Whether you are of the Catholic faith or not, the city state of Vatican City within Rome is surely one of the most extraordinary deposits of art and craftsmanship in the world. Boasting unbelievable, soaring architectural gems on unfathomable scales and galleries and museums stuffed with works by some of the most famous artists to have ever existed in Europe, those who love culture and art and simply want to gawk at this astonishing world of beautiful things should definitely book one of our vacation rentals in Rome and visit ASAP. There is so much to see and do that you would need lifetimes to see it all but there’s no better time than the present to plan your vacation and to start to make even a tiny dent in it all.
But, what exactly is there to see? Well, here is our guide to the main spaces and attractions to visit in the Vatican once you have booked your holiday in Rome with Italy Villas...
1. St. Peter's Square
2. Sistine Chapel
The most well-known spot within the Vatican, for many the Sistine Chapel is the highlight. Famously home to Michelangelo’s iconic ceiling paintings, including his oft-quoted Creation, it is also home to many other masterpieces. In fact, every inch of the interior is illustrated with frescoes by famous Italian artists and so there is much more to see...
3. Pinacoteca
Speaking of other famous artists, the Pinacoteca, the art gallery of the Vatican Museums, is often overlooked by some visitors due to the attraction of the reputation of the Sistine Chapel but this gem is home to an extraordinary collection of Italian Renaissance painting and is also a must see on vacation in Rome. Expect an array of masterpieces by the likes of Raphael, Giotto, Fra Angelico, Filippo Lippi, Perugino, Titian, Guido Reni, Guercino, Pietro da Cortona, Caravaggio, and Leonardo da Vinci.
4. Stanze di Raffaello
If you happen to have a penchant for Raphael, in particular, and want more during your stay in a holiday rental in Rome, then you should also make a point to head to the Stanze di Raffaello, or Raphael Rooms. These four rooms that are a suite of reception rooms in the public part of the papal apartments in the Palace of the Vatican, were originally intended as a suite of apartments for Pope Julius II and were painted by Raphael and his workshop between 1508 and 1509. Among the works, another often referenced and highly renowned and beloved image is his School of Athens, with philosophers and scholars gathered around Plato and Aristotle.
5. Museo Pio-Clementino
Another highlight for those looking to take in some of the most famous works of art ever made is the Museo Pio-Clementino, an astonishing collection of classical statuary that boasts some of the best-known works of art from antiquity. Among these are the Apollo Belvedere, the Laocoön, and the Apoxyomenos.
Of course, there is much more to see as the Vatican Museums make up the largest exhibition space in the world, with over 1400 rooms and 100 galleries. In addition to the museums noted above, there are others, such as the Collection of Modern Religious Art, 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 Niccoline Chapel, the Gallery of Maps, the frescoes and other works in the Borgia Apartment, the double spiral staircase designed by Giuseppe Momo, and more. Then, of course, there is St Peter’s Basilica itself, and plenty of other chapels, museums, and architectural gems. With over seven million visitors to the Vatican Museums alone each year and so much to see and do, we recommend planning carefully in advance as you can’t see it all and you should expect queues. However, if you have one of our amazing holiday rentals in Rome booked then it is much easier to organise and see and do as much as you can with somewhere peaceful and welcoming to return to after exciting days of running around this incredible city in Italy!