App

Customer support

Find bookings

1 / 4

Gowther LinTaiwan, China

Contributor

Vatican trip.

St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican is a breathtaking spiritual journey. Upon entering this magnificent structure, the first sight that greets you is Michelangelo's sculpture 'Pietà,' whose exquisite craftsmanship and profound emotion are deeply moving. The interior of the church is resplendent, from the massive dome to countless artistic masterpieces, with every detail showcasing the pinnacle of human faith and artistic achievement. Standing before the altar, the weight of history and the sacred atmosphere of religion are palpable. Even for those unfamiliar with religion, the solemnity and reverence are unmistakable, making it an unforgettable experience.

View original text

*This content is provided by our partner and translated by AI

Posted: Nov 24, 2025

1 review

LIN CHUN LING

View original text

Submit

Mentioned in this post

Attraction

Vatican Museums

4.6/51109 reviews | Museums

Vatican

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Book now for tomorrow

€31.96

Details

Show more

Related Trip Moments

St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican is so beautiful that people can't leave

遊艇

Vatican Museums

Soldiers in colorful striped uniforms are always seen standing guard at the right aisle entrance of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. They are the Swiss Guard, the Pope's personal bodyguard and one of the world's oldest active military forces. This unit is composed entirely of young men from Catholic Switzerland. Since the Middle Ages, Swiss mercenaries have been renowned in Europe for their strict discipline, bravery, and loyalty, often employed by monarchs as personal guards. In 1506, amidst the turmoil of war in Italy, Pope Julius II recruited 147 Swiss soldiers to protect the Vatican, establishing the Swiss Guard. Every January 22nd, the Swiss Guard holds a solemn oath-taking ceremony to commemorate their arrival in Rome. The Swiss Guard's most famous historical event is the 1527 Sack of Rome, when Pope Clement VII allied with King Francis I of France against the increasingly powerful Charles V (Carlos I of Habsburg Spain). In retaliation for the Pope's betrayal, Charles V acquiesced to the attack on Rome. Charles's army, lacking supplies and unpaid, suffered from low morale and hunger. After the Duke of Bourbon was shot and killed during the siege, the army lost control and began looting, slaughtering, and destroying the city on a massive scale. Rome fell within hours, leaving the defenders powerless. However, the Swiss Guard fought bravely and successfully escorted Pope Clement VII to the Castel Sant'Angelo for refuge. The Swiss Guard was nearly annihilated, with only 42 of 189 soldiers surviving. Castel Sant'Angelo, where the Pope took refuge, was originally a mausoleum built by Emperor Hadrian in 123 AD for himself. It is located on the banks of the Tiber River. It was converted into a fortress in the Middle Ages and served as a military refuge for the Pope. In 1277, Pope Nicholas III ordered the construction of a secret passage, the Passetto di Borgo, connecting the Castel Sant'Angelo to the Vatican, allowing for an emergency papal retreat. This passage played a key role in the Sack of Rome in 1527. Castello's name stems from a legend: During the plague of 590 AD, Pope Gregory I saw the angel St. Michael appear on the castle's summit. He sheathed his sword, symbolizing the end of the plague. From then on, Hadrian's Mausoleum was renamed "Castle Sant'Angelo," and a statue of St. Michael with his sword drawn was erected on top. The bronze statue we see today was recast by Peter Anton von Verschaffelt in 1753. Ponte Sant'Angelo, connecting the Castel Sant'Angelo to Rome, was built in 134 AD and is the main access point to the fortress. The bridge's most famous features are the ten angel statues depicting the instruments of Christ's Passion, designed by the Baroque master Gian Lorenzo Bernini and his studio. Two of the sculptures, the "Angel with the Crown of Thorns" and the "Angel with the Nail," were sculpted by Bernini himself; the originals are now housed in the Castel Sant'Angelo, while replicas are displayed on the bridge. Castel Sant'Angelo once housed a prison, and as a result, a legend casts a shadow over the site at night. It is said that every year at midnight between September 10th and 11th, the ghost of a woman named Beatrice Cenci appears on the bridge. She slowly walks across the bridge, carrying a bloody human head. At the stroke of midnight, she turns toward the Tiber River and disappears in the wind and darkness. Beatrice Cenci was a Roman noblewoman who, unable to tolerate her father's tyranny and incest, conspired with her family to murder him. She was sentenced to death and publicly beheaded in front of the Castel Sant'Angelo in 1599. The crowd witnessed her fearless walk toward the guillotine, and one witness is said to be the painter Caravaggio. This experience likely inspired his later famous painting, "Judith Beheading Holofernes." Judith, with a stern and resolute expression, raises her sword to behead the enemy commander. The scene is bloody yet majestic. This tension, a mixture of pain, justice, and violence, is strikingly similar to Beatrice's fate. In Rome's Palazzo Barberini, there is a painting called "Portrait of Beatrice Cenci" by the Italian Baroque painter Guido Reni. This portrait has become a symbol of Cenci's memory for generations to come. The painting employs soft light and shadow, showcasing her holy and serene features. However, the overall image is shrouded in an atmosphere of unease, as if narrating her grievances and the call of her soul. In his travelogue, Notes on France and Italy, American author Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote, "It is the most unforgettable face I have ever seen." Many subsequent artists and writers have been deeply moved by this painting and the story behind it. Percy Bysshe Shelley used her life as the model for his epic poem, The Silence, to criticize tyranny and injustice. Stendhal referenced her repeatedly in his works, viewing her as the embodiment of history and emotion. Castle Sant'Angelo, originally the mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian, now stands as a meeting point for Roman memory: history, faith, myth, and art intersect within this ancient fortress. This scene from the third act of Puccini's opera "Tosca" features the opera's heroine, Tosca, leaping from the walls of Castel Sant'Angelo. Today, Castel Sant'Angelo often appears in dramas, such as the films "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels and Demons." Beatrice Cenci's midnight apparition may not be a vengeful spirit, but rather a gaze upon truth and an enduring memory, silently telling an unforgettable story. #Europe #Vatican #Rome #Switzerland #Italy #TravelRecommendations #TravelPlanning

