Bellissimo Magazine - Vatican City - FREE Jubilee 2025 Special Edition

Every 25 years, a Catholic Jubilee year takes place, calling religious pilgrims (and curious cultural spectators) to Vatican City, seat of the Roman Catholic Church. The 2025 Jubilee in Vatican City and greater Rome with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope” is just around the corner, kicking off on December 24, 2024 and running for a full year until its formal conclusion on January 6, 2026. More than 30 million people are expected to visit Rome for the Jubilee alone. Are you one of them?

For years, Rome and Vatican City have been gearing up for this moment. They’ve been renovating spaces and famous monuments, rolling out new pedestrian pathways, upping their hotels game and preparing to host people who are on the trip of their lifetime. 

For the church, it’s considered a year of reconciliation and remission of sin. Pilgrims travel great distances to walk through the designated Holy Doors of Rome’s papal basilicas, which are closed during non-Jubilee years. Whether or not the event is of religious importance to you, it’s a really big deal for Rome, Vatican City and Italy.

In recognition of that, our team has put together a FREE special edition of Bellissimo dedicated to all things Vatican City. Here’s just a small sample of what you can expect inside.

Practical advice

• The essential guide to visiting the Vatican for the first time (which will also help any returners who haven’t been in a while); 
• Answers to frequently asked questions about what the lay of the land will be like in Rome in 2025 (and why you should definitely not cancel or postpone your trip, even if you aren’t interested in the Jubilee itself);
• Honest advice on the most efficient ways to see the main sites of the Vatican (and why you should never assume you can breeze in and out of St. Peter’s Basilica);
• Editors’ tips on hidden hotels and accommodations in Rome that range from the cozy to the colossal

Feature stories to bring today’s Vatican City to life

• The Swiss Guard shortlist with fast facts about the famous pope-protecting armed force;
• A deep dive into how the iconic Popemobile came to be and which popes have had the flashiest (and the most frugal) rides (plus a tip on a less-visited part of the Vatican Museums for auto lovers);
• A chat with the Veneto-based chef who’s cooked consistently for three different popes (he even shares his Holy Father-approved risotto recipe);
• All the intel you need to make the most of a day trip to Castel Gandolfo, the famous papal summer residence, and why you should stick around to explore the host town

Whether you’re a Jubilee pilgrim or just a regular Rome returnee or first-time traveler, we know you’ll enjoy reading and get great ideas from this special free edition of Bellissimo — our gift to you. Pass it to a friend heading to Rome in 2025 or beyond. And, if you’re eager to explore Rome beyond Vatican City and look deeper at Lazio, Rome’s host region, then check out our companion Fall 2024 issue on Lazio.

New around here?

If you only discovered Italy Magazine while preparing to visit Rome during the Jubilee, we’re glad to have you here. We are a 20-year-strong publication offering an authoritative, authentic take on all things Italy for international audiences. Bellissimo is our beautifully designed seasonal e-magazine for those who want to explore Italy region by region. View the full Bellissimo back catalog here or become an Italy Magazine Premium Member to unlock them all and learn about Italy from top to toe.