Those in Rome, especially those there for the first time, are likely to visit the Vatican, or at least St. Peter’s Square if they couldn’t get tickets to the Vatican that are mostly booked in advanced for a while. While amazing, the Vatican hardly feels holy with the streams of people being flushed through all day, practically everyday. St. Peter’s Square outside of the Vatican is also quite crowded during the day that it is a very unfulfilling experience, in my opinion.

However, I was at St. Peter’s Square one night at about 9 p.m., and saw it was rather empty. Sure, there were people around, but it was empty enough it felt like I was in God’s private waiting room given the vast space around me, rather than among the throngs in a protest or pilgrimage, depending on how you think people judge God’s handling of the world these days. If you can, I would highly recommend you go to St. Peter’s Square at night after 9 to get a more fulfilling experience, though the homeless sleeping under the roofs of buildings extending over their entrance stairs leading to the Square isn’t exactly fulfilling. But you know, seeing those in need and suffering does remind you of the range of states the world is in far more touching to the core than the armies of tourists during the day where many are doing idiotic things.