Michael1104

St. Peter's Basilica

The Core of Faith: Vatican City

西門兄

Vatican Museums

[🇻🇦Vatican One-Day Guide] Stunning Ceiling Paintings of the Sistine Chapel + Tips to Avoid Waiting in Line! A complete analysis of museum routes and taboos🕍✨

Almc

Vatican Museums

Vatican - Vatican Museums

Yin (Yin_sharing)

St. Peter's Basilica

Vatican St. Peter's Basilica.

c6gd

Vatican Museums

The Sanctuary of Art and Religion - Vatican City.

hsitingyang

Vatican Museums

The Vatican that you can't miss🤍

yukiistraveling

Vatican Museums

[Rome Day Tour] Trevi Fountain, Vatican, and Colosseum on Foot

小薯愛旅行

Vatican Museums

~CheChe~

Vatican Museums

Go to Rome ~ Vatican Museums Guide

小薯愛旅行

Vatican Museums

A Complete Guide to Vatican City! Avoid Pitfalls + Climb to the Top + Museum Tips (Including Best Photo Times)

Mia Taylor9 Serendipity

Popular Trip Moments

A Complete Guide to Vatican City! Avoid Pitfalls + Climb to the Top + Museum Tips (Including Best Photo Times) | All roads lead to Rome! Discover everything you need to know about Rome right now🖤 | Italy's Smallest Country Must-Visit | A must-visit landmark for architecture enthusiasts 🏛️ | Late-August Day in Vatican City: Where Time Slows and History Speaks | All Roads Lead to Rome, Italy 🇮🇹 | Half a month in Rome, my spending philosophy collapsed | Iconic Rome Vibes🗺️ | Vatican Wonders✨ | History in Spiral✨ | larch valley | Vatican Museums Truly Worthy of Michelangelo + Raphael | Reverse travel in the UK! Get to know Manchester, the experts start with four people… | The Treasure Trove of Renaissance Art, Rome. | The Eternal Breath Resides Here, Vatican City | The City of St. Peter, the Vatican | Art and Spirituality in the Vatican | Italy｜Wishing to Return to Rome | Day 10 The Eternal Charm of the Roman Empire | Musei Vaticani | When the light falls on the treetops and buildings | Vatican Museums Guide | Waiting in the Longest Line in the Smallest Country | Italy Trip Day 7 — Pure Vatican Museums Experience | 1122 has responded, and the Vatican will also punish every ticket buyer | Vatican trip. | I don’t care about you anymore, I care about Italy | 10-Day Italy Independent Trip Homework! Easily Explore 6 Cities! | Vatican Museums @ Vatican City | Complete Photo and Check-in Guide for St. Peter's Basilica in Rome‌ | Vatican Museums – Vatican City

Recommended Attractions at Popular Destinations

Popular Restaurants in Vatican

Popular Ranked Lists

Contact us

About

Other services

Payment methods

Our partners