Mama Shelter

A mind-bogglingly opulent complex of museums, home to one of the greatest hoards of treasure, antiquities and art anywhere.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Vatican City is the world’s smallest sovereign nation-state and Holy See of the Roman Catholic Church. Within its borders are St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and Apostolic Palace, home to the Pope.

The sublime, world-famous basilica built over St. Peter’s tomb and crowned by Michelangelo’s heavenly dome.

Zaha Hadid’s futuristic contemporary art and architecture museum is a modern masterpiece on Rome’s ancient skyline. A refreshing change from all that history.

Walk the Passetto do Borgo that connects the Vatican with Castel Sant’Angelo, used by Pope Clement VII to flee mercenaries in 1527. It’s only open in July and August; enter via the castle.

This Roman bridge was built in AD 134 by the Roman emperor Hadrian, to provide a scenic access route from the city to his newly built mausoleum, the Castel Sant’Angelo (which later became a fortress, and is now a museum).

Museum holding one of Italy’s finest archaeological collections – antiquities from the 5th century BC to the 3rd century AD including superb sculptures, bronzes and frescoes.

Sumptuous 16th-century Roman villa designed by Baldassare Peruzzi and beautifully frescoed by Raphael, in particular the Triumph of Galatea featuring a nymph driving a scallop-shell chariot pulled by dolphins.

The Eternal City – 2,000 extraordinary years of glory, greatness and triumph – and decadence, murder and destruction – evidenced by some of the world’s most iconic, must-see monuments and museums.