{"id":24112,"date":"2022-07-15T23:26:48","date_gmt":"2022-07-15T23:26:48","guid":{"rendered":"\/?p=24112"},"modified":"2024-12-19T13:59:15","modified_gmt":"2024-12-19T13:59:15","slug":"vatican-city-museums","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/vatican-city-museums\/","title":{"rendered":"An Art Historian&#8217;s Guide to Vatican City Museums: Sistine Chapel &#038; Hidden Gems"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>One of the most visited museums in the world, you can\u2019t miss a peek into the Vatican City on your trip to Rome. The Vatican City Museums have been welcoming visitors to their most impressive art collections since the 16th century. Many focus on getting straight to the Sistine Chapel, but there are many other pieces you won\u2019t want to skip.<\/p>\n<p>Find out everything you need to know for <strong>your visit to the Vatican City Museums<\/strong>!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24151\" class=\"thumbnail wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 1210px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24151\" src=\"https:\/\/assets2.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-guide-vatican.jpg\" alt=\"A guide is a great option for understanding more about Vatican City Museums\u2019 extensive collection.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-guide-vatican.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-guide-vatican-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-guide-vatican-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-guide-vatican-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-guide-vatican-330x220.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption wp-caption-text\">Discover all the Vatican City Musuem highlights with our guide, brought to you by an art historian!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">What's Included<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-67687a38e7dc6\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1fc2de;color:#1fc2de\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1fc2de;color:#1fc2de\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-67687a38e7dc6\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/vatican-city-museums\/#History_of_The_Vatican_City_Museums\" title=\"History of The Vatican City Museums\">History of The Vatican City Museums<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/vatican-city-museums\/#The_Vatican_City_Museums_The_Highlights\" title=\"The Vatican City Museums: The Highlights\">The Vatican City Museums: The Highlights<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/vatican-city-museums\/#Hidden_Gems_at_the_Vatican_City_Museums\" title=\"Hidden Gems at the Vatican City Museums\">Hidden Gems at the Vatican City Museums<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/vatican-city-museums\/#A_Quick_Self-Guided_Tour_of_the_Vatican_City_Museums\" title=\"A Quick Self-Guided Tour of the Vatican City Museums\">A Quick Self-Guided Tour of the Vatican City Museums<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/vatican-city-museums\/#The_Vatican_City_Museums_Practical_Info\" title=\"The Vatican City Museums: Practical Info\">The Vatican City Museums: Practical Info<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/vatican-city-museums\/#Vatican_City_Museums_FAQ\" title=\"Vatican City Museums FAQ\">Vatican City Museums FAQ<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"History_of_The_Vatican_City_Museums\"><\/span>History of The Vatican City Museums<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Vatican City Museums are an extensive collection of the Papal state, acquired throughout the centuries. The collection includes historic artifacts &#8211; primarily from the ancient Roman empire &#8211; including many works of art. They also include papal jewels and tapestries.<\/p>\n<p>But how did this immense collection become a museum open to the public?<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>Vatican City Museums were founded in the 16th century by the famous Pope Julius II<\/strong>, born Giuliano della Rovere. The Museums came into being with the purchase of a remarkable sculpture, Laoco\u00f6n and His Sons. The statue was discovered in 1506, and soon caught the eye of the Vatican. One month after its discovery, the Pope placed it in their courtyard for public display.<\/p>\n<p>From there, little by little the Vatican began to organize more public displays and open some of the private apartments until the public collection became the <strong>impressive 20,000-item museum<\/strong> you can visit today.<\/p>\n<p>And the truth that might surprise you &#8211; <strong>this is only about 30% of the entire collection!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>With so much to see, where should you even begin? That\u2019s exactly what this guide is here to help you with. First, let\u2019s discuss the major highlights of the Vatican City Museums.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24155\" class=\"thumbnail wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 1210px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24155\" src=\"https:\/\/assets2.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/flickr-rome-vatican-over-river.jpg\" alt=\"The Vatican is one of the most visited museums in the world.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/flickr-rome-vatican-over-river.