What To Expect
If you just glance at Vatican City on a Roman Map then you will realise that it’s actually a separate country. It’s huge!!! And a big part of the hugeness are the Vatican museums. Walking through all of the museum space will mean that you walk nearly 7.5 km. Incidentally the Vatican City is a separate independent city state with clear borders, its own currency (Vatican issued euro) and separate security force (Swiss guards).
There is a lot of confusion regarding Vatican Museums, Vatican City, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica especially in terms of their location and inclusiveness. It’s good to be clear there that the Vatican museums include the Sistine Chapel but the St. Peters Basilica is a separate entity that’s a part of the Vatican City but not the museums. Read more about St. Peter’s Basilica here.
Most of the other space inside the Vatican City are restaurants, gardens, bank auditorium and the papal apartments and these are generally not open to the public except the Vatican gardens that can be explored by a guided tour. The extravagantly decorated galleries and halls of Palazzo Apostolico Vaticano host the museums and this almost 5.5 hectare complex has two beautiful palaces… Vatican Palace (near St. Peter’s) and the Palazzetto di Belvedere. The two palaces are joined by two corridors and inside you will find 3 courtyards i.e. Cortile Della Pigna, Cortile Del Belvedere and Cortile Della Biblioteca.
The vast seemingly unending display of art is apt to leave visitors dazed which is why you should read the Tips for planning your tour section below carefully. There are many Vatican museum tours that are 2 hours or so but they don’t really do justice to the offerings of the museum. Any Vatican Museum plan should comprise of at least one day unless you just want to see the Sistine Chapel and leave. And you should definitely set apart a couple of days for the Vatican City if you want to see the museums as well as St Peter’s Basilica.
History
It all began in 14th January 1506 when the ‘Laocoon and his Sons’ was discovered in a vineyard in Santa Maria Maggiore. Pope Julius II immediately purchased the statue and put it on display a month later. The museums originated from the sculpture collection of Julius II… the oldest gallery opened to the public by Pope Clement XIV in 1773 and expanded by Pope Pius VI. The future Popes boosted the collection over the years and that’s how sections like Gregorian Egyptian Museum and Ethnological Museum came into being.
Other rooms like the Niccoline Chapel and Borgia Apartments were chosen by the Popes as places to reside in and pray in. For example it was in the first year of his tenure that Pope Nicholas V commissioned Fra Angelico to decorate his rooms in the Apostolic Palace with a series of Frescoes centring around St Lawrence and St Stephen. Much later it was Julius II (in 1508) who commissioned Michelangelo to decorate the Sistine Chapel thus converting the nondescript Capella Magna into the icon that it is today. The Gallery of Maps opened in 1581… it was the brainchild of Gregory XIII who commissioned mathematician and cosmographer Ignazio Danti to work on the maps. Similarly Pope Pius VI and Clement XIV opened up one of the Vatican’s best museums….the Pio Clementino Museum in 1770.
The Chiaramonti museum was created around 1806 by Pope Pius VII who added several works to the collections of Classical antiquities. The Gregorian Etruscan Museum, and the Egyptian Museum were founded predictably by Gregory XV between 1837 to 1839. The history of the museums like the museums themselves is vast and contains the contributions of almost all Popes of Christendom. The Vatican Museums celebrated its 500th anniversary in 2006 by displaying the excavations of ‘Vatican Hill Necropolis’ to the public.
What to See and Do
The Museum is vast enough to make it impossible to comprehend in one visit. Here are the highlights of the different sections and what you should be looking out for. Seeing all that is detailed below will take almost two days or more so pick and choose what interests you the most if you only have 4 to 5 hours of time.
Sistine Chapel
Widely hailed as a Michelangelo masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel is destined to set hearts aflutter. Every person should visit this amazing art house at least once in their lifetime. Though Michelangelo is definitely the star of the Sistine Chapel, many other important artists including Botticelli, Perugino, and Luca etc. have worked on it. However all the ceiling frescoes including the 9 stories of Genesis that stand on the central area, are all done by Michelangelo. Learn more about the Sistine Chapel.
