Rome has many neighborhoods that you can discover on this site. One of the neighborhoods of the city has the particularity of being much more than a district. It is a State, the smallest State in the world which nevertheless receives every day thousands of visitors: the Vatican. Facing St. Peter's Square, the Via della Conciliazione - built by Mussolini following the Lateran Accords - links the Vatican to Castel Sant'Angelo. The Pontifical State is separated from Rome by a wall behind which is the residential district of Prati, which means "meadows" in Italian because before the construction of the district this area was covered with meadows. A chic, recent district (the most recent district of Rome : it was built in 1921) lined with many shops, including Via Cola di Rienzo and restaurants - often for tourists - with a few very good addresses. The courthouse is also part of his neighborhood.
You will need several days to fully visit the Vatican - by that I mean only the visible parts of the Papal State - but the Prati district can be visited much more quickly since there are no historical monuments. However some museums and churches could be of interest..
Crossing the bridge you will quickly reach Piazza del Popolo where you can then go to Via del corso and / or Piazza di Spagna.
THE VATICAN :
The visit of the Vatican can be separated into three main parts: St. Peter's Basilica, museums and gardens.
Whatever the places you want to visit, it is strongly recommended to get up early and arrive before 9am, especially for the Basilica. Regarding museums you can book your ticket in advance which will allow you to skip the line, if you have booked a group guided tour you also won't have to wait for a long time (but still a little bit if you are not the only group to visit the Vatican that day and it also takes some time to pass the security gates). For the gardens the reservation is unavoidable and you can only visit in the morning with a guide.
As the Vatican is a place of worship, entry will be denied to anyone with legs and shoulders uncovered. It is also forbidden to wear hats and all sharp objects will be confiscated.
Do not forget that the Vatican Museums are free on the last Sunday of every month, a good opportunity but you have to be very patient ...
Saint Peter's Square:
The largest square in Rome was completely transformed by Bernini in the XVIII century to form an ellipse symbolizing the arms of the Church embracing the faithful. In the center of the square is an Egyptian obelisk.
The basilica :
St. Peter's Basilica is the only part of the Vatican that you can visit for free. The largest basilica in the world is very richly decorated with gilding, paintings, marbles, mosaics so big that one could think they are paintings ... Its dome is also the top of the world! Some chapels are reserved for prayer and therefore can not be simply visited or photographed. The tomb of John Paul II occupies a chapel inside. Under the basilica is the crypt where the other popes are buried. You can visit it. Within the basilica you can also visit the Vatican Treasury Museums for a fee.
The visit of the dome requires an additional 8€ if you walk or 12€ with the elevator but in any case you will still have to climb the top section on foot, so it is not necessarily very interesting to pay the elevator... Once the first parte of the climb is one you arrive inside the cupola, this place gives you a breathtaking spectacle on the basilica below (if you have vertigo or are claustrophobic you should refrain from going up here...). The second part of the climb is more and more difficult and narrow, before reaching the outside of the dome where you will have the most beautiful panorama on Rome.
The Sistine Chapel :
Included in the price of tickets to the Museum, the Sistine Chapel houses two of the world's most famous works of art: the frescoes of the vault (800 m2 of frescoes depicting the nine episodes of Genesis) and the final judgment by Michel -Angelo. It is in this chapel that the conclave meets during the papal elections.
The room of Raphaël :
It is impossible to visit all the Vatican Museums in one day. You will have to make choices but the rooms of Raphael are not to miss. These are the private apartments of Pope Julius II, four rooms decorated with frescoes by Raphael and his students.
The art gallery :
The pontifical gallery has many works including the last one painted by Raphael: La Trasfigurazione as well as paintings by Pietro da Cortona, Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci ...
Courtyard of the Pigna :
This is one of the three courtyards of the Vatican. In the center is a bronze sculpture: the Sphere of Arnaldo Pomodoro, which has a 4 meters' diameter.
Octagon Courtyard:
This second court is named after its octagonal shape. There are the most beautiful statues of the Vatican.
Chiaramonti Museum :
On the lower level of the east wing of the Belvedere Palace, this gallery contains many statues of divinity.
Egyptian Gregorian Museum::
This museum was founded in 1836 by Pope Gregory XVI. His collection is dedicated to Egyptian art. It includes the throne of Ramses II, sarcophagi, mummies ...
Geographical Maps Gallery: :
This long gallery of 120m, is lined with forty topographic maps made by Ignazio Danti for Pope Gregory XIII.
Candelabra and Arrazzi Gallery: :
These two adjoining galleries contain elegant marble candelabra for the former and huge tapestries for the latter, some of which were woven in Brussels.
The spiral staircase:
This is the famous spiral staircase that you will necessarily take (unless you choose the elevator) to get out of the Vatican Museums. This is a double spiral staircase, imagined from the structure of human DNA, built by the architect Giuseppe Momo.
TO SEE IN THE PRATI DISTRICT :
The Museum of Souls in Purgatory: Located inside one of Rome's rare Gothic churches - Sacro Cuoro del Suffragio - the Museum of Souls in Purgatory contains terrestrial evidences of the passage of souls on Earth. The idea of this free museum was born in 1894, when the original chapel - Madonna del Rosario - caught fire. Following the fire, the priest discovered on one of the burned walls the image of a sad face and concluded that this face belonged to a deceased convict in purgatory seeking the contact of the living to help him access the Paradise . After this began a series of studies on the passage of the souls of purgatory on the earth and the museum inside the church now contains all the evidences found.
