The world's smallest country? Vatican City!
There are places you visit… and then there are places that leave you speechless.
Vatican City was one of those places for me.
Walking through the Vatican Museums, you're surrounded by centuries of art and history — from incredible sculptures and ancient artifacts to the magnificent Gallery of Maps.
And then you enter the Sistine Chapel.
Standing beneath Michelangelo's famous ceiling and looking up at The Creation of Adam is something photographs simply cannot prepare you for. The Sistine Chapel is still a sacred space, so visitors are asked to observe silence — and photography is not permitted.
But for me, one of the most meaningful moments came at St. Peter's Basilica.
I was able to walk through the Holy Door — something that happens during Jubilee, traditionally every 25 years. The 2025 Jubilee was the first Jubilee since 2000, and the Holy Door of St. Peter's was opened on Christmas Eve 2024 and remained open throughout the Jubilee.
And then there's the center of St. Peter's.
Beneath the enormous bronze Baldachin, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, stands the Papal Altar, positioned above the traditional site of St. Peter's tomb.
Art. History. Architecture. Faith.
Vatican City isn't just somewhere you see. It's somewhere you experience. 🇻🇦
And for me, walking through that Holy Door was a moment I'll never forget.
Walking through the Holy Door, the whole experience felt almost surreal. The Baldachin at the Papal Altar is truly enormous, yet it felt so small in scale to the basilica. Then learning that St. Peter's chair is preserved in the altar at the far end was simply amazing. I was truly speechless and felt emotions I wasn't expecting. Some travel moments you see coming and some you simply feel.
Book it yourself in a few taps, or ask a GoSmart specialist. No dates needed to browse or save.
Find hotels in Rome Talk to a specialist