Pinacoteca Vaticana/ Vatican Art Gallery
If you are an art lover then missing the Pinacoteca is an absolute “no no”. There are 18 rooms here displayed in chronological order with paintings that range from the medieval age to the 19th century. The collection was masterminded by Pope Pius XI who worked really hard to reorganise a collection of paintings that were previously owned by many other Popes. Some of the artwork here was rescued from Paris after the 1815 Congress of Vienna (thanks to the intervention of sculptor Antonio Canova). There are 460 paintings here apart from sculptures and tapestries, so it’s a bit mind boggling.
Expect masterpieces in the collection by stalwarts like Giotto, Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and il Perugino. Despite the rooms being a relatively newer addition (it was added in 1932) they are organised according to different periods and schools of art. Room number 1 here has an interesting keyhole shaped wood panel themed ‘Last judgement made by Nicola e Giovanni’. Room 2 has 6 gorgeous panels ‘Stefaneschi Triptych’ painted for the old St. Peter’s basilica and a lovely Bernardo Daddi painting ‘Madonna Del Magnificat’. Room 3 has artwork by Fra Angelico…his creations ‘Virgin with the child’ and ‘Nicholas of Bari’ are praiseworthy.
There is a Raphael Room (Room 8) in here too (don’t confuse it with the Raphael Rooms) that have 5 important paintings and many tapestries. Look out for the iconic piece Transfiguration highlighting the relationship between ‘God and people’. Room 9 has some interesting sketches by Da Vinci while Room 10 has artwork by Veronese and Titian… a must visit for anyone interested in Venetian art. Titian’s ‘St Nicholas’s Madonna’ and ‘Vision of St. Helen’ by Veronese are easily amongst the most beautiful paintings you will see. Room 11 is noted for Barocci ‘Annunciation’.
Room 12 has an amazing painting ‘Deposition from the Cross’ by Caravaggio; an Italian master whose work is rarely featured in the Vatican… Bernini fans and sculpture lovers must make a beeline for room 18 ….this has 7 different sculptures by Bernini.
Raphael’s Rooms/ Stanze di Raffaello
The most loved attraction of the Vatican museums; Raphael’s Rooms once used to be the private residence of Pope Julius II who entrusted making the frescoes to a very young Raphael. Raphael worked on the frescoes from 1508 to 1520 and the work stalled only to be continued by his pupils from 1524.
If you had time to see just one of the Rooms then it should be Stanza della Segnatura (Room of Signature) that still hosts the private book collection of Julius II. There are 4 amazing frescoes here that each depict the main themes of knowledge… they are also known as the ‘School of Athens Frescoes’. They are Disputation of the Holy Sacrament (theology), The Parnassus (Poetry), School of Athens (Philosophy) and The Cardinal Virtues (Law). Incidentally famous personalities like Leonardo disguised as Plato, Bramante as Euclid are represented in the frescoes. If you have some extra time on your hands try spotting them!!
The Stanza dell’Incendio is also noteworthy though most of the work here is not Raphael’s. This room served as the Pope’s high court room and then as a dining room under the tenure of Leo X. The ceiling was marvellously painted by the Umbrian master Perugino (Raphael’s coach).
If you have to choose a second favourite room then it should be the Stanza di Eliodoro or the Room of Heliodorus that was painted between 1511 to 1514. There is a rather striking yet severe painting here that depicts Heliodorus of Antiochia being flogged by cherubs as he was trying to badmouth the Jerusalem temple. The two other rooms i.e. Stanza dell’Incendio di Borgo and Sala Constantino contain work by Raphael’s pupils. Out of the two the Sala Constantino was used extensively for Papal receptions and its bewitching artwork demonstrates the phases of Emperor Constantine’s life.
Chapel of Nicholas V
After exploring Raphael’s rooms Sala di Costantino you will enter the Sala dei Chiaroscuro that has a 16th century wooden ceiling bearing Medici arms and a corner doorway. If you do have time don’t miss a visit to the Vatican’s most beautiful secret i.e. the Cappella Niccolina (Chapel of Nicholas v). Most tours don’t include a visit to this section but the floor to ceiling frescoes here created by Fra Angelico are beautiful beyond description. Sometimes the authorities put a sort of metal bar over the door for crowd control. If that’s the case then crane your neck in and take a good look as well as some good pictures.
