vatican (Awe, Art, and Swiss Secrets)

There are places you visit, and then there are places you feel. The Vatican is definitely the latter. Even though I’m not Catholic, faith is important to me, and walking into this independent city-state—the spiritual headquarters for over a billion people—demands the utmost respect.

We spent a full day exploring the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. It was exhausting, amazing, and absolutely worth every step.

The “Sea of Chairs” in St. Peter’s Square

When we walked out into St. Peter’s Square, the first thing that hit me wasn’t just the size of the colonnades (though they are massive), but what was happening on the ground.

They were setting up thousands of chairs. I mean, a literal sea of them.

Rows of thousands of empty chairs set up in St. Peter's Square for a Papal audience.

We found out the Pope holds a General Audience every Wednesday. Since we were there on a Tuesday and flying out the next day, we just missed him! If I had known, I might have tried to rearrange our flights just to experience that energy. But even seeing the empty chairs waiting for the faithful was moving.

We took a moment to just sit on the steps surrounding the square, catch our breath, grab a drink of water, and take it all in.

A smiling couple standing in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican with the Egyptian obelisk in the background.

Fountains spraying water in St. Peter's Square with the colonnade in the background.

The Swiss Guard: Not Italian!

Here is a fun fact I learned from our guide

The soldiers guarding the Pope aren’t Italian. They are the Pontifical Swiss Guard, and the rules to get that job are strict!

To even apply, you have to be a Swiss citizen, Catholic, single, under 30, and you have to be at least 5′ 8″ tall. They look a bit like they are wearing costumes from the Renaissance with those blue, red, and yellow stripes, but make no mistake—they are highly trained military men. It was neat to see them standing watch, stoic as statues.

Inside the Basilica: Gold, Bronze, and Light

We didn’t climb the Dome (my feet thanked me for that decision!), but admiring it from the floor of the church is an experience in itself. The sheer beauty of St. Peter’s Basilica is hard to describe.

The Bernini Baldachin

This is the massive bronze canopy that stands over the Papal Altar. The twisting columns are huge—photos barely do it justice, but we tried!

The massive bronze canopy (Baldachin) by Bernini standing over the high altar in St. Peter's Basilica.

The Dome & The Light

Looking straight up into Michelangelo’s dome makes you feel tiny. And if you look towards the back, the amber stained-glass window of the Holy Spirit glows like actual fire when the sun hits it.

The Holy Door

We also saw the Porta Santa (Holy Door). These massive bronze panels depict the history of salvation. They are usually cemented shut and only opened during Jubilee years. Seeing the craftsmanship up close was incredible.

The massive bronze Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica featuring detailed relief sculptures.

The Long Walk to the Sistine Chapel

To get to the Sistine Chapel, you walk through the “Long Hallway”—the Gallery of Maps and the Gallery of Tapestries.

A wide staircase with marble columns inside the Vatican. & Intricate coffered gold ceiling inside the long hallway of the Vatican Museums.

I stood there in awe of the tapestries and the ceilings. The thread work is centuries old, yet the stories they tell are timeless.

The Sistine Chapel: A Stark Silence

You can take photos of almost everything in the Vatican—except the Sistine Chapel.

But honestly? I didn’t need a camera. That sight is etched in my memory. After the loud “buzz” and chatter of the museums, you step into the Chapel and the sound just… drops. It goes from a roar to a whisper. It isn’t a museum; it’s a holy place.

The story goes that Michelangelo didn’t even want the job. He considered himself a sculptor, not a painter! He painted the ceiling between 1508 and 1512, but he came back years later to paint The Last Judgment on the altar wall. In my opinion, that wall is the most amazing scene of all.

Practical Tips for The Vatican

  • Check the Schedule: If seeing the Pope is a priority for you, check the schedule for the General Audience (usually Wednesdays). If you want to avoid the crowds, try to avoid Wednesday mornings!

  • Dress Code Matters: This is a holy place. Shoulders and knees must be covered. They will turn you away if you aren’t dressed modestly.

  • The Silence: Respect the rules in the Sistine Chapel. It really is a moment to disconnect and just look up.

  • Hydrate: There is a lot of walking. We were so grateful we took that moment to sit on the steps and drink some water before diving back into the city.

A Little About Me

Hi y’all, I’m Tara! There’s nothing I love more than traveling the world with my husband, Mike, and exploring the beauty of God’s handiwork. As an avid reader, when I’m not off on a real-life adventure, you can usually find me reading about one! I poured that passion into my business, Tailored Travel, a full-service travel agency where my team and I would be tickled to help you cross off the next destination on your list- including this beautiful place.

Let’s Start Designing Your Dream Trip!
 Email: tara@tailoredtravel.vacations

Phone: (423) 641-1070