Sights and landmarks in Rome/Vatican

Sights and landmarks in Rome/Vatican

1. See

   Castel Sant'Angelo

   Perhaps the most fascinating building in Rome. The core of the structure began life as the mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian, built between 135 and 139 AD. Subsequent strongholds built on top of the mausoleum were in turn incorporated into a residence and castle by medieval Popes. The building was used as a prison until 1870 but now houses a museum. Opera buffs will be exhilarated to visit the balcony from which Tosca leaps to her death. Film buffs will recognise it as a setting from Angels and Demons.

   Daily 09:00-19:30 (last entry 1h before closing)·€10, with reductions. Roma Pass accepted

2. See

   Palazzo di Giustizia

   Palace of Justice

   Wandering around the shopping and residential district of Prati, close to the Vatican, you may notice rather a lot of lawyers' nameplates outside buildings. This is also Rome's legal district because of the proximity of the Palazzo di Giustizia or Palace of Justice. This massive monstrosity on the banks of the Tiber was built on alluvial soil, which necessitated a concrete platform to support the foundations. Despite this, later settlement of the building led to the need for restoration work in 1970 and it is said to be still sinking. There were many allegations of corruption during its construction, something not unknown in the Rome of today, and this, combined with its appearance, gave rise to its nickname of the Palazzaccio or Ugly Palace.

3. See

   Passetto di Borgo

   Pope Nicholas III connected Castel Sant'Angelo to St. Peter's by a covered fortified corridor called the Passetto di Borgo. This proved useful for Pope Clement VII during the Sack of Rome (1527). You can still see much of the Passetto by walking along the Borgo Sant'Angelo, which runs parallel to, and north of, the Via della Conciliazione.

4. See

   Ponte Sant'Angelo

   This is a footbridge connecting Castel Sant'Angelo with the other side of the Tiber. It is a Roman bridge completed in 134 AD by Hadrian, to give access to his newly constructed mausoleum. Pilgrims used this bridge to reach St Peter's Basilica, hence it was earlier known as the "bridge of Saint Peter". In the seventh century, the castle and the bridge took on the name Sant'Angelo, when it is said that an angel appeared on the roof of the castle to announce the end of a plague. The statues of ten angels on the bridge reflect its name.

5. See

   St. Peter's Basilica

   Basilica di San Pietro

   The centre of the Catholic world, this magnificent basilica with its Michelangelo-designed dome has an awe-inspiring interior. This place is huge, but everything is in such proportion that the scale escapes you. However, contrary to popular belief, it is not the Pope's cathedral; that honour lies with the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran in San Giovanni.

   Apr-Sep: 07:00-19:00, Oct-Mar: 07:00-18:00. Closed on Wed mornings for papal audiences and may be closed for other occasions.·Free

6. See

   St. Peter's Square

   Piazza di San Pietro

   Most of the Piazza di San Pietro is actually an oval. There is a small, almost rectangular section immediately in front of the St Peter's and an opening to the Via della Conciliazione opposite the basilica.

   Open 24 hours·Free admission

7. See

   The Vatican Museum

   One of the greatest art galleries in the world, the museum is most famous for its spiral staircase, the Raphael Rooms and the exquisitely decorated Sistine Chapel famous for Michelangelo's frescoes.

   Mon-Sat 09:00-18:00 (ticket office closes at 16:00), Sun closed (except last Sun of the month, when it is free, crowded, and open 09:00-14:00 with the last admission at 12:30). The museum is closed for holidays on Jan 1 and 6, Feb 11 and 22, Mar 19 and 28, Jun 29, Aug 15, Nov 1, and Dec 8 and 26·€16 adults, €8 concessions. Additional €4 booking fee per ticket if booked online in advance. As of 2025, the number of visitors is extremely high and often the only tickets available to book online include a guided tour - €40 per person.

8. See Not mapped

   Swiss Papal Guards

   Corpo della Guardia Svizzera

   They are posted at entrances to the Vatican City to provide security and protect the Pope. They wear very colourful clothing, similar to the uniforms worn by Renaissance-era soldiers. The Pontifical Swiss Guards is also the smallest and oldest standing army in the world, founded in 1506 by Pope Julius II. The origins of the Swiss guards, however, go back much further as the popes had regularly imported Swiss mercenaries during the 1400s.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Rome/Vatican (CC BY-SA 4.0).