Practical, tested guidance from a former Catholic seminarian with 40+ visits, 6 papal audiences, and 15 years of experience. No sponsored content. Just honest answers.
Start with your intent, and I'll guide you through what matters most
You've never been. You're overwhelmed. Start here.
Get Started →Booking, arrival, protocol, and what to actually expect.
Get Started →3 hours or less. Here's how to make them count.
Get Started →Popes, secrets, and the stories behind what you see.
Get Started →After dozens of visits, I've developed a counter-intuitive path through 54 galleries that avoids the worst crowds and ensures you actually see what matters.
Practical, tested advice on the questions everyone asks
When to visit the Vatican for the thinnest crowds, best weather, and calmest galleries. Month-by-month breakdown with seasonal pricing, liturgical calendar traps, and the quiet windows most visitors miss.
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Realistic time estimates for every type of Vatican visit - from a 1-hour basilica stop to a full immersive day. Security queues, museum pacing, dome climb timing, and how to avoid wasting hours.
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What's free at the Vatican and what isn't. St. Peter's Basilica is always free. The Museums are free on the last Sunday of each month - but the crowds are brutal. Here's how to plan either option.
Read More →The practical details you need before you go
I spent years in seminary formation studying for Catholic priesthood. I didn't finish that path, but those years gave me something most travel writers don't have: an insider's understanding of how the Vatican actually works.
Years of studying ecclesiastical protocol, Vatican history, and sacred architecture. I know the unwritten rules, the hierarchy, the rhythm of liturgical life.
Every recommendation comes from repeated, real experience. I've waited in those lines, navigated those crowds, tested those routes.
No tour company partnerships. No hotel affiliate links. No sponsored content. If I recommend something, it's because it genuinely works.