Resting on a hill on the banks of the Tiber River within the city of Rome, the Vatican City is the smallest sovereign state on Earth, offering travellers a truly unique destination. While the Vatican City is home to the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, you don’t have to be Catholic to appreciate its rich history and trove of cultural treasures. The state is home to an unrivalled collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces. At the centre of the city lies St Peter's Basilica, with its impressive double colonnade and circular piazza bordered by lavish palaces and immaculate gardens.The walls of the Vatican Museums are adorned with an astonishing array of artworks by the likes of Raphael and Giotto as well as remarkable artefacts from classical antiquity. The highlight is undoubtedly the opportunity to gaze up at the world’s most famous ceiling, painted by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel.