The Secret Paths in The Vatican City

Vy Tran

December 2017

Vatican City

Art and culture

Hidden gems

2 minutes to read

During my time in Rome, I have had the pleasure of making friends with Joanne Bergamin, who is a public relations expert, a travel and lifestyle blogger, and one of the few hundreds residents in the Vatican City.

On a beautiful late autumn day, Joanne took me and my family on a special day tour of her second hometown, the Vatican City. The tour focused on the Vatican Gardens but we also had the privilege of visiting special parts of the St. Peter's Basilica and walking through the hidden paths which were normally closed to the public. The beauty of everything we saw took my breath away.

During our visit to the Vatican Gardens, some of the highlights were the oldest church in the Vatican City, the Grotto of Lourdes in the Vatican Gardens, and the Vatican guest apartment building, where the Pope currently lives rather than the Apostolic Palace. Another favorite moment of mine was the unique view of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica from the Pope's gardens. The serenity of the view made me feel like it was the most peaceful place on Earth.

"The Gardens are like an oasis from the constant chaos of life in Rome." - Joanne Bergamin

One of the best parts of the tour was to learn more about the discreet Swiss Guards and to observe them from a close distance. Some of them even greeted us in a serious yet friendly manner. As we walked in one of the exclusive corridors guarded by the Swiss, all of us felt like we were exploring a different world, a world of holiness and history. It was a learning experience as much as a pleasurable one.

How did Joanne end up living in the Vatican City? In 2017, Joanne came all the way from Australia and began working for Prada. And yet, that is still not the best part of Joanne's adventure. If you are curious about Joanne's fascinating journey to the Vatican City, why don't you find out more on her travel blog TravelAngel? You can also listen to her stories during her private tour of the Vatican Gardens. Joanne's modern fairy tale is best told in her words.

The author

Vy Tran

Vy grew up in Hanoi but defines herself as a global citizen. She loves Dutch Golden Age paintings, dining at Michelin restaurants, watching warm sunsets and Italy, where she would be willing to spend her life.

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