• St. Peter’s Square - the large plaza located directly in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, the papal enclave inside Rome, named after Saint Peter, an apostle of Jesus considered by Catholics to be the first Pope.

At the centre of the square is an ancient Egyptian obelisk, erected at the current site in 1586. Gian Lorenzo Bernini designed the square almost 100 years later, including the massive Doric colonnades, four columns deep, which embrace visitors in “the maternal arms of Mother Church”. A granite fountain constructed by Bernini in 1675 matches another fountain designed by Carlo Maderno in 1613.

• Comfortable air-conditioned transportation

• entrance tickets

Navigating the vast expanse of the Vatican museums can be overwhelming for first-time visitors. The sheer number of paintings, frescoes, and statues can be daunting, and the initial impact of the crowd and confusion can be intimidating and disorienting. I mention this because it mirrors my own experience in the early 1970s, the first time I passed through the grand entrance of the Vatican museums, inaugurated on December 7, 1932, by Pope Pius XI. As I ascended the helical staircase, I felt a kind of vertigo, which was quickly replaced by awe at the vast collection. Years later, while taking a course to become a certified tour guide by the Holy See, I felt the same sensation and recalled that first visit. The museum can be explored in a group, alone, or with an audio guide, but nothing compares to the emotional and sensory experience of having a private guide.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.