Rome Attractions

Venue: The Vatican, the Colosseum, Palatine    When: Daily; not Sun

As the site where St Peter was martyred and buried, the Vatican grew to become the residence of the popes who succeeded him. Not only does it house some of the world's finest architecture and fine art, but the great basilica at St Peter's continues to draw pilgrims from all over the world - Christian and non-Christian alike.

As a centre of the Roman Catholic faith, the awesome religious structure which is the Basilica originally grew around the site of St Peter's tomb in the 2nd century AD. By the 15th century it was falling down, so in 1506, Pope Julius II laid the first stone of a new church. More than a century later, the magnificent edifice was completed and every great Renaissance architect, including Bernini and Maderno, had taken a hand in its design.

The sumptuously decorated Basilica sits beneath Michelangelo's vast dome. Papal audiences are the most popular time to visit and these are usually given at 11am on a Wednesday in the Papal Audience Chamber. Less frequent are the audiences on religious holidays in the Piazza San Pietro, where the pope appears on a balcony to address and bless the crowds.

Tickets for the audiences are free, and therefore heavily subscribed, and can be booked (between 9am-1pm) at the Prefecture of Pontifical Household on the north side of the Piazza. Otherwise they can be made in writing. Appearances are also at noon on Sundays, at the library window to bless the crowd below. Given the recent decline in the health of Pope John Paul, it is worth checking whether he will be well enough this Easter.

When the crowds die out you can use your time to explore the fascinating buildings surrounding the Basilica. The five papal palaces house museums, and with the spectacular attraction of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, the Raphael Rooms and their wonderful collections of Classical sculpture, they comprise the finest museums in Rome, some may say the world.