Vatican Museums
It started out as just a small collection of sculptures of Pope Clement XIV and Pope Pius VI in the years 1769-1799. They decided to call attention to culture and let the public take part in viewing the collections of art. Their names where dedicated to the first building in the Vatican Museum compound; the Pio-Clemente museum. Today, the Vatican Museum is considered one of the most important Museums in the world featuring one of the utmost art collections! Throughout the decades other Popes added different pieces of art and the collections started to grow further! There are 54 galleries in total!
What can you see in the Vatican Museums?
The Vatican Museums are made up of many smaller museums, each one different from the other. Today, around 13 museums inside the Vatican Palace are open to the public. Walking through the rooms of the museum you should look above and observe the decorated ceilings which are absolutely stunning! Your visit here will be an unforgettable experience!
One of the highlights is the Sistine Chapel
Many people believe that the entrance to the Sistine Chapel is from St. Peter’s Square. Well, it’s not! The Sistine Chapel is part of the Vatican Museums. The only thing you can see from St. Peter’s square is the roof of the Sistine Chapel. You can observe the black or white smoke coming out of the stove pipe during the papal elections. The stove pipe is then removed after the Bishops are finished with the conclave and a new Pope has been elected! You don’t need another ticket to visit the Sistine Chapel. You’ll be able to visit it towards the end of the tour through the museum. When walking in, raise your head and observe Michelangelo’s paintings and altar frescoes! Not only the arts of Michelangelo can be admired but those of Rosselli, Botticelli and Perugino!
Some other fantastic pieces of art and frescoes to admire are the Raphaello Rooms;
While Michelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel, Raphael and his workshop were painting the suite apartments of Pope Julius II with important scenes from Christian history. They are called the four Stanze di Raffaello (Raffaello’s rooms).
Then we have the Vatican Museum Hall of Maps;
The Gallery of Maps contains a series of painted topographical maps of Italy based on drawings by the cosmographer Italian priest Danti. In 1580 Pope Gregory XIII commissioned Danti to decorate the walls of the Vatican and it took him 3 whole years to finish the 40 panels of the gallery. Keep in mind, everything you see has only been painted on! It’s definitely a stunning fact and a breathtaking view!
One of my favorite art piece is the famous Spiral Staircase;
The Vatican Museums bronze spiral staircase which was designed by Giuseppe Momo in 1932 and charged by Pope Pius XI is one of the most beautiful staircases in the world! The stairs are two separate helixes, one leading up and the other leading down, that twist together in a double helix formation. The stairs themselves are wide and have a small amount of climb so that horses would have been able to walk them up!
Of course there is much more to see and the above are only a few examples of the whole complex!
Opening hours: Every day from Monday to Saturday from 9.00AM – 6.00PM (4.00PM is the last entrance time) Please note that the Museum must be left 30 minutes prior to closure.
Closed: On Sundays (except on the every last Sunday of the month: free entrance is permitted from 9.00AM – 1.30PM and they close at 2.00PM – not valid during the Easter period, on the 29th of June, on the 25th or 26th of December).
The Vatican Museum will stay closed: 1st and 6th of January, 11th of February, the Easter period, the 1st of May, the 29th of June, the 14th and 15th of August, 1st November and the 25th and 26th of December.
SPECIAL! Should you wish to see any special room/sections of the Vatikan Museums, you can ask and it might happen!
Info for disabled people: There is no line-up or entrance fee. Just go directly to the main entrance and show your ID. Wheelschairs can be booked in advance.
Where to buy tickets:
You can buy entry tickets on line for euro 4.00 more or go directly to the Museum entrance and stand on line. This ticket does not include a tour.
For more Info: +39 06 69884676 – First you’ll have automatic responses, then if you wish you can talk to an operator.
No discount tickets are available.
Should you want a guided tour you can find many tours on line!
How much do the tickets cost?
The tickets to the museum cost euro 16.00/person for adults. Reduced tickets cost euro 8.00/person. You can get them at the entrance of the Museum the day you visit.
Free admission to the Vatican Museums
Every last Sunday of the month you can enter the Vatican Museums for free from 9.00 AM – 2.00 PM. Last entrance is 12.30 PM. On the 27th of September (World Tourism Day) you’ll have free admission as well! Should one of the following dates fall on a Sunday, another rule will be applied: Easter Sunday, 29th of June and 25th or 26th of December. Be prepared for a long line up!
Tipp: Book your tickets on-line and save yourself a lot of time! You can also book guided tours through the Vatican Museums.
When is it best to visit?
If you visit the Vatican Museum in the afternoon or on a Wednesday, it should be better.
The most crowded days are Mondays, Saturdays and the last Sunday of the month (because of the free entrance on the last Sunday of every month regulation).
How to get to the Vatican Museum?
Metro: Line A – stops: Ottaviano-S.Pietro-Musei Vaticani; Cipro – then 10 minutes by foot
Bus: Nr. 49 stops right in front of the Museums; Nr. 32, 81, 982 to Piazza del Risorgimento – then 5 minutes by foot; Nr. 492, 990, Via Leone IV / Via degli Scipioni – then 5 minutes by foot
Tram Nr. 19 Piazza del Risorgimento – then 5 minutes by foot
Tip: In Via Santamaura – you will find this Street when walking down the steps next to the Vatican Museum on the other side of the Street – you can find an Internet point and you’ll also be able to make international phone calls and/or print something!
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The Vatican Museum is inside Vatican City. If you walk down the hill along the Vatican walls you will hit Saint Peter’s square which is right in front of Saint Peter’s Basilica. If you walk further down towards the Tiber River, you will see Castel Sant’Angelo and the bridge Ponte Sant’Angelo.