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/flickr-rome-vatican-over-river-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/flickr-rome-vatican-over-river-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/flickr-rome-vatican-over-river-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption wp-caption-text\">The Vatican is one of the most visited museums in the world. Photo credit: Nicola<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b>Insider&#8217;s tip: <\/b>Beat the crowds\u00a0and enjoy the beauty of Rome with early access tours like our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/tours\/rome-walking-tour-pristine-sistine\/\"><b>Pristine Sistine Tour<\/b><\/a>. Our passionate local guides lead you through the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel \u2013 before they open to the public.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Vatican_City_Museums_The_Highlights\"><\/span>The Vatican City Museums: The Highlights<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3>Sistine Chapel<\/h3>\n<p>There\u2019s no denying it, the real star of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/vatican-tours\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vatican City Museums is the Sistine Chapel<\/a>. This beautiful church is covered from ceiling to floor with elaborate paintings by Michelangelo and his students.<\/p>\n<p>The Sistine Chapel shares many stories. Soak it all in, including the incredible Last Judgement behind the altar, the mixed tales of the Old Testament along with the ceiling, and the stories of St. Peter along the walls. Mixed throughout these panels are characters not only from Christian history, but also grand figures from Greek and Roman myths and history, all of whom speak of the coming of a messiah.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24161\" class=\"thumbnail wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 1210px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24161\" src=\"https:\/\/assets2.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sistine-chapel-vatican-city.jpg\" alt=\"Greek and Roman mythology mix with Old Testament stories in the famous Sistine Chapel.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"891\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sistine-chapel-vatican-city.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sistine-chapel-vatican-city-300x223.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sistine-chapel-vatican-city-1024x760.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sistine-chapel-vatican-city-768x570.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption wp-caption-text\">Greek and Roman mythology mix with Old Testament stories in the famous Sistine Chapel. Photo credit: Richard Mortel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Insider\u2019s Tip:<\/strong> Entire books have been written about this room alone! Before we get too carried away with the details, we\u2019ll share one major tip: get the audio guide and take your time. Here you\u2019ll be able to sit along the side and listen to the stories of each individual painting.<\/p>\n<h3>Raphael&#8217;s Rooms<\/h3>\n<p>The stunning <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/raphaels-rooms-in-the-vatican-museums\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Raphael&#8217;s Rooms<\/a> are a set of four papal \u201capartments\u201d once used as private studies and meeting halls. Each display a series of beautiful frescoes by Raphael and his workshop. The fourth room, the Sala di Constantino, was actually completed after Raphael\u2019s death by his students.<\/p>\n<p>Each room tells a story. The Sala di Costantino shares the tale of Rome\u2019s famous first Christian Emperor, who is said to have beat his rival Maxentius with the help of Christ. The room shows scenes of his visions as well as his crowning.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, the Stanza di Eliodoro is so called because of the main painting titled The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple. The other main works in this room include The Mass at Bolsena, The Meeting of Pope Leo I and Attila, and The Deliverance of Saint Peter from Prison.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24172\" class=\"thumbnail wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 1210px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24172\" src=\"https:\/\/assets2.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Raphael_Rooms_flickr_vatican_city_museums.jpg\" alt=\"The overall theme in the Raphael Rooms displays Christ\u2019s heavenly protection over the Church. \" width=\"1200\" height=\"955\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Raphael_Rooms_flickr_vatican_city_museums.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Raphael_Rooms_flickr_vatican_city_museums-300x239.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Raphael_Rooms_flickr_vatican_city_museums-1024x815.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Raphael_Rooms_flickr_vatican_city_museums-768x611.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption wp-caption-text\">The overall theme in Raphael&#8217;s Rooms is Christ\u2019s heavenly protection. Photo credit: xiquinhosilva<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Moving to the Stanza della Segnatura, this room puts forward the concept of harmony between antiquity and Christianity. This is especially clear with the most famous fresco: The School of Athens, decorated with many well-known philosophers through the ages.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, you\u2019ll come across the Stanza dell&#8217;incendio del Borgo, named for the largest fresco depicting the destruction of a fire in the Borgo district of Rome in 847. It is said Pope Leo IV was able to contain the fire with a benediction.<\/p>\n<p>Other works in the room portray events during the lives of Popes Leo III and Leo IV, including The Oath of Leo III, The Coronation of Charlemagne, and The Battle of Ostia.<\/p>\n<h3>Laoco\u00f6n and His Sons<\/h3>\n<p>The statue that started it all. This stunningly intact ancient Greek marble was found in the vineyards surrounding Santa Maria Maggiore in 1506. It is assumed to have been sculpted in 40 BC.<\/p>\n<p>This work represents a story from the Aeneid by Virgil at the very moment Trojans were celebrating (and distracted by the famous Trojan Horse). At that moment, the priest Laoco\u00f6n \u2013 who was not excited \u2013 warned it would be their downfall. To protect the Greeks, the goddess Athena sent two serpents to kill the priest and his two sons, ensuring that their warnings were never heard.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24150\" class=\"thumbnail wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 1210px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24150\" src=\"https:\/\/assets2.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-loacoon.jpg\" alt=\"It's hard to believe that the amazingly well-preserved Laoco\u00f6n and His Sons was underground at one point!\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-loacoon.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-loacoon-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-loacoon-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-loacoon-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-loacoon-330x220.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption wp-caption-text\">The amazing statue of Laoco\u00f6n and His Sons was discovered on Esquiline Hill in Rome and brought to the Vatican.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Apollo of Belvedere<\/h3>\n<p>This statue is another one from the Vatican\u2019s original collections. It has been in their possession since 1508, dating to the Pope Julius II\u2019s family collection. It is a Roman copy from a Greek Bronze, thought to be from the 2nd century AD.<\/p>\n<p>This statue is well-known due to Johann Joachim Winckelmann, who stated, \u201cof all the works of antiquity that have escaped destruction, the statue of Apollo represents the highest ideal of art.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>From the figure to the details of his face and hair, Apollo is said to be one of the most beautiful pieces in the collection.<\/p>\n<h3>Transfiguration &#8211; Raphael<\/h3>\n<p>Another masterpiece by Raphael, this was originally intended to head to a church in France. However, the Pope loved it so much that it remained in Rome. The painting served as the main altar for San Pietro in Montorio for many centuries, before it was taken by Napoleon in the 1700s, and then returned to the Vatican under the treaty of Tolentino in 1817.<\/p>\n<p><em>Transfiguration<\/em> is considered a key piece of High Renaissance art with its stunning colors and beautiful detail.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24165\" class=\"thumbnail wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 1210px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24165\" src=\"https:\/\/assets2.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/flickr-Transfiguration-Raphael.jpg\" alt=\"Transfiguration was Raphael\u2019s last painting before his death at age 37. \" width=\"1200\" height=\"1712\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/flickr-Transfiguration-Raphael.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/flickr-Transfiguration-Raphael-210x300.jpg 210w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/flickr-Transfiguration-Raphael-718x1024.jpg 718w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/flickr-Transfiguration-Raphael-768x1096.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/flickr-Transfiguration-Raphael-1077x1536.jpg 1077w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption wp-caption-text\"><em>Transfiguration<\/em> was Raphael\u2019s last painting before his death at age 37. Photo credit: Luke Jones<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Bronze Statue Of Hercules<\/h3>\n<p>Ancient bronzes are often hard to come by as they were mainly melted down or subject to natural erosion. That is why this immense bronze of Hercules is so impressive to art historians. It was found near the area of Campo Dei Fiori in Rome and then gifted to the Vatican. The statue is assumed to be a depiction of Hercules from the 1-3rd centuries AD.<\/p>\n<p>Now the statue itself is quite a sight to see, but what makes it even more interesting is the way it was found. It was actually ritually buried! The statue had been struck by lightning, and as that is a symbol of Zeus, the Romans decided it was meant to have a proper burial.<\/p>\n<h3>St Jerome in the Wilderness &#8211; Leonardo Da Vinci<\/h3>\n<p>This is not a complete painting, but rather a sketch by Leonardo Da Vinci. However, this unfinished work gives great insight into Da Vinci\u2019s artistic process.<\/p>\n<p>St. Jerome is shown in his typical setting \u2013 alone in the wilderness \u2013 with a lion as a companion and a rock in his hand.<\/p>\n<p>This work changed hands throughout Europe several times before finally making its way to the Vatican in 1856.<\/p>\n<h3>The Entombment of Christ &#8211; Caravaggio<\/h3>\n<p>The Vatican City Museum\u2019s art gallery wouldn\u2019t be complete without a remarkable work by Caravaggio.<\/p>\n<p>This version of <em>The Entombment of Christ<\/em>, sometimes known as <em>The Deposition<\/em>, differs from the more common image. Rather than see Christ be laid in the famous tomb, we see him lain on an anointing stone. The moment shows the agony of the three Marys, Nicodemus, and John, perfectly emphasized by Caravaggio\u2019s distinctive dark style.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24168\" class=\"thumbnail wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 1210px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24168\" src=\"https:\/\/assets2.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/The_Entombment_of_Christ-Caravaggio_flickr.jpg\" alt=\"Caravaggio's dark style is on full display in The Entombment of Christ.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1782\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/The_Entombment_of_Christ-Caravaggio_flickr.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/The_Entombment_of_Christ-Caravaggio_flickr-202x300.jpg 202w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/The_Entombment_of_Christ-Caravaggio_flickr-690x1024.jpg 690w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/The_Entombment_of_Christ-Caravaggio_flickr-768x1140.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/The_Entombment_of_Christ-Caravaggio_flickr-1034x1536.jpg 1034w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption wp-caption-text\">Caravaggio&#8217;s dark style is on full display in <em>The Entombment of Christ<\/em>. Photo credit: Caravaggio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>The Gallery of Maps<\/h3>\n<p>This curious room is probably not what you imagined when you set out to visit the Vatican City Museums. However, the Gallery of Maps is one of the most intriguing areas of the whole visit!<\/p>\n<p>It is a series of mural frescoes depicting different areas of Italy, as they were when commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII. This pope commissioned the room so he could accurately study the lands in which he lived and the surrounding areas.<\/p>\n<p>The Gallery of Maps helps to provide insight into the worldview at this time. It also invites modern-day visitors to learn more about the extensive history of Italy\u2019s kingdoms and republics during the 16th century.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24157\" class=\"thumbnail wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 1210px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24157\" src=\"https:\/\/assets2.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-gallery-of-maps.jpg\" alt=\"The Gallery of Maps allows you to travel around Italy without even leaving the room! \" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-gallery-of-maps.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-gallery-of-maps-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-gallery-of-maps-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-gallery-of-maps-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-gallery-of-maps-330x220.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption wp-caption-text\">The stunning Gallery of Maps allows you to travel around 16th century Italy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hidden_Gems_at_the_Vatican_City_Museums\"><\/span>Hidden Gems at the Vatican City Museums<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>For art lovers, it is hard to narrow down the hidden gems of the Vatican Museum &#8211; there are just so many great works in this collection! But, to give you an idea, we\u2019ve chosen a few of our absolute favorites.<\/p>\n<h3>Apoxyomenos<\/h3>\n<p>A Roman copy from 50 AD, this sculpture is thought to have been based on a Greek Bronze from 320 BC. It shows an athlete cleaning himself with oil and a curved scraper known as a strigil. It is an interesting work for the simple moment of the sculpture, as well as the movement of his arm and foot being captured.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24163\" class=\"thumbnail wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 2058px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24163\" src=\"https:\/\/assets2.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/48759402727_22c05acdf8_k.jpg\" alt=\"Apoxyomenos is notable for being portrayed actively, as opposed to perfectly still.\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/48759402727_22c05acdf8_k.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/48759402727_22c05acdf8_k-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/48759402727_22c05acdf8_k-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/48759402727_22c05acdf8_k-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/48759402727_22c05acdf8_k-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/48759402727_22c05acdf8_k-330x220.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption wp-caption-text\">Apoxyomenos is notable for being portrayed actively, as opposed to perfectly still. Photo credit: Richard Mortel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Crucifixion Of Saint Peter &#8211; Guido Reni<\/h3>\n<p>Guido Reni is an artist who often flies below the radar, though his work is truly something to behold. He was heavily influenced by Caravaggio, showing deep contrast and dark colors. Yet he brings his own touch to the style.<\/p>\n<p>Reni was a master at defining the muscles in his subject with intricate detail. It was also telling of his style not to idealize the human body. Thus, we see a true form instead of a saintly figure.<\/p>\n<p>This painting in particular was his first big success after coming to Rome. It was commissioned by the Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini for S. Paolo alle Tre Fontane, and was one of the paintings sent to Paris under Napoleon. Finally, it was returned to the Vatican City Museums in 1819.<\/p>\n<h3>The Crowning of the Virgin &#8211; Raphael<\/h3>\n<p>This is a unique painting with a focus on the Virgin Mary, rather than the life of Christ. It is also another excellent example of Raphael\u2019s distinctive style.<\/p>\n<p>The painting itself actually depicts two scenes. At the bottom of the piece, you can see the Virgin\u2019s grave with the Apostles around her. However, we do not see the Virgin herself, but rather flowers representing her ascent into heaven. The Apostles look above at the scene, where she is being crowned in heaven. At the top of the piece, we see the Virgin Mary being crowned by her son Jesus.