The Vatican Museums make for the largest exhibition space in the world, with over 1400 rooms dedicated to Renaissance arts, Catholic Church history, as well as some interesting Etruscan and Egyptian collections. The 100 galleries that constitute the museums are loaded with papal treasures that were accumulated over the centuries and include the Sistine Chapel, ancient Greek and Roman sculptures like the “Laocoön” and “Belvedere Apollo,” and the frescoed “Stanze” by Raphael.
Located in Vatican City, a state within the city of Rome, the museums are an immense cultural treasure that you could spend years visiting and still find more to see. However, if you have found a vacation rental in Rome and are only able to dedicate a day or more to the museums, architectural gems and attractions of the Vatican, read on. We have compiled a guide to the museums to help you get started and plan your visit!
Located in Vatican City, a state within the city of Rome, the museums are an immense cultural treasure that you could spend years visiting and still find more to see. However, if you have found a vacation rental in Rome and are only able to dedicate a day or more to the museums, architectural gems and attractions of the Vatican, read on. We have compiled a guide to the museums to help you get started and plan your visit!
The Museums are made up of the Pinacoteca Vaticana (an art gallery), the Collection of Modern Religious Art, the Museo Pio-Clementino (home to ancient statues), the Museo Chiaramonti (home to statues, sarcophaguses and friezes), an Egyptian museum, an Etruscan museum, the Vatican Historical Museum, the red marble papal throne, the Raphael Rooms, the Niccoline Chapel, the Sistine Chapel, the Gallery of Maps, the frescoes and other works in the Borgia Apartment and the double spiral staircase designed by Giuseppe Momo, among many other rooms, apartments, galleries, works of art and attractions.
You won't be able to see everything in one go (unless you sprint around like a lunatic) so we suggest picking some key areas that you want to visit in advance and focusing on those.
As it is such a popular attraction – it is in the top five most visited museums in the world and is the most visited in Italy – and welcomes over seven million visitors per annum, it is key that you book beforehand.
You won't be able to see everything in one go (unless you sprint around like a lunatic) so we suggest picking some key areas that you want to visit in advance and focusing on those.
As it is such a popular attraction – it is in the top five most visited museums in the world and is the most visited in Italy – and welcomes over seven million visitors per annum, it is key that you book beforehand.
There are also a range of guided tours and special packages to choose from, if you prefer more structured visits. The breakfast and night at the museums packages, in particular, sound really fun!
The museums are open 9am-6pm Mon-Sat and 9am-2pm last Sun of month, wiuth last entry being 2 hours before closing. Entry costs €16, with reduced fees costing €8 and on the last Sunday of the month entry is free, however, you will have to line up for hours to avail of this. As mentioned, it's easiest to book in advance before any visit and this allows you to skip the potentially massive queue!
The museums are open 9am-6pm Mon-Sat and 9am-2pm last Sun of month, wiuth last entry being 2 hours before closing. Entry costs €16, with reduced fees costing €8 and on the last Sunday of the month entry is free, however, you will have to line up for hours to avail of this. As mentioned, it's easiest to book in advance before any visit and this allows you to skip the potentially massive queue!