Pio Clementino Museum
Sculpture lovers should spend at least half an hour inside the Pio Clementino museum. This is the largest complex inside the Vatican museums and hosts some of the best Greek and roman sculptures ever created. This museum has 12 rooms and was founded by Pope Clement XIV in 1771. If you have little time go straight to the Octagon Courtyard where you will see the famous Apollo Belvedere…still regarded as the image of the ideal male body.
Then there is the famous group sculpture Laocoon. Incidentally both are 2nd century Roman copies of Greek originals crafted in Bronze by Leochares. Also look out for Perseus with the head of Medusa… a mythological piece and rather distressing piece crafted by Antonio Canova. This shows a man and his two kids fighting a losing battle with the serpents.
If you have spare time visit the Room of Animals (contains sculpted animals and mosaics) and the Gallery of Candelabra. The gallery of statues and the Room of Muses (Sala delle Muse) are also extraordinary. The Room of the Muses is noted for its ‘Belvedere Torso’…another idealised male body fragment sculpture that was studied by Renaissance artists like Michelangelo for inspiration.
Sala Rotunda/ Rotunda Room is an excellent scaled down model of the Pantheon. That oculus in the ceiling and lovely little rosettes in the niches of the dome are an excellent composition. The floor has beautiful mosaics from the 2nd century… sourced from an ancient Roman Villa. You can even walk on the beautiful black and white mosaics though it seems like a sacrilege. Right in the centre of the Sala rotunda there is a porphyry basin that supposedly belonged to emperor Nero, this was made from cooled lava rock (a single huge chunk) sourced from the bowels of Egypt and it has a beautiful purple colour. The basin is 40 feet in diameter so you can imagine the trouble it must have taken to be made and carried to Rome from Egypt.
Galleria degli Arazzi/ Tapestry Hall
Considering the fact that most visitors need to walk through this hall to reach the Sistine Chapel…it’s hard to miss. When you look up in the hall….the ceiling looks like it has beautiful white designer plaster….you will be surprised to know that these are all tapestries. The right side of the hall has tapestries made in the 17th century for Pope Urban VII and they show scenes from his life. The left side of the hall have tapestries created in Brussels by members of Pieter van Aelst School from the 16th century. These show scenes from the life of Jesus and were done by Raphael’s pupils during the pontificate of clement VII. It’s said that each tapestry took years to be finished and the best weavers of Belgium and Flanders fashioned them of light wool, silk and gold-silver threads. The Resurrection of Christ tapestry is particularly noteworthy. If you look closely, the eyes of Jesus here have the ‘moving perspective technique’….a treatment found in famous paintings like Mona Lisa.
Galleria delle Carte Geografiche (Maps Gallery)
As you go through the tapestries gallery you will also pass through the maps gallery/ galleria Della carte Geografiche. The ceiling in the maps gallery is much photographed. This gallery is known for possessing the biggest collection of geographical maps ever made. The wall sized maps show Italy and its different provinces and were commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII. You will be struck by the amazing detailing on these maps… most of which are based on drawings made by Dominican Monk Ignazio Danti. These maps sometimes show mountain ranges, vessels in water and sometimes an array of sea creatures. Look out for the perspectival views of the Italian ports like Ancona, Genoa, Venice and Civitavecchia Port.
Historic Museum and the Pavilion of Coaches
The pavilion of Carriages was formerly an exhibition space; right now it is more of a permanent fixture with a sophisticated LED technology lighting system that was added in 2014. Note that the entrance to the Pavilion of Carriages is entirely outdoors and hence vulnerable to the scorching sun and rains. Since 1991 the Vatican Historical museum is housed in the main floor of the Apostolic Palace and it has 2 halls; the Annex hall (Pavilion of carriages) and Principal hall. If you have time, go through the main hall that has paintings about the history of Papacy, memorabilia of Papal military Corps and household items of the papacy besides religious vessels.
Note the fully decked up Sedan built for Pope Leo XIII and used till the tenure of Pope Pius XI. There are the 9 ceremonial berlins that belonged to Pontiffs or Prince of the Roman Church like Cardinal Luciano Luigi Bonaparte…..incidentally this was a gift from Napoleon III (France’s emperor). The centre of attraction is definitely the Berlina di Gran Gala that was created in 1826 by Leone XII. There are also a series of huge paintings that show the papacy’s mobility throughout the pages of history.