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24162\" class=\"thumbnail wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 1034px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24162\" src=\"https:\/\/assets2.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Raffaello_pala_oddi_.jpg\" alt=\"Notice how the upper portion of The Crowning of the Virgin is much brighter, dividing the earthly and heavenly scenes.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1543\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Raffaello_pala_oddi_.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Raffaello_pala_oddi_-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Raffaello_pala_oddi_-680x1024.jpg 680w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Raffaello_pala_oddi_-768x1157.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Raffaello_pala_oddi_-1019x1536.jpg 1019w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption wp-caption-text\">Notice how the upper portion of <em>The Crowning of the Virgin<\/em> is much brighter, dividing the earthly and heavenly scenes. Photo credit: Sailko<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>The Braschi Antinous<\/h3>\n<p>A large sculpture of Antinous, the famous boyfriend of Emperor Hadrian. You\u2019ll see a few pieces showing his face throughout the collection. Their story was a curious one &#8211; while many Roman Emperors took lovers of all genders, it was mainly behind closed doors. Hadrian, however, brought Antinous to the forefront, having him by his side and dedicating many works to him.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, Antinous died along the Nile under mysterious circumstances (many said he was murdered). Immediately after, Hadrian took steps to deify Antinous. He became Osiris-Antinous, mixing the worship of Egyptian old gods and Roman traditions. This statue shows Antinous in a god-like form, with a crown of leaves and berries.<\/p>\n<h3>The Belvedere Torso<\/h3>\n<p>This piece is said to have been of great inspiration to Michelangelo when he painted his figures in the Sistine Chapel. You can see this by noticing how many figures sit with the same curved torso on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. This portion of a statue was found in the late 15th century, though is presumed to be from the mid-2nd century.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s hard to tell what story the sculpture was telling, but many believe it to be the mythical Ajax after losing the competition with Odysseus in the tale of the Iliad. Interestingly, it is signed by an Athenian Sculptor named Apollonios. It was most likely a marble copy of a Greek Bronze.<\/p>\n<p>While today it looks simple, in the Renaissance this find was an impressive study of the human body, and was very detailed for the time. Artists were able to study the twist and wrinkles of the muscles to better train their own depictions of the body.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24164\" class=\"thumbnail wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 1210px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24164\" src=\"https:\/\/assets2.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Rome_Pristine-Sistine-torso.jpg\" alt=\"The Belvedere Torso is approximately 5.2 feet, or 1.59 meters, tall.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Rome_Pristine-Sistine-torso.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Rome_Pristine-Sistine-torso-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Rome_Pristine-Sistine-torso-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Rome_Pristine-Sistine-torso-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption wp-caption-text\">The Belvedere Torso is approximately 5.2 feet, or 1.59 meters, tall.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Quick_Self-Guided_Tour_of_the_Vatican_City_Museums\"><\/span>A Quick Self-Guided Tour of the Vatican City Museums<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You should block out at least four hours to visit the Vatican City Museums in their entirety. And, if you know you\u2019ll want to spend time listening to the audio guide in the Sistine Chapel and Raphael&#8217;s Rooms, you should include even more time.<\/p>\n<p>Even if you decide to rush through to see only the highlights that interest you, a visit can easily take two hours. It also may take more time simply based on how busy the halls are with visitors.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">There is a shorter itinerary you can follow to catch the highlights and get the most out of a short visit.<\/span>After entering, head to the left, the first area you\u2019ll find is the courtyard housing the Apollo Belvedere and the Laoco\u00f6n sculptures. Upon entering, you\u2019ll take a left up the stairs to start the visit in the Egyptian portion of the museums. From here, take as long as you like, you can follow the signs for the short itinerary to the Sistine Chapel.<\/p>\n<p>However, keep in mind that by taking the short itinerary, you will miss the elegant Rotunda Room, with the impressive bronze of Hercules and the sculpture of Antinous. This is after the Egyptian Collection, in the Museo Pio Clementino.<\/p>\n<p>If you still decide to skip ahead, take the stairs again, turning left down a long hall that leads almost straight to the Sistine Chapel.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24153\" class=\"thumbnail wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 1210px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24153\" src=\"https:\/\/assets2.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-rome-post.jpg\" alt=\"There are over four miles of halls in the Vatican City Museums, so we recommend factoring in at least four hours for your visit.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-rome-post.