The Vatican
The Vatican, or Vatican City, is a small sovereign state that is located in the centre of Rome, Italy. It is best known as the main seat of the governing body for Roman Catholicism and home to the Pope, whose residence is at the Apostolic Palace. The Vatican is often referred to as the smallest country in the world with an area of only 0.17 square miles and a population of just over 800 inhabitants.

The state gained its independence in 1929 from the Kingdom of Italy, after disputes between a series of so-called prisoner popes and Italy were resolved by three Lateran Treaties. On visiting the Vatican and any of its sights, you should remember to dress appropriately – covering up your shoulders and wearing knee-length garments – otherwise you will probably be refused entry.

The Basilica of Saint Peter
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter is a late Renaissance church that dominates the Vatican City. The basilica actually has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world and can hold some 60,000 people. There has been a church on the site since the 4th century. However, construction of the present basilica was initiated in 1506 by Pope Julius II and was not completed until 1626. Pope Julius II wanted the grandest building in Christendom but never saw much of its construction. Some or Italy’s most famous architectures worked No prescription cialis on the Basilica of St Peter, such as Donato Bramante, Giuliano da Sangallo, Fra Giocondo, Raphael, Michelangelo and Bernini.

Saint Peter’s Basilica, as Catholic tradition states, is said to be the burial ground of Saint Peter, one of Jesus’s twelve apostles and first Pope of Rome. In fact there are over 100 tombs under the basilica, including 91 popes, the Holy Roman Emperor Otto II and James Francis Edward Stuart, an exiled Catholic member of the British royalty.

The Vatican Museums
The Vatican Museums are widely considered to be some of the greatest museums in the world. They were founded by Pope Julius II and date back to the 16th century with the purchase of one marble sculpture, the sculpture of Laocoon. Today, the museums are a complex of different pontifical museums and galleries which include the following museums; Museo Pio-Clementino, Museo Chiaramonti, Museo Gregoriano Etrusco and Museo Egiziano.

With over 4 million visitors a year, the Vatican Museums are one of the most poplar sights in Rome. It is therefore best to get to the museums as early as possible, as queues are usually very long, especially on the last Sunday of the month, where entry is free. For more details on the Vatican Museums please click on the link below.

Located on the west side of the River Tiber, the district around the Vatican is affluent and well maintained. It also offers a wide selection of places to eat, shopping opportunities, transport facilities and places to visit. Below is a selection of 3 different types of establishments that provide accommodation in the Vatican area.

Bed and Breakfast At Your Place Rome, Via di Porta Castello 33, 00193 Rome, Italy
Situated directly between the Vatican and Castel Sant’Angelo, Bed and Breakfast At Your Place Rome has a privileged location in the heart of the centre, which is an ideal location for discovering the beautiful sights of Rome on foot. The B&B is housed in a well-kept building dating back to the nineteenth century and lies within the top floor apartment. Comprising of four modern guest rooms, each of which is en suite and with a small balcony that offer excellent views, either overlooking the gardens of Castel Sant’Angelo, the Palace of Justice or the Vatican Walls.

Aurelia Residence Rome, Via Aurelia 145, 00165 Rome, Italy
The Aurelia Residence Rome is equivalent to a 4 star hotel and offers excellent accommodation close to the Vatican. The residence lies on the famous Via Aurelia, one of the oldest Roman roads dating back to 241BC and which went all the way to Pisa. Accommodation is in the form of mini apartments of which there are three types; 73sqm for up to 3 persons, 90sqm for up to 5 persons and the largest, 105sqm for up to 7 persons. Each apartment comes complete with all the facilities needed for a comfortable and independent stay.

Hotel Alimandi Vaticano Rome, Viale Vaticano 99, 00165 Rome, Italy
4 star Hotel Alimandi Vaticano Rome is one of the closest hotels to the Vatican and just a stone’s throw away from the Vatican Museums. Getting around the city is easy thanks to a choice of two metro stations (Ottaviano and Cipro-Musei Vaticani), as well as several bus routes. The hotel offers 21 en suite and carefully decorated guest rooms, which provide a truly comfortable environment for relaxing and enjoying your city break. You will also find a large selection of services and facilities, including a roof terrace and a cheap airport transfer.

Rough distances from the Vatican and the Basilica of St. Peter’s to several of Rome’s attractions:
Colosseum: 3.3 kilometres
Trevi Fountain: 2.5 kilometres
Spanish Steps: 2.5 kilometres
Navona Square: 1.6 kilometres
Termini Train Station: 4.1 kilometres
Fiumicino Airport: 21.2 kilometres
Ciampino Airport: 15.7 kilometres

Author Bio: HotelsChart has a wide selection of hotels in Rome. They offer both a real-time and secure booking process, as well as some great bargains, if you are looking for Rome hotels near the Vatican.
For more information on the Vatican Museums, please feel free to visit the official Vatican Museums site.

Category: Recreation and Leisure/Travel/Destinations
Keywords: Rome Hotels Near The Vatican And The Basilica Of St. Peter