Neighborhood: Borgo, Prati and Vatican

Via della Conciliazione and Borgo

Via della Conciliazione leading to St. Peter’s

Near the western bank of the Tiber, accessible via the remarkable Bridge of Saint Angel, rises the large circular fortress of the Castel Sant’Angelo. It is separated from St. Peter’s Square and the Vatican City by the majestic modern avenue of Via della Conciliazione, which crosses the historic Borgo district, rebuilt during the 20th century.
The Borgo is the historic district that developed around religious activity, included for centuries within the Leonine Walls. Its appearance changed with the demolitions carried out by Mussolini’s large-scale works in the 1930s to open the wide Via della Conciliazione.

St. Peter’s Basilica and Vatican City

The impressive St. Peter’s Basilica dominates its eponymous square, while its dome towers over the entire city, no monument being taller. It is the heart of Catholicism and the sanctuary of Vatican City – the territory of the Catholic Church where the Pope reigns as an absolute monarch, and the smallest state in the world with its 43 hectares protected by extensive walls.

Mercato Trionfale

A few steps from the entrance to the Vatican Museums, the covered market of Mercato Trionfale on Via Doria is the main market of the district, offering fresh, varied, and affordable products.

Prati and Clodio Districts

North of the Vatican and Borgo, the districts of Prati and Clodio are primarily residential but also commercial and business-oriented, between the Palace of Justice on Piazza Cavour and the courthouse on Piazzale Clodio. The wide avenues and streets are also frequented for cafés, bars, and restaurants – where international cuisine is likely available – as well as for quality shops, clothing, and jewelry stores.

Monte Mario

Further north, Monte Mario reaches the highest point in Rome, with its historic observatory and a nature reserve. The panoramas cover a large part of the city and are among the most remarkable to experience.

Main Religious Buildings

• St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican
  Discover the Saint-Pierre Basilica of Rome: visit, description and history. Built on ...
• Sistine Chapel
  Visit the Sistine Chapel in Rome, whose vault was created by Michelangelo ...

Other Major Sites and Monuments

• Saint Peter’s Square in Rome
  St. Peter’s Square (Piazza San Pietro), located in front of the magnificent ...
• Vatican Museums
  General Overview The Vatican Museums, located in the heart of the Vatican City, ...
• Castel Sant’Angelo: visit and history
  Visit the Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome, built on the mausoleum of Hadrian. ...

St. Peter’s Square

Squares

• Saint Peter’s Square in Rome
  St. Peter’s Square (Piazza San Pietro), located in front of the magnificent ...

Museums

• Vatican Museums
  General Overview The Vatican Museums, located in the heart of the Vatican City, ...

More Sites in the District

Practical Information, Accommodation Near the Vatican

• Selection of good hotels near the Vatican and St. Peter’s, sorted BY DISTANCE from the Vatican Museums
• Selection of good hotels near the Vatican and St. Peter’s, sorted BY PRICE, within one kilometer of the Vatican Museums
• Good hotels in the Prati-Clodio district, sorted BY PRICE

Map of Sites in the Vatican, Borgo, and Prati Districts