ROME

Enjoy an after dinner stroll in Rome with a gelato; See the young locals hanging out at the Spanish Steps; Watch tourists throw coins behind their backs into the Trevi Fountain; Fend off pesky guys trying to sell you a rose for your significant other... Ah Roma!

A landlocked sovereign city-state within Rome ruled by the pope and serves as the administrative center of the Catholic Church. Vatican City is governed by the Holy See, which serves as the main governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City.

Who Protects the Pope?
A combination of police forces and the Pontifical Swiss Guard also known as the Papal Swiss Guard was founded by Pope Julius II in 1506 and their main objective is to protect the Pope, the Apostolic Palace, and the Vatican City State. The guard is made up of unmarried Roman Catholic males with Swiss citizenship within the age of 19 and 30 and least 5 feet 8.5 inches (1.74 meters) tall. The Swiss Guard is recognized by its Renaissance-era dress uniform.

The Papal Audience is every Wednesday around 10:30 a.m. (10 a.m. if it's hot outside) if the Pope is in Rome. The event is free and takes place in St. Peter's Square during warm months. The service consists of hymns and prayer led by the cardinals and a general speech delivered by the Pope mostly in Italian and English. At the end of the service the Pope blesses the crowd.

Vatican Museum

is home to the Sistine Chapel and a vast collection of artwork, antiques, sculptures, tapestries and ancient artifacts. The entry lines get long very quick so it's best to buy your tickets in advanced before your trip. Arrive early in the morning so you can avoid the tour groups and crowds.

The Sistine Chapel is located inside the Vatican Museum and is an absolute must-see if you are in Rome. Several Renaissance painters created the many Biblical frescoes during the reign of Pope Sixtus IV. The frescoed ceiling and the Last Judgment was created by Michelangelo. Over the years I have spent a minimum of 2 hours alone on several visits inside the Sistine Chapel just gazing at the wonders of the detail of the frescoes. In my heart I believe that this was Divine Intervention to create such wonderful works of art. I recommend you visit Rick Steve's website to hear a fantastic audio tour of the Sistine Chapel.

Visit the excavations in the Necropolis and the tomb of Saint Peter underneath the Vatican Basilica on the Vatican Scavi Tour. Tickets are hard to get because only 250 visitors per day are allowed to help preserve the archaeological site. The tour ends in another part of St. Peter's Basilica so you can access entry into the Basilica without going through the security line. There is also a an amazing gift shop with wonderful items for purchase.

Buy your tickets at Palatine Hill to avoid waiting in long lines at the Colosseum. One ticket covers all three locations starting around 18 €. I recommend entering Palatine Hill first and walk gently uphill taking in the ruins of ancient palaces, temples, baths and coming to a view of Circus Maximus and St. Peter's Basilica in the distance. As you walk towards the exit you will be rewarded with a fantastic view overlooking the Roman Forum which was once the center of ancient Rome. Look further down for a view of the Colosseum.

Arcus Nerioniani

was built to extend Aqueduct Claudia to provide water to the palaces on Palatine Hill.

Aventine Hill

is located directly across from Palatine Hill and Circus Maximus. Look through the Aventine Key Hole in the door to see a framed view of St. Peter's Basilica. The doorway itself leads to the Priory of the Knights of Malta. Sometimes the line may be long but it usually moves efficiently and the wait is totally worth the view.