During this day of your Rome tour, you should dedicate a good part of the day to visit the Vatican, the smallest state in the world.

First, you should visit the Musei Vaticani to spend a morning full of culture. This group of 13 museums is located at a huge architectural complex 7 km long. Various tour routes are proposed on site, lasting between 90 minutes and 5 hours.

No matter how much time you want to spend at museums, you should definitely buy museum tickets in advance if you don't want to start your day with a 2-3 hour queue at the ticket office.

Each museum visit itinerary will end by visiting the Cappella Sistina.

Built in the 15th century, it is famous for its magnificent frescoes painted by the greatest Italian artists: Michelangelo, Botticelli, Luca or Perugino. Numerous scenes from the Bible are depicted there, including the Creation of Adam and the Last Judgment.

After your cultural morning at the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, it's time to head over Piazza San Pietro.Then proceed towards Piazza Risorgimento and, turning right onto Via di Porta Angelica, you will reach Piazza Papa Pio XII (home of St. Peter's Basilica).

You will certainly be impressed by this large square, surrounded by around 280 columns topped by 3-metre-high statues of saints.

Also not to be missed is the Egyptian obelisk that stands in the center of the square and the 2 fountains located on each side. Here too there are waiting lines to visit the famous Basilica di San Pietro they are endless (free entry). The basilica is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as one of the most visited monuments in the world.

Inside the Basilica you will certainly appreciate the extraordinary Baroque decorative richness. In addition to the tombs of the popes and the famous statue of St. Peter, you will also be able to admire the enormous dome designed by Michelangelo.

If you have the strength to climb a lot of steps and don't suffer from vertigo, you can also climb to the top of the "Dome" to admire a magnificent view of Rome (paid access).

From the Basilica, walk along Via della Conciliazione to get to Castel Sant’Angelo. It will take about ten minutes on foot and you will find it on your left.

Built by Emperor Hadrian, the castle was originally intended to house his mausoleum, but ended up being used primarily as a refuge for popes during hostile invasions of Rome.

The popes built a direct access to the castle from the Vatican, allowing them to travel safely to Sant'Angelo in just a few minutes (the famous "Passetto"). It is possible to visit the interior of the castle to see the tombs and the ancient papal apartments. 

During your visit, don't forget to take a walk outside on the ramparts and terrace to enjoy the panorama and the grandeur of the angel statue.

The castle is located on the bank of the Tiber river and is connected to the other bank by the Ponte Sant'Angelo. Another very scenic place. From the bridge, continuing across Via del Banco di Santo Spirito, you will arrive at Corso Vittorio Emanuele.

Once you reach Corso Vittorio Emanuele, take bus number 64 towards Termini station and get off at the C.so Vittorio Emanuele/Navona stop. Turn right onto Piazza della Cancelleria to get to Campo dei Fiori (home to an open-air market, where you can enjoy an excellent pizza by the slice from the old oven) with its statue of Giordano Bruno and Piazza Farnese, home of the French embassy. Returning to Corso Vittorio Emanuele through Via del Paradiso, you can visit the Basilica of Sant'Andrea della Valle and continue up to Largo Argentina (archaeological remains and theatre). Continuing along Via Arenula, turn left onto Via dei Falegnami to enter an open square (Piazza Mattei) where you can see the Turtle Fountain and enter Via della Reginella, in the ancient Jewish quarter: the ghetto (you will find a ancient Jewish bakery where you can taste an excellent white pizza with mortadella or desserts from the Jewish pastry shop in the square).

From the Jewish ghetto, following the Via del Portico d'Ottavia, you arrive on the banks of the Tiber and cross the ancient Ponte Sublicio to visit the Tiberina Island. After crossing the island you will find yourself on the opposite bank of the Tiber and turn right to continue up to Viale Trastevere (walking along the banks of the Tiber you will find it on the left).

From Viale Trastevere, turn right onto Via della Lungaretta and walk through the alleys of Trastevere (area full of shops and typical restaurants) until you reach Square Santa Maria in Trastevere, where you can admire the basilica of the same name. Immerse yourself in the alleys and streets of Trastevere to breathe in the habits and customs of the eternal city. Once the walk is over, return to Viale Trastevere.