Why was a wall built around the Vatican?

Pope Leo IV built the first wall around the Vatican City in the 9th century as a reaction to the threat posed by Saracen pirates. The fortifications were strengthened in the 16th century – this time to protect the city-state's growing wealth from the city of Rome, but also as an expression of papal power!



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The area off the west bank of the Tiber River that comprises the Vatican was once a marshy region known as Ager Vaticanus. During the early years of the Roman Empire, it became an administrative region populated by expensive villas, as well as a circus built in the gardens of Emperor Caligula's mother.

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You'll get to see the actual tomb of St. Peter and the bones of the dead Apostle at the end of the tour in the Vatican grottoes, underneath the Basilica. You are free to explore these for as long as you like before heading up to see the Basilica.

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The Vatican has a dress code that some travellers might not be aware of when visiting. Luckily if you're planning on wearing jeans to the Vatican, you definitely can! When you plan to visit, it's best to keep your knees and shoulders covered. And for footwear, you will need flat shoes, not flip-flops or casual sandals.

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Sandals are fine, but flip flops are considered too relaxed as footwear to enter the Vatican; If you're wearing a hat or a cap, you'll have to remove it once you're inside the building; Basilicas and museums can be chilly even in summer: bring a scarf or a pashmina with you.

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