Then the series of marble and bronze busts of all popes from Pius VI to Saint John Paul II were also installed….these corresponded with the appropriate vehicles on display. Sedan chairs and the court vestments of dignitaries are also displayed. The Popemobile section has gorgeous vintage pope cars like Graham Paige 837 (1929), Citroen Lictoria C6 (1930), Mercedes 460 Nurburg Limo (designed by the famous Ferdinand Porsche), Mercedes 300 Sel and 3 dazzling Pope mobiles (Mercedes 230 E, Land Rover and Toyota).
Museo Gregoriano Egizio/ Gregorian Egyptian Museum
This has a series of 9 rooms that hold treasures looted from ancient Egypt. Expect Sarcophagi, pharaoh statues, votive bronzes, Mesopotamia tablets, inscriptions from Assyrian palaces and jewellery. The decoration of these rooms are fascinating; retro Egyptian style created by Giuseppe De Fabris. Room 2 has many Mummy cases while Room 5 has some stunning statues of Pharaohs and queens.
Cortile Della Pigna
In case all this endless display of art has made you long for some fresh air then quickly step into the Cortile Della Pigna (courtyard) that’s right near the Egyptian antiquities museum. Incidentally this is the only part of the original Renaissance style Belvedere Courtyard that’s still open to the public. This courtyard was once a long unbroken space stretching from papal palaces to Pope Innocent VII’s Palazzos. Look out for its oversized niche that has a 13 foot high bronze fir cone… this was discovered first in the Agrippa baths. In the centre of the courtyard is Arnaldo Pomodoro’s much debated and photographed modern art ‘Sphere’.
There is a special (and expensive…it’s about 151 $) Vatican tour that you can take which begins with breakfast at this courtyard and then touring the museum before it’s open to the public (tour begins around 6.30 a.m.). You will also get private access to Sistine chapel and skip the line entry to St Peters Basilica.
Museo Gregoriano Etrusco/ Gregorian Etruscan Museum
In case you are interested in Etruscan art then you should know that this museum has the most important collection of Etruscan art after the Villa Giulia in Rome.
This museum is housed in the palazettos of Innocent VIII and Pius IV and is beautifully adorned by frescoes created by Federico Zuccari and Federico Barocci. The centre of this collection is a series of rare Etruscan art that date back to the 1st century but have been dug up in the 19th century. The Romans owe a lot of their heritage to the Etruscans and the ceramic art, silver and bronze ware of the Romans are a clear inspiration from the Etruscan art displayed here. One important attraction here is the 7th century Regolini Galassi Tomb that was unearthed at Cerveteri. Then there is the 5th century BC dated Mars of Todi that shows a warrior getting ready for the war.
Appartamento Borgia (Borgia Apartments)
This set of apartments was created for Pope Alexander VI (the notorious Borgia Pope) between 1492 and 1494. The frescoes of these rooms were created by Umbrian artist Pinturicchio who filled them with biblical scenes. Incidentally Pinturicchio and Raphael were co-pupils under the master Perugino. These represent the earliest European art demonstrations with Native Americans as a subject. You can see these apartments directly after exploring Raphael’s Rooms… they are right downstairs. Even as someone with low formal knowledge of art you will appreciate the way metal studs, jewels and other objects are attached to the frescoes giving them a fascinating ‘Renaissance 3D effect’.
Gregorian Profane Museum
If pagan art interests you then take a quick stop at the Gregorian Profane museum that’s full of antiquities form the Greek and Roman era. The mosaics here are worth a close look… they are nicely preserved. The Heraclitus Mosaic for example shows a mosaic depicting a used dining room floor complete with mice nibbling on food. Also look out for pieces of the Parthenon in Athens like one of Athena’s horses head. Then there are mosaic panels from the Diocletian baths etc. The Pio Christian Museum and Missionary Ethnographic Museum also house similar exhibits but these fall at the bottom of the Vatican museum visit priority scale.
Chiaramonti
The Chiaramonti was organised in 1807 by neoclassical master sculptor Canova. You will be struck at the seemingly unending line of statues and busts (everyone from cherubs to emperors are here) lined up all the way as if for military inspection. This in essence is the vast corridor that runs on the eastern side of Belvedere Palace. At the end of the hall to the right is the most interesting section… the New Wing.
New Wing Braccio Nuovo
When the artwork seized by Napoleon was returned to Rome from France Pope Pius VII instructed architect Raffaele Stern to build a new wing of the Chiaramonti i.e. the Braccio Nuovo. This new 19th century building is noted for its architectural excellence and runs between galleries of Chiaramonti museum and the Vatican Apostolic Library. There is a beautiful use of coloured marble and open space here that really provide a worthy backdrop to the grand sculpture collection. You will find ancient mosaics here and classical sculpture including busts of royals besides interesting objects like bronze peacocks. The best amongst the statues is the Augustus of Primaporta… a man with a lance and a breastplate filled with beautiful reliefs. Look out for the statue of Nile as a reclining idol who is flanked by 16 infants.
There are other sections of Te Vatican Museums that are of less interest to the average tourist like the Ethnological Museum containing Gifts to the Pope and the Philatelic and Numismatic Museum etc. The Pious Christian Museum normally shouldn’t be in your Vatican Museums must see list but for its entirely frescoed very dazzling room ‘Room of Immaculate Conception’ with its hugely ornamental bookcase that contains translations of the Papal Bull (this is in the Lateran Palace).
Spiral Staircase
Undoubtedly one of the best attractions of the Vatican City (and the most photographed)… it’s a shame if you don’t get a couple if its stunning pictures on your visit. The first activity that you probably do inside the Vatican museums is to come up an escalator after you scan the ticket. Once you reach the top there are lots of signs giving you options of different sections to visit.
Take a 180 degree turn and you will see a Vatican Museum gift shop that’s also a good exit from the museum (in case you aren’t going into the St. Peter’s Basilica after the museum)… bang in the middle of the bookshop is the gorgeous spiral staircase. So take lovely top shots but don’t try to climb down as you won’t be able to climb back again. The staircase has a double helical spiral; there is a ramp to go up and another to go down. It was designed by Giuseppe Momo in 1932.
Open Hours, Tours & Tickets
The Vatican Museums are open every day (9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.) apart from Sunday. Summers are definitely peak times for Vatican museum visits and it’s normal to wait for half an hour just to enter the museums. All parts of the Vatican museum have free entry on the last Sunday of every month (only Sundays when the museums are open) but the crowds are crushing and the last entry is at 2.00 p.m., so that’s absolutely the worst day to visit.
On Wednesday mornings St. Peters is closed for the papal audience so many people make a beeline for the museums instead making this a very crowded day too. Many people don’t know that the Vatican museums have free entry on September 27th that is world tourism day.
The Vatican museums are closed on Easter, June 29th, December 25-26, New Year and few other annually fluctuating dates.
The regular ticket price for entry into the museums is 17 euros. Students under the age 26 with valid EU ID and children under the age 14 can avail the reduced rate i.e. 8 euros. The museum tickets are free for disabled visitors and one helper provided a valid disability certificate is shown. The ticket lines in the museums are huge so you need to buy tickets in advance. And of course the best way to do this is to buy tickets online through the Vatican Website or through a third party vendor.
The Vatican Museum Friday Night entry is one of Rome’s best kept secrets. From Late April to October end (specific dates may vary every year) it’s possible to visit the museums on Friday nights. The museums reopen at 7 p.m. on these days and close at 11 p.m. If your aim is visiting the Vatican Museums at the least crowded time then aim for 8.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. Research has shown that this is the leanest period for the Vatican Museums which sees about 35,000 visitors daily… what’s more the ticket prices are the same 17 euros plus 4 euros on Friday night. You can even select the “Happy Hour” option in the Vatican Museums… it comes up to 38 euros approximately for entry to the museum and glass of wine and snacks.
The Vatican museum offers online tickets that cost an extra 4 euros if you book them from the official Vatican Museums website. The tickets are valid for the specific dates only and the dates cannot be changed later. After successful online booking the applicant will receive a confirmation email and a voucher which can either be printed or shown on a smartphone on the day of the tour.
There are several options including guided tours, excursions in different languages etc… the website has comprehensive information. It’s possible to lose more than 3 hours in the waiting line especially during high season (May to July, September to October etc.) and the lines are horrific beyond imagination. Don’t even consider not booking your tickets online as this will let you skip the queue apart from the short one at the security check. Low season i.e. November to February (apart from Christmas) is the best time to visit the Vatican museums.