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-rome-post-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-rome-post-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-rome-post-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-rome-post-330x220.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption wp-caption-text\">There are over four miles of halls in the Vatican City Museums, so we recommend at least four hours for your visit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>During this portion, you will walk through the Galleria dei Candelabri, Galleria degli Arazzi, the Hall of Maps, before getting to another fork in the path. Here you\u2019ll have to choose if you want to go directly to the Sistine Chapel or see Raphael&#8217;s Rooms beforehand.<\/p>\n<p>Choosing Raphael&#8217;s Rooms means you\u2019ll also walk through the Borgia Appartments and the Contemporary art collection. Then, finally you\u2019ll reach the Sistine Chapel!<\/p>\n<p>After enjoying the Sistine Chapel, there is only one exit. However, you can feel free to take as long as you\u2019d like to work through it.<\/p>\n<p>Important piece of advice: before exiting, don\u2019t miss another left turn just before to visit the Pinacoteca, the Painting Gallery. Here you\u2019ll find many Vatican Museum gems.<\/p>\n<p>While bathrooms are found throughout this itinerary, the bar and cafeteria area are only accessible in the first courtyard right after the entrance, and the Pinecone Courtyard shortly after. Once you begin a visit to the Egyptian section, you won\u2019t be able to circle back until after the Sistine Chapel visit (but before the Pinacoteca!)<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24152\" class=\"thumbnail wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 1210px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24152\" src=\"https:\/\/assets2.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-pinecone-courtyard.jpg\" alt=\"The Cortile della Pigna, or Pinecone Courtyard, features a pinecone statue that used to be a fountain!\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-pinecone-courtyard.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-pinecone-courtyard-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-pinecone-courtyard-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-pinecone-courtyard-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-pinecone-courtyard-330x220.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption wp-caption-text\">The Cortile della Pigna, or Pinecone Courtyard, features a pinecone statue that used to be a fountain!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b>Unlock the Vatican: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience!<\/b> Join the <a href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/tours\/rome-walking-tour-key-masters\/\">Vatican\u2019s Key Masters on our exclusive tour<\/a> as they open the doors for the day, giving you once-in-a-lifetime access to the Vatican and Sistine Chapel. With very limited spots available, don\u2019t miss your chance!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Vatican_City_Museums_Practical_Info\"><\/span>The Vatican City Museums: Practical Info<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3>Planning A Visit to the Vatican City Museums<\/h3>\n<p>You should plan to book well in advance. This is especially true during the summer months, as tickets sell fast. Apart from the normal entrance ticket, you can also find some special deals including breakfast or lunch at the Vatican, or even <a href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/tours\/rome-walking-tour-key-masters\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">opening the Sistine Chapel<\/a> first thing in the morning.<\/p>\n<p>You might have already walked by the Vatican City Museums and seen a long winding line around the Vatican\u2019s walls. Don\u2019t worry, you don\u2019t have to wait here! For visitors who have bought their tickets online, through the Vatican City Museums directly, you can go to the entrance, where there is a separate entrance.<\/p>\n<h3>Buying Tickets for the Vatican City Museums<\/h3>\n<p>Tickets cost 17\u20ac and can be <a href=\"https:\/\/tickets.museivaticani.va\/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">booked directly<\/a>. There is a reduced ticket for 8\u20ac that is available for visitors under 18 or for university students who hold an International Student Card.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019d like to discover the Pontifical Gardens or the Vatican\u2019s summer villas, you can also book these directly on the Vatican Museum\u2019s site.<\/p>\n<h3>Opening Hours at the Vatican City Museums<\/h3>\n<p>The Vatican City Museums are open from Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm. However, in the summer (April 22 to October 29), they extend opening hours on Fridays and Saturdays to 10:30 pm.<\/p>\n<p>The Museums close on observed holidays including January 1 and 6; February 11; March 19; April 18; June 29; August 15; November 1, and the 8th and 26th of December. As the Catholic calendar may change yearly, you should check for this year\u2019s dates.<\/p>\n<h3>Free Entry to the Vatican City Museums<\/h3>\n<p>If you are lucky enough to be in Rome on the last Sunday of the month, know that admission to the Vatican City Museums is free! However, it is first come, first served so if you hope to get in, aim to be early in line.<\/p>\n<h3>What to Wear to the Vatican City Museums<\/h3>\n<p>Finally, when planning your visit, remember that the Sistine Chapel and <a href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/tours\/st-peters-basilica-tour\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">St. Peter\u2019s Basilica<\/a> are holy sites and do require proper attire. Be sure to cover up between your knees and shoulders, bring a scarf along to tie over your shoulders if necessary!