Thursday, February 7, 2008

Touring the Vatican, Expanding Religion!

When you’re in Rome, there are places that you can’t definitely miss. One of them is the Vatican. Considered to be the smallest country in the world, the Vatican holds numerous special collections and buildings that tell so much about the beginning and struggle of Roman Catholicism—and how the religion has helped shape the world.

Two Kinds of Vatican Tours

There are different kinds of Vatican tours, but commonly, you can choose between private and group tours. Private Vatican Tours are just for you and your party. You will get the privilege to tour the Vatican with your own personal Official Vatican Tour Guide dedicated only to you who will reveal to you the Vatican treasures from insider perspective and also make sure there is no stranger who can take part in your Vatican tours.
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Vatican Group Tours, meanwhile, is composed of individuals who have booked on the same day. This is ideal if you’re traveling to the Vatican alone.

Before you can actually start your Vatican tours, there are certain things that you have to consider. First of all, take note of your dress code. Women should avoid wearing anything revealing, including tank tops, miniskirts, and shorts. If you can’t help it, then cover your spaghetti top with a shawl or a jacket. Men, on the other hand, should better keep their shirts with offensive pictures and messages on their suitcase first. Otherwise, you’ll be in terrible shame, being shooed away by the custodians who are guarding the Vatican doors. It may also help if you can carry pair of small binoculars with you. There are certain areas in the Vatican, such as the Sistine Chapel, where images can be so minute. The optical device can help you see the details much clearer.

Starting Your Vatican Tours

When you’re going to tour the Vatican, it may be wise to begin on the Vatican Museum, or the Musei Vaticani. The entrance, which can you reach through Bus 49, is located at the Viale Vaticano. The Vatican tours can also take on another route, which is through the Piazza del Risorgimento, by taking the Tram 19 or Bus 81.

The Piazza di San Pietro, an entrance to the Basilica di San Pietro or St. Peter’s Basilica, is found at the western area of Via della Conciliazione. For your Vatican tours, you can have to alternative places to visit. You can go up to the topmost portion of the basilica by riding an elevator. It’s the most perfect place to enjoy the little towers that remind of you of those magical castles in fairy tales. If you’re scared of heights, though, don’t even try to proceed to the lantern or even the highest part of the dome’s cupola.

For those who are appreciative of nature, you can take a stroll on the Vatican Gardens for your until your can reach the Castel Sant’ Angelo located at Borgo Pio. This fortress is truly significant in the history of Rome as it served as refuge for emperors and popes during wars such as the Sack of Rome.

Lastly, drop by on Cappella Sistina or the Sistine Chapel and get a glimpse of Michelangelo’s famous work on its ceilings. It’s amazing how a sculptor’s name becomes everlasting through his paintings.

Touring the Vatican is something you’d definitely crave for the rest of your life. So why don’t you start saving up now?

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