You can opt for the online ticket with audio guide (24 euros) as it will help you learn in some depth about all the important art that you would be seeing. If you prefer a book format then there’s the ‘Guide to Vatican Museums and City’ that’s priced at 13 euros. There is the option of a ticket plus lunch (35 euros) which you can avail though the standard of food overall in the Vatican restaurants aren’t that great
There is an early entry plus breakfast offer by the Vatican museums. Though a bit expensive (68 euros) it allows entry to the museums at 7.15 a.m. (the museum is closed to the public at this time) and a hot American breakfast at the Courtyard of Pine Cone and then an open tour with an audio guide.
You can also easily find various options for entry and tours of Vatican Museums (including combination tours with other attractions) and book online from this Viator site.
Read: How to select the best tours of Vatican Museums.
Tips For Planning Your Tour
An important tip would be not to combine something as full of information and art as Vatican Museums with something equally heavy on information as the Colosseum. The mind and brain can get overwhelmed, so do knowledge heavy attractions on separate days unless you are really short charged for time.
You need to dress modestly for the Vatican museums or else you might be turned. No bare knees, mid riffs and soldiers….carry extra clothing in your bag if you are sightseeing in hot weather.
In the museums you will need to walk for at least an hour even if you want to just see the Sistine Chapel. This doesn’t include the walking that you need to do in order to get inside the museum or explore the square. So wear comfortable shoes.
Get the free map of the Vatican museums printed and carry it along on the tour for some guidance. Simply click on this link to get the map: Map of Vatican Museums
There are cafeterias inside the museum but they are mostly un-try worthy so bring some snack bars in your bag. You will be spending a lot of time inside the museums and absorbing 7 km long stretches of famous art won’t be possible with a growling stomach.
You can take pictures without a flash everywhere snide the museums except the Sistine Chapel where there is a strict no photography policy. Tripods and sheltie sticks aren’t allowed inside the museums.
Avoid bringing large backpacks… you will have to spend a lot of time in getting them checked and the security screenings are stringent. Umbrellas, knives and weapons aren’t allowed inside.
Pets aren’t allowed inside with the exception of guide dogs for the visually challenged.
Wheelchairs are allowed inside the Vatican museums. What’s more visitors with a disability certificate can get free tickets (these can’t be booked online) at the special permits office and a priority skip the line entry without the need to queue. Free wheelchair hire facility from the cloakroom is also provided. Accessible toilets are present at several sites along the museum including all refreshment and dining points. Free tactile and multi-sensory tours are offered to the blind and partially sighted while free guided tours in Italian sign language are offered to the deaf and hearing impaired.
There are baby changing facilities, nursing rooms inside the Vatican museums. Ask the Guard Corps for the easiest route to follow if you are carrying a stroller with your baby. The self-service food areas have kid friendly menus while the relaxation areas like courtyard of Pinacoteca, courtyard of Pine Cones, courtyard of Cuirasses have benches and seats where families can take a break.
There are a network of large and small bookshops all throughout the museum and they sell everything from copies of paintings to ceramic art to stationary and prints. These are good places to buy souvenirs.
Location & Conveyance
The Vatican Museums are located on the western side of Tiber River on the Northern part of Vatican City.
If you are planning to use the Subway then take the A line and get down at either of the two stops; Capri and Ottaviano. The Capri stop is technically nearer the museums but it gets very crowded as the day progresses so you might have to consider Ottaviano as well.
Some tourists might prefer taking a Tram… the #19 tram will take you right to St. Peter’s stop. Many tour buses stop near the Via della Conciliazione and you can take a short walk to the museums.
Address:
Viale Vaticano (this lies where Via Santamaura and the Via Tunisi staircase hit Viale Vaticano)
About a 5–10 minute walk from St. Peter’s
Phone: +39-06-6988-4676 or +39-06-6988-3145, Official Website
You will be glad to know that there are several dining options inside the Vatican museums including the Bistrot la Pigna (courtyard of pine Cones) and the Caffetteria le Carrozze (near Pavilion of Carriages) and a Pizzeria. There is also the Caffetteria II Forno (near Sistine Chapel) and Caffetteria Centrale (near the self-service corner).
For knowing the best restaurants to dine around here, refer to the “Location & Transport’ section under St Peter’s Basilica.
A travel addict. Still celebrating the day when he quit his high-profile corporate job to pursue his passion for travel writing.