Where Can I Buy A...

Anywhere....there are about a billion stands selling rosaries all around St. Peter's.

There is a vatican gift shop. You should see it when you exit the sistine chapel. They also sell floating pope pens. It is my FAVORITE souviner ever.

I would forgoe the stands all around the Vatican selling trinkets and opt for the official Vatican shops. These are often run by various orders (nuns mostly) and have a range from cheap to very nice, better than what you find on the street. There are several, the one mentioned as you exit the sistine chapel is probably the nicest, and they aslo sell copies and items related to the exhibits. The Post office, off to the left as you are facing St Peters has some items, to the right, where you would enter the Crypt or the elevator to the cupola, I believe there is another shop, then on top of St Peters, at the Cupola level, there is a shop literally on the roof of St Peters. As a added bonus, they ty[ically wrap the item in paper or a paper sack that has the Vatican seal, so your friend will know you got it there.

I really like the one at the Vatican by the Sistine chapel exit, which you can easily get to from the front of St Peters. The nuns sell a multitude of religious objects; I especially like to buy a few inexpensive Raphael's guardian angel charms, with pink or blue enamel, for upcoming births in my circle of friends/family. If you buy a rosary there, it is easy to go into St Peters and locate a priest to bless it, which is really nice, too.

Wow, awesome thanks so much everyone! These are great suggestions, thanks a million :)

One of the nicest rosaries I have ever bought was from a small shop in the Vatican that was on a sort of rooftop area when you came out the door from climbing down from the dome of St. Peters. If you are planning on making the climb to the top (a hike, but very well worth it!) look for the shop when you exit to the outside heading for the stairs or elevators that take you back to street level. It was a few years ago but I would think the shop is still there. It is run by nuns. It may be available in other Vatican gift shops as well. The rosary was made of rosewood and had a distinct rose fragrance. Not too expensive. I think I got it 9 years ago and you can still smell the roses! This is significant as Mary's favorite flower is the rose and roses or the fragrance of roses are present in almost all Marian apparitions (Lourdes, Guadalupe, etc.) Another favorite souvenir, the "Popener" - a bottle opener with the likeness of the Pope on it ;-)

I also bought the rosewood rosaries for gifts. Then while walking around the Vatican area I stopped a priest and asked him to bless them. My Catholic friends really appreciated the fact that they were blessed while in Vatican City. They still smell like roses!

I bought one at the Vatican gift shop as you exit the Vatican and second that recommendation. My Catholic friend preferred one that actually came from the Vatican rather than outside the walls.

In the building to the left as you face St. Peter's, there's a combination Vatican Post Office and gift shop. You'll be sure to get a genuine rosary there.

Frank...what's a "genuine rosary?"

You see! I told you Helpliners last week that there really is a third Frank, Delaware Frank (see post immediately above). Delaware Frank, your name came up last week when there was some confusion over Franks, USA Frank and Centennial Frank. Somebody got mad at USA Frank when they were really mad at Centennial Frank. USA Frank decided to change his Helpline name to Franklin. I told them there was actually a third Frank, so we're glad to see you back--this is proof of your existence.And no, you don't have to change your name. Not unless someone else gets mad at Centennial Frank and blames you. And lately Centennial Frank has been very good. (And Franklin too)

Norm, what I meant was that buying it at the Vatican gift shop ensures that a rosary sold as blessed by the Pope actually was. Should have chosen my words better.