Vatican City

The dominion of the Holy See and the geographical heart of the Roman Catholic Church, Vatican City is the city-state controlled by the Pope and the Roman Curia. Ensconced in Rome, the enclave has been politically separate turf from Italy since 1929, although the Holy See itself is, of course, a vastly older institution. This tiniest of sovereign states—barely more than 100 acres—is a magnet for spiritually and historically minded tourism.

Millions flock to Vatican City every year to appreciate its monumental landmarks, among them St. Peter’s Basilica—still the second-largest Christian church on the planet—and the Sistine Chapel, frescoed by Michelangelo’s masterpieces. Gaping at The Creation of Adam, The Last Judgment, and the other glories of the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling and walls is a highlight of the typical tour of the Vatican Museums and Galleries. From Greek and Roman statues to other Renaissance masterworks like Raphael’s The School of Athens, here’s one of the most illustrious and popular art exhibits anywhere.

Protecting the Apostolic Palace and the Pope as they have for centuries, the Pontifical Swiss Guard is known the world over for its striking Renaissance-style costumery: white collars, blue or tricolored doublets and breeches, black berets or feathered helmets. These watchmen nowadays constitute a landmark of the Vatican in and of themselves.

General sightseeing aside, the Vatican is the focus of many pilgrimages and liturgies—not to mention, of course, the rare and momentous event of a papal conclave.

Whether you make the once-in-a-lifetime journey to honor a newly elected pontiff or you’re here for the High Renaissance frescoes, the Vatican is a destination quite unlike any other.