Well..first of all - if you plan on visiting the Museums - GO EARLY (I mean early, like 7am). When we arrived (in November, mind you) at 8:30 I saw the longest queue ever (and, having lived for 15 in a Communist country, I had my share) - almost half a mile long.

The Saint Peter's is immense - even after you visit some of the Roman basiliques, it's still far, far ahead. That's something you can appreciate if you climb to the top of the dome (better take a lift) - it offers a breathtaking view of the Eternal City.

The lush lawns and amazing artwork in the Vatican is absolutely breathtaking. I'm Jewish and I still felt a sense of awe while visiting this tiny "country."

Give yourself a lot of time when traveling to the Vatican, because the line to get in is about an hour-long wait, even during the off season. Also, girls must have covered shoulders and cleavage. It was very humid the day we went (of course, it was the middle of June). So I suggest you layer with a light shirt you can take off after you leave the Vatican walls. We first went into the Sistine Chapel. I thought of all the slides I saw in my art history class. They don't do the works any justice. All the pictures you have ever seen are nothing compared to the real thing (unlike the Mona Lisa, which I wasn't too impressed with, but that's another story for another journal).

I didn't feel any religious weight while in the Vatican, but I did feel the weight of history. I thought of all the men who had walked through the courtyard before me and all the decisions that they were making.

There is daily Mass (multiple times a day) held at Saint Peter's Basillica. There is a section off to the side for pews, while the rest of the church is open to tourists. If you are of the Catholic faith, you are free to sit in the pews (prayers in Latin, of course).

Regardless of what religion you are, you MUST visit the Vatican City and the Vatican Museum. The architecture is amazing, and you will have a chance to see some of the works of the world's best artists: Michelangelo, Bernini, etc. St. Peter's Cathedral is beautiful as well, and the dome is breathtaking. St. Peter's Square is also awe-inspiring. Tickets are required, but they are reasonably priced. You will want to arrive very early in the morning (7-ish) to get in line outside the Vatican walls or you will be in for a long wait outside. Remember to dress appropriately--women cover the shoulders and knees and men should be in long pants. Also know that the Vatican can close up shop at any point during the day, another reason to show up early.

Even as a non-religious person, I found this excursion well worth my time. There is a lot of secular history within the walls of the Vatican City as well. Be prepared to be moved by the art and the atmosphere of the place itself.

Finally, remember that there is NO flash photography, so make sure you know how to turn your flash off. And in the Sistine Chapel there is no photography at all--if caught, the Swiss Guard will take your film.

If you are not spending long in the Vatican City, it is a good idea to choose carefully which queue you join. We joined the one going to the top of the cupola of St. Peter's, mistakenly thinking that it was for the Sistine Chapel! Although St. Peter's was very impressive (200m high, with a dome of 43m, all lavishly decorated with mosaics), it was a great disappointment not to be able to see Michelangelo’s fresco on the ceiling. Be aware that most of the tourist attractions in the Vatican are also places of worship, so shoulders and knees must be covered up to go in (and they do check). If you forget, you can buy paper overalls at a great expense.

If you want to send postcards home with the Vatican postmark, there is a post box next to the bar on top of St. Peter's.

The Vatican is full of numerous treasures, beautiful artwork, and fabulous architecture that definitely merit a visit.

Vatican City is a quaint experience in itself. The smallest sovereign state in the world, the Vatican even has its own post office. All that work in Vatican City must be good Catholics. I enjoyed seeing such a unique little place. If you go through the museum, plan on taking 3 to 4 hours in Vatican City. If you just look around, an hour or two is plenty.