Opening hours: from 7:30am to 11 am and from 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Address: Lungotevere Prati, 12
The Museum of Horror: This museum-store was founded by filmmaker Dario Argento. On the ground floor the shop offers puppets, masks and horrifying toys. In the basement, the museum offers a reconstruction of horror movies' characters with a distressing background music ... 5 € for a few minutes of chills!
Opening hours: from 10:30am to 1 pm and from 4 pm to 7:30 pm
Address: Via dei Gracchi, 260
The Historical Museum of the Arms of Carabinieri: devoted to ammunition of the military police.
Opening hours: from 12:30 am to 3 pm and from 7:30pm to 11pm
Address: Piazza del Risorgimento, 46
Castel Sant'Angelo: Located not far from St. Peter's Basilica, the castle was a mausoleum imagined by the emperor Hadrian, as a tomb for him and his successors. Over the centuries, the castle has been a military fort, a prison and the residence of popes. During guided tours, it is still possible to walk along the Passetto di Borgo - a raised and fortified passage that links the Castle to the Vatican. This passage allowed the pope to take refuge in the castle if need be.Since 1925, it hosts art and history collection and objects of the Italian army. From the terrace, an impressive panorama allows to contemplate the whole city.
Address: Lungotevere Castello, 50
Hours: 9.30am - 7.30pm
Monte-Mario: the highest hill in Rome - 139m above sea level - also offers the widest panorama. On this hill is a residential area, a nature reserve and the astronomical observatory of Rome.
Santa Maria in Traspontina: located on Via della Concilazione, the main street facing St. Peter's Square, this church was built in the 16th century to replace a previous church demolished by Pope Pius IV because it was an obstacle to the trajectory of cannonballs launched from Castel Sant'Angelo. To prevent this from happening again, the dome of the new church was built in a very "crushed" way.
Address: Via della Conciliazione, 14
WHERE TO EAT :
Apperitivo :
Antonini : very good apperitivo recognized in the district but which remains a little more expensive than average (13 € 50 or 15 € with a cocktail), which is usual around the Vatican.
Hours: from 7 am to 9 pm
Address: Via Sabotino, 19
Restaurants :
Le Carré Français : it is not a typical address but if you want to taste French cuisine this is where you must go: baguettes, croissants, French pastries, quiche, cheese, cuisine and French wines will be offered in French of course !
Hours: Monday to Friday from 7am to 11.30pm, open at 8am on Saturdays and 9am on Sundays
Address: Via Vittoria Colonna, 30
Il sorpasso: bar restaurant with an atypical look (exposed stones, hanging hams ...) this all-day restaurant offers traditional dishes, charcuterie boards, trapizzini (pizzas in cornet) ...
Hours: from 7am to 1am from Monday to Friday and from 9am to 1am on Saturdays
Address: Via proprio 31
Hostaria Dino e Tony: traditional trattoria offering simple and generous Roman cuisine. Do not miss antipasti! Be careful, the house does not accept credit cards.
Hours: from 12:30pm to 3pm and from 7:30 pm to 11pm
Address: Via Leone IV, 60
Velavevodetto ai Quiriti: traditional restaurant offering reasonable prices and typical Roman cuisine.
Hours: from 12:30pm to 2:30pm and from 7:30pm to 11:30pm
Address: Piazza dei Quiriti, 5
Romeo: chic and modern concept offering three spaces: bakery, grocery store and restaurant.
Hours: from 9 am to midnight
Address: Via Silla, 26a
Pizzarium Bonci: very famous pizzeria, it will be necessary to be patient before being served but the toppings are generous and original. The taste is very good but unfortunately the price is high... Indeed we can find pizza half that price in other areas!
Hours: from 11 am to 10pm
Address: Via della Meloria, 43
Gelateria :
Fatamorgana : located not far from via Cavour, this unpretentious ice-cream shop offers many very fruity sorbets and original ice creams such as avocado, rose and pecorino.Fatamorgana is also present in Monti: Piazza degli Zinzari, 5; at Re di Roma: Via Aosta, 3 and in Trastevere: Via Roma Libera, 11.
Hours: from noon to 10pm
Address: Via Leone IV, 50
Gelateria dei Gracchi: one of the best gelateria of this residential area. You will certainly have to wait in line to be able to taste the delicious flavors and some originalities of the house including: almond, chocolate & piece of orange, pine nut cream, pear & caramel ...
Hours: from noon to 00:30
Address: Via dei Gracchi, 272
Al settimo gelo: a glacier with a wide variety of organic flavors. Do not miss to taste Greek ice cream and chocolate sorbet! Three scoops cost 3€, a reasonable price, especially in this area!
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 11pm and Sunday from 11:30am to 2pm and from 4pm to 11pm
Address: Via Vodice, 21
Gelarmony: Sicilian ice-cream shop offering a wide selection of ice creams and sorbets.
Opening hours: 10am - midnight
Address: Via Marcantonio Colonna, 34
BAR :
Alexanderplatz : Located near the Vatican, this bar welcomes you in a cozy and well decorated cellar. In addition to listening to various jazz concerts you can also eat there. It is the legendary scene of the oldest jazz club in Rome, some of this musical style's concerts occurred here at their beginning. During the week the concerts begin at 9:45 pm and at 10:30 pm on weekends. Be careful because the club closes during summer to move to the Celimontana jazz festival. Booking is necessary !
Hours: to 8pm to 1am
Address: Via Ostia, 9
PHOTO GALLERY :
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