View of St. Peter's Square during the Easter Mass held by Pope Benedict XVI on April 24, 2011 in Vatican City, Vatican. — Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Italy's charismatic capital was the hub of the ancient Roman Empire and overflows with great Renaissance and Baroque art. It's also a living, breathing movie set, where la dolce vita carries on. But where should you visit no matter what? Here are five of Rome's best sights.
1. Vatican City
The world's smallest state has a population of just over 800 — few of whom live here permanently. Its most important resident, the Pope, gives an audience on Wednesday mornings in St. Peter's Square, dominated by the famous basilica named for the same saint. In the Sistine Chapel, which is part of the Vatican Museum, gaze up at Michelangelo's 16th-century biblical frescoes, including The Last Judgment. Other collections in the vast museums include Egyptian artifacts, Etruscan antiquities and works by Raphael.
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