The Vatican City--a tiny enclave in the heart of Rome where the administrative and spiritual capital of Roman Catholicism lies. It is the world’s smallest independent state and probably one of the richest because of its astonishing collection of priceless art treasures.

The Vatican city is one of the must-sees for any visitor to Rome. I visited the place with my friend during the December holidays. Hopping onto the subway from Rome to the Vatican on a weekday morning was an absolute nightmare as the trains were completely packed—the claustrophobic feeling of big cities. As we approached the Vatican Museum and saw the long queue snaking round the corner, we could have slapped ourselves for not starting off earlier. Fortunately the queue moved fast, so we did not waste a lot of time waiting.

The Vatican Museum, built in the 1700s, consists of different exhibitions on topics such as Egyption art, beautifully decorated rooms like the Raphael Rooms and the magnificent works of Michelangelo. As we stepped into each room, we could not stop ‘wowing’ at the immaculate frescoes on the walls. The golden interior and lightings made it almost dazzling. Every part of the rooms had some sort of embellishment and we looked at the pictures and tried to figure out the biblical stories they were portraying.

In the Sistine Chapel lies Michelangelo’s <The Last Judgment>. I was in complete awe of what laid before my eyes. Not just by the sheer size (it was about 2 storey high), but by the details of the fresco on the wall. The tremendous vision depicts Christ in the middle as the judge, with the ascent of those resurrected on his right and the fall of the damned on his left. The vividness and expression of each figure evoked strong emotions. I wonder what Michelangelo had on his mind while he did this over 4 years. As I read about the difficulty of the work sustained by only a small payment and the danger of painting so high up on scaffoldings, I felt great admiration for this artist. It seemed impossible, yet what I saw clearly proved itself. Perhaps it was his faith in the religion or perhaps it was his desire for prestige. In any case, it is a remarkable piece of work.

Our next stop was St Peter’s Basilica. A big open space, known as a piazza lies before the cathedral. Surrounded by marble columns, the piazza had a display of the Nativity and a big Christmas tree beside it which spread some festivity to the crowds. Security was tight and bags had to be checked before we entered the basilica. This was understandable given its significance as a religious and historical monument. As we stepped into the Basilica, the intricate ceilings, majestic paintings and carvings which portrayed biblical figures and Popes led me to question how people created such architecture considering the lower level of technology in the past. I was moved even though I am not a Catholic. However, the crowds and noise levels in the cathedral removed the peace and serenity I normally associate with cathedrals.

We queued for ages to buy the ticket to climb the dome of the Basilica, which was also designed by Michelangelo. It was a pretty steep and winding climb which left us breathless. The panoramic view of the Vatican City and Rome at the top made it worthwhile.
Tourism is evidently one of the main sources of revenue for the Vatican City. However, the crowds we met everywhere made the experience less pleasant. Nevertheless, it was a well made trip as the magnificence and beauty of the place had to be seen to be believed.

As we walked the streets of the Vatican back to Rome, I left with a magical feeling of what I had experienced, which would remain in my memory for a long time.

by Debbie Boey Shu Ying
MOH PSC Scholar in Occupational Therapy
she can contacted at shuying.boey@students.plymouth.ac.uk