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24160\" class=\"thumbnail wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 1210px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24160\" src=\"https:\/\/assets2.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Vatican-Highlight-st-peters-basilica-from-above.jpg\" alt=\"Make sure to wear proper attire to both the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Vatican-Highlight-st-peters-basilica-from-above.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Vatican-Highlight-st-peters-basilica-from-above-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Vatican-Highlight-st-peters-basilica-from-above-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Vatican-Highlight-st-peters-basilica-from-above-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Vatican-Highlight-st-peters-basilica-from-above-330x220.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption wp-caption-text\">You could easily spend all day exploring the Vatican City Museums and St. Peter&#8217;s Basilica.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Vatican_City_Museums_FAQ\"><\/span>Vatican City Museums FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h4>How Much Does a Ticket Cost?<\/h4>\n<p>As of December 19, 2024, a normal entrance ticket to the Vatican Museums costs 20\u20ac. However, if you are under 18 or a student in possession of an International Student Card, you are eligible for a discount. The discounted tickets are 8\u20ac.<\/p>\n<h4>Where Can I Book a Ticket?<\/h4>\n<p>The best place to book your tickets is directly on the <a href=\"https:\/\/tickets.museivaticani.va\/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vatican City Museums website<\/a>. This is where you will find the original tickets for the true price.<\/p>\n<h4>Do I Need a Guide?<\/h4>\n<p>If you are looking to better understand the works, you may want to consider a guide. The museum itself has very little information to read on site.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24158\" class=\"thumbnail wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 1210px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24158\" src=\"https:\/\/assets2.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-guide.jpg\" alt=\"Whether you have all day or just a handful of hours, there's a Vatican route for you\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-guide.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-guide-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-guide-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-guide-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wordpress-assets-devourtours.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Walks_Pristine-Sistine-with-Breakfast-guide-330x220.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption wp-caption-text\">A guide is a great option for understanding the Vatican City Museums\u2019 extensive collection.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">There are also audio guide available at the entrance. You can also choose to book with an official Museum guide when booking your ticket. We recommend the audio guide so you can explore at your own pace. <\/span>There are also free <a href=\"https:\/\/izi.travel\/en\/40cf-vatican\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">audio guides from the company IZI<\/a>, which can be accessed on your phone.<\/p>\n<h4>Can I Bring My Pet?<\/h4>\n<p>No, animals can not enter the Vatican City Museums or St. Peters Basilica.<\/p>\n<h4>Is There Somewhere to Eat in the Vatican City Museum?<\/h4>\n<p>Yes, there is a cafeteria and bar within the main courtyard just after the entrance. There is also a smaller bar in the Pinecone Courtyard.<\/p>\n<h4>How Long Will a Visit Take?<\/h4>\n<p>If you were to truly admire every work, a visit could even take all day!<\/p>\n<p>If you only want to catch the main highlights, it is doable in about two hours. Keep in mind that there are almost seven kilometers (over four miles!) of halls. Because of this, even simply walking through the museums makes for a long visit. Overall, we recommend blocking off about four hours to visit everything.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Update notice: This article was updated on December 19, 2024.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the most visited museums in the world, you can\u2019t miss a peek into the Vatican City on your trip to Rome. The Vatican City Museums have been welcoming visitors to their most impressive art collections since the 16th century. Many focus on getting straight to the Sistine Chapel, but there are many other [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":114,"featured_media":24151,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"2normal","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1449,1458],"tags":[298,126],"ppma_author":[2387],"class_list":["post-24112","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rome-blog","category-things-to-do-in-rome","tag-art","tag-museums"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Devour Tours<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"You can easily spend all day at the Vatican City Museums! Make the most of your visit with our guide to this legendary collection.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/vatican-city-museums\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"An Art Historian&#039;s Guide to Vatican City Museums: Sistine Chapel &amp; Hidden Gems\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"You can easily spend all day at the Vatican City Museums! 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