Vatican City and Rome, understood as a single destination, are one of the most important tourist places in the world. The recent resignation of Pope Benedict XVI has only increased interest in trips to the holy city, as many want to see Ratzinger -perhaps for the last time- or even witness the historic election of the next Pope by the famous white smoke.
But the Vatican is not only a destination of great attraction for Catholics, what is the smallest state in the world is a location of great importance from an artistic and social point of view. Its museums, with Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel as the centerpiece, bring together a unique collection in the world.
From a balcony of the beautiful St. Peter’s Basilica, every Sunday and public holiday, the Pope blesses the masses that gather in the square. Moment that always brings together hundreds of faithful and curious; Thousands when it comes to a special act.
After the historic resignation of the Pope, sources in the tourism sector say that searches for hotels in Rome have multiplied substantially: 117% from Spain, 116% from France and 236% from Italy itself.
Always Rome
Beyond the Vatican City, all of Rome deserves to be seen and enjoyed calmly. Walking through the Eternal City requires an exercise in the imagination to visualize how life unfolded in another era, when the Colosseum vibrated with the roar of the masses, when the chariots flew through the Circus Maximus and the most illustrious Romans walked through the forum.
Archaeology, architecture, history and, of course, gastronomy, are fundamental pieces of the Roman puzzle. The third most touristic European city has innumerable attractions that cannot be digested in a single trip. Rome and the Vatican require time.