Vatican City: Vatican Hill
General Information
Height: 75m ( 246 ft)
Difficulty: 1
Best Time To Climb: Anytime of year.
Length of Time to Climb: 15 minutes
Permits Required: No permit is required.
Accomodation: You can stay anywhere in Rome and easily climb the Vatican Hill. There is an abundance of Hotels, Homestays and Airbnbs.
Overview
The Vatican Hill is the smallest peak in the Crown of Europe, located within Vatican City. The hill is located across the Tiber river and is one of the natural sites of Rome; visited by millions each year. The hill and it’s surrounding areas are extremely beautiful, with stunning views over parts of Rome. Many tourists who visit the Vatican also choose to climb the hill, enjoying a more untouched part of Rome.
The Hill was in existence even before Rome became Christian. History has shown us that the Vatican Hill was originally the site of an Etruscan town called the Vaticum.
Although the Hill is only small and can be explored in a short amount of time, if you would prefer to go and visit the hill for one or two days you’re actually able to camp on the hill for a couple of nights, or you can stay in a hotel nearby.
How to get there
Most people reach the Vatican Hill from Central Rome. To firstly reach Rome, you can do so via Train or Airplane from many international destinations.
Ciampino Airport is the closest one to Rome and is easily connected to Public Transport, including buses and trains which can take you to the Vatican Hill.
If you are staying in central Rome for a holiday and wish to climb the Vatican Hill, you can purchase a hop-on, hop-off tour bus which will take you to the Vatican. From there you can visit Vatican Hill.
The Route
The Route up the Vatican Hill is very simple, especially if you take a guided tour. There are daily tour guides which help tourists climb the hill and learn about the natural site, aswell as its surroundings.
To organise a tour and climb the hill, you will first need to gain entry into the Gardens which are situated at the bottom of the Vatican Museum; Viale Vaticano, north-west of the Vatican Wall.
You will be given a group tour and appointment time for your journey up the hill. How long you will have to wait will be dependant upon the time of year and whether it is their peak-season.
What to pack
The walk up the Vatican Hill is not difficult, however it’s important to ensure you are comfortable and hydrated, especially on a hot day. The best equipment and clothing are as follows.
Clothing
- Comfortable Underwear
- Comfortable Footwear e.g. Trainers
- Base Layer (Bottoms and Tops)
- Sunhat
Gear
- Water Bottle
- Backpack
- Sun Glasses
- UV Buff
Additionalclothing that can be worn on ‘travel’ days
- Camera
- Sun Protection (Sunscreen and Lip Screen)
- Snack and Drink
Current Weather
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