Pope Francis’s first visit to the United States includes stops in Washington, D.C., New York and Philadelphia. He is the leader of the Catholic Church, but he is also a head of state. Vatican City is the center of Roman Catholicism and an independent nation – the world’s smallest, in fact.
KPLU travel expert Matthew Brumley has made numerous trips to the Vatican. He has seen Pope John Paul II, and Pope Benedict. Brumley says there has been renewed interest in visiting Vatican City since Francis became pope in 2013.
“His impact on tourism in Rome has been incredible,” Brumley said. “They’ve had to create new policies for entering St. Peter’s Basilica. When I was there years ago, we’d walk in. Now you have to get a ticket to go in, and it’s because of the sheer numbers of people who are heading to Rome now to see Pope Francis.”
Reaction
Over the years, Brumley has taken scores of visitors – Catholic and non-Catholic – through the Vatican. He says there are generally two reactions.
“People are always moved especially if there’s a papal audience, even if you’re not Catholic,” he said. The other reaction comes when people see the opulent treasures of the Vatican Museums.
“It helps one to understand perhaps why there was a Reformation, and why Martin Luther rejected the corruption of the Catholic Church during the Renaissance,” Brumley said. “As a Catholic myself, I understand that. It brings it all to life for me when I understand that a lot of this was built on taxes on the poor and middle class of Europe.”
Advice
There is almost always a line to get into the Vatican Museum. Contrary to popular belief, you will not find the shorter lines by going early in the morning. The lines will already stretch hundreds of yards. Try midday or early afternoon instead. There will still be a line, but the rush will be less.
Book your hotel early. Tourism to Rome and the Vatican is very popular right now. Brumley recommends the Hotel Alimandi, next to the Vatican Museums.
“It’s run by a family I’ve known for years,” Brumley said. “Tell Enrico, Luigi and Paolo that Mateo says ‘Ciao!’”
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"Going Places" is KPLU's weekly exploration of travel topics. Matthew Brumley is the co-founder of Earthbound Expeditions on Bainbridge Island, which provides small group travel to clients including KPLU. He has been leading tours around the world for more than 20 years. Feel free to leave a comment -- and suggest a future segment topic -- below.
