Vatican Museums + St Peter's Dome Combo

The Vatican as a state

Vatican City became an independent state in 1929 under the Lateran Treaty. Inside its small territory are the basilica, the papal palaces, the museums, a railway station, a post office and the gardens. The Swiss Guard, in their distinctive uniforms, have protected popes since the early sixteenth century.

Bernini's imprint on St Peter's

Gian Lorenzo Bernini shaped much of what visitors see, including the great bronze canopy over the altar and the colonnades that frame the square outside. His work gives the basilica its theatrical baroque character, with gilding, marble and sculpture designed to impress.

• The baldacchino, which stands directly beneath the dome.
• The Chair of Saint Peter, a sculptural display in the apse.
• The colonnades, which seem to open like arms around the square.

Michelangelo's Pietà

Near the entrance of the basilica is the Pietà, which Michelangelo made as a young sculptor. Mary holds the body of Christ across her lap, and the smooth, polished marble is one of the most admired pieces of sculpture in the world. Because the work sits behind protective glass, you may find it easiest to appreciate from a calm moment at a short distance.

Museums and basilica as one story

It can help to think of the Museums and the basilica as two halves of the same project. Popes collected antiquities and commissioned frescoes in the palaces while architects were rebuilding the basilica. Raphael and Michelangelo worked on both. The money, ambition and rivalry of the period fed each other, which is why Renaissance Rome can feel so concentrated here.

Practical thinking for a long day

Combining a large museum with a church and a dome climb is a physically demanding day. Plan rests, drink water and avoid wearing new shoes. The dome passages are narrow and have many steps, so those with limited mobility or a fear of tight spaces should consider whether the climb suits them. Dress rules for the basilica apply to everyone, and security checks apply at the entrance.

Views from the dome are clearest on bright days with good visibility, and soft evening light is lovely in rooftop views across Rome. Summer haze, however, can flatten a view, so autumn and spring often give crisper horizons. Whatever the season, a hat and a layer of clothing are sensible. Rain and low cloud can hide the horizon entirely, so a flexible plan is wise. On a grey day the interior of the basilica and the galleries of the Museums are still rewarding, and the shift in mood, with polished marble and gold catching the available light, can be as memorable as a clear panorama.