The world’s smallest state, and home to the world’s largest church, the Vatican City is the central authority of the Catholic Church, a fact which pervades every street, every brick and grain of sand encompassed within its borders. Whether you want to check out the sheer volume of art treasured here. Get in to see the Holy Father himself or simply take advantage of the tranquil atmosphere, the Holy See inspires awe in its visitors for good reason.

April to June (the low season) -or Wednesday, when the Pope meets his flock

Craning your neck memorising every detail of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling Attending an audience with the Holy Father Checking out the Swiss Guard in their traditional uniforms Climbing to the roof of St Peter’s Basilica on a clear day (warning; it’s a fair hike!) Tracking down the works of Bernini, Michelangelo and Raphael (for starters) in the Vatican palaces and museums Rubbing the foot of St Peter-worn down over the centuries-for luck Perusing the Vatican Library with more than million bound volumes

Read Robert J Hutchinson’s When in Rome: A Journal of Life in Vatican City for an in-depth look at Vatican nitty gritty. Thomas J Reese’s lnside the Vatican: The Politics and Organization of the Catholic Church; The Sistine Chapel by Fabrizio Mancinelli is an illustrated guied charting the history of the chaple’s great artworks.

Watch lnside the Vatican, a National Geographic documentary giving detailed insight into the Holy See; The Scarlet and the Black, starring Gregory Peck, is based on a true story of Vatican official, Father O’Flaherty, who hid POWs during WWll. Enjoy a rear view of Anita Ekberg as she climbs the tortuous stairs to the rooftop of St Peter’s in Fellini’s La Dolce Vita.

Eat Roman specialities such as the pasta favourites carbonara (egg yolk, cheese and bacon) and alla matriciana (tomato, beacon chilli)

Drink local wines such as Frascati and Torre Erco;ana

Silenzio (silence)

Arias and sermons; Catholic masses; nuns on the run; your favourite produced as a tacky plastic souvenir; priceless artwork everywhere you look; Michelangelo; Botticelli; Bernini, Raphael

lt’s easy to lose a whole day to the museums; the Swiss Guard do take their job (and their uniforms) very seriously, you will be turned away if you are not dressed modestly

l’m staying in the Borgo, just outside the Vatican. lt’s a quiet area, at least at night, and one that captures the Rome of my imagination. lt’s also prefect for an early morning visit to St Peter’s l get there with the larks and am treated to an amazing light display as columns of May sunshine stream into near empty basilica.