Visit the Vatican

All my life I have always wanted to visit the Vatican City. The Very CENTER of my Catholic Faith

I backpacked through Italy with some friends and we arranged our schedules so we’d be in Rome on Easter Sunday. I’m not Catholic but mass at the Vatican was a phenomenal experience… one of my favorites from the six months I spent around Europe. If any of ya’ll are planning a trip specifically to see the Vatican, I’d definitely recommend trying to make it for Easter. Just remember that most things are closed that day so be sure to stay in/around Rome for an extra few days. Also… it’s worth the hike up to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica. The view from inside the dome is wonderful but the outside view from the very top can’t be beat! Even if you’re scared of heights (like me), it’s still worth it and you’ll be so glad you got to have the experience.

One of the most amazing trips of my life. Its one of those places that no matter how much you hear about it and bulid a picture in your mind of what it will be like, it can’t fail to amaze you once you get there. Beautiful.

It was surreal. It was beyond belief. The art, the atmosphere, knowing you’re at the centre of the Catholic world. The 1.5 hr line to get in was…fun (I ended up visiting on the Pope’s B-Day apparently).

The Sistine Chapel was amazing. I was lucky the day I visited b/c the security guards weren’t enforcing the no-photo rule at all so I got amazing pics and videos of the art of it all.

You’ve got to go there sometime in your life. It’s amazing.

im the wrong person to tell you if this would be a significant experience spiritually, but its a wonderful artistic venture. its hard to imagine one man (Michelangelo) painting so much amazing art in such a short period of time, and on a ceiling. what i thought was cool was that on these statues way up on the outside of st. peters basilica you could faintly make out writing. the fact that they took enough time to put this much detail, even if no one could see it, was extraordinary. definately worth seeing while in italy, or even europe in general, but not worth a trip on its own in my opinion.

leaving in 9 days. So friggin’ excited!!

Visiting the Vatican was an amazing, spiritual, emotional, and all round totally awesome experience. I felt so renewed spiritually and so proud of my Catholic faith and the history we have.

Even if you are not Catholic however i think it is well worth going, it is a international landmark and an amazing place!!

I would recommend this for anyone. I have been there on two separate occasions. I want to go back again some time soon.

The history of the Vatican as a papal residence dates from the 5th cent., when, after Emperor Constantine I had built the basilica of St. Peter’s, Pope Symmachus built a palace nearby.

The pope usually resided in the Lateran Palace until the “Babylonian captivity” (14th cent.) in Avignon, France.

After the return of the papacy to Rome (1377) the Vatican became the usual residence.

I was so lucky, the day I wnet it was the jubilee and i didn’t know it. I Got to be part of a huge celebration. It was like a present frim above.