Per a co-worker's reccomendation, we approached the Vatican from the ancient neighborhoods surrounding it, avoiding Mussolini's grand bouelvard. It gave us a better appreciation of the magnitude of the place, and of how the power of the church dominated(s) Rome. We started our visit with the Vatican museums. Endless galleries of art and treasure, culminating in the wonderous Sistine Chapel and surrounding rooms. The works of Raphael and Michaelangelo were breathtaking, even to a person with only a passing interest in the art world, like me! We made our way through the collanade, into St. Peter's square. This is one of the great open spaces in the world, at least in my humble opinion. The crowds were sparse, as it was the off season. I can't reccomend that method of travel enough. It was late November, and pleasantly cool. Through the doors of the Basilica, we entered what surely must be one of he great indoor spaces of the world. It's overwhelming, really. To the immediate right is Michaelangelo's "Pieta", which is protected behind glass, thus difficult to appreciate. Many other works are more approchable, and a guided tour is helpful in understanding the history of all you'd see. We made the trip to the top of the dome. While the views of Rome we great, the nutty stairway was the true memory. As we progressed higher through the dome, the stairway got progressively narrower, and the slope of the walls ever greater, to the point where we were almost crawling. Finally, a transition to regular stairs at the top, then a narrow but veritcal spiral got us to the summit. We left the Vatican via Mussolini's grand street, and got the signature view from a nearby bridge. All of Rome and the Vatican were wonderful. I can vividly recall the entire trip, even years later.

The Vatican Museum is certainly one of the top places to visit for anyone visiting Rome. The museum affords tourists to see ancient antiquities and relics from different eras that are not found in one place anywhere else. In addition to the museum the visitor also passes through the Sistine Chapel which, for many people, is one incentive to visit the museum in the first place. The only problem is the line. Early in the morning hours before the museum opens, a waiting line of people snakes itself along the wall around the building. It is best to go more towards the early afternoon after the initial rush, unless, of course, you want to be one of the people that sits in front of the museum entrance before dawn, which is great for most people. Just take lots of coffee. :)

Definitely must visit the Vatican Museums while in the Vatican City. You get to see the immense collection built up by the Roman Catholic Church throughout the centuries. And it ends at the Sistine Chapel, where you can gaze up at Michelangelo's famous Creation of Adam. Bring a mirror! It'll save you from getting a crick in your neck from looking up to admire the intricate ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

It's hard to describe what you feel when you enter those rooms. I havent seen so much beauty in the same place in all my life. As for the pinacoteque and Rafael's and Michelangello's paintings, Caravaggio and so much many others..its divine. Try to be there at 8 am...the museum opens at 8:45 but there is a long que, so its better to be in front. Take a whole day to visit at least part of it

More art than you can shake a stick at. On the walls, ceilings, you name it...and oh, the prominent names! No photography inside the famous chapel...at least flash. Lots of scaffolding might mean you can't see something or not as much of it, but remember that art restoration is time consuming. You'd rather have to come back to see something, than to have it disappear altogether, right?