Vatican Museums Tours and Activities

Vatican Museums
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See a collection of classic art worthy of a place in the Louvre, the Met or the Hermitage as you explore this illustrious museum.

Some say the art housed within the Vatican Museums is the best in the world as it features stunning Renaissance masterpieces interspersed with ancient Roman relics.

Created by Pope Julius II during the 16th century, the Vatican Museums collection is as old as St. Peter’s Basilica. The collection was founded in order to display the extensive assemblage of work acquired by the Catholic Church. Today, the paintings, sculptures and artefacts attract approximately 5 million visitors annually.

Within the broad collection there are many subsections that each boast impressive works of their own. There are notable highlights, including pieces by Giotto, Raphael, da Vinci and Caravaggio’s famous The Entombment of Christ. Discover a wide range of Greek and Roman sculpture in the Museo Pio-Clementino alongside a vast collection of Ancient Egyptian artefacts, intricately drawn Italian maps and an impressive body of recent religious art.

Walk through the series of room that look at the life work of Raphael, one of the biggest names from the Renaissance period. The rooms were once going to be used as a suite for the Pope to reside in but were instead converted into a shrine for the artist. See his seminal works including The School of Athens, Adam and Eve and The Parnassus.

As you leave the museum you’ll see the most impressive and recognisable works in the area. The Sistine Chapel’s walls are adorned by the brushstrokes of some of history’s most notable painters, including Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli, Cosimo Rosselli and Michelangelo, whose ceiling fresco is considered one of the world’s greatest works of art.

The Vatican Museums are located in the heart of Rome. They are closed on Sundays and Catholic holidays. An admission fee applies for entry, except for on the last Sunday of the month when the museum opens its doors free of charge. To reach the museums from the city centre, cross the Tiber and walk along Via della Conciliazione, or depart the metro at Ottaviano station.

Plan a trip to see Vatican Museums

Hotel Mancino 12
Tree Charme Augusto Luxury Suites
Palazzo Talìa
Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Reviews of Vatican Museums

4.5
Top destination
5 - Excellent
130
" "5 - Excellent 61.032863849765256%
4 - Good
59
" "4 - Good 27.699530516431924%
3 - Okay
16
" "3 - Okay 7.511737089201878%
2 - Disappointing
7
" "2 - Disappointing 3.2863849765258215%
1 - Terrible
1
" "1 - Terrible 0.4694835680751174%

2/5 - Disappointing

Verified traveller
9 Sep 2019

Don’t do the guided tour as they rush through the museums so you end up not seeing anything in there. Do it at your own pace.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
25 Aug 2019

Book ahead as the queues are ridiculous

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
22 Jul 2019

So much to see but the group tours seem to take over and it was very crowded.

4/5 - Good

Lynton
15 Jul 2019

The Photo is of the staircase NO one uses because it's right at the entrance and everybody is ushered up the escalator.

2/5 - Disappointing

Verified traveller
26 Jun 2019

So very busy it took the enjoyment away

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
3 Jun 2019

Very busy, make sure you book a tour or at the ok east skipntue line tickets

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