Tap to Read ➤

Things to See in Vatican Museums, Rome

Dhvani Dedhia
The Vatican Museums in Rome, Italy are among the busiest attractions in the world. They are a true representation of human history, art and culture preserved together.
The Vatican Museums are spread over 9 miles, making them one of the largest art galleries in the world. The museums are dispersed throughout the area so if visiting for the first time, being part of a tour group might make it easier to understand.
The Vatican City State is an independent state overlooked by the Holy See making it the smallest country on the planet.

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 video.

The Sistine Chapel
Sistine Chapel is perhaps the most renowned and significant reason for tourists to visit the Vatican. This is the Pope’s private chapel and remains a holy and functionary place for the higher members of the clergy.
The name Michelangelo is synonymous with The Sistine Chapel or Cappella Sistina. The Sistine Chapel houses beautiful and famous frescos decorating it, but The Last Judgment by Michelangelo painted on the Sistine Chapel ceiling is the cornerstone of the Papal Chapel.
Frescos to see at the Sistine Chapel include works like 'The Trials of Moses' and 'Punishment of the Rebels' by Botticelli, and 'The Crossing of the Red Sea' on the Southern Wall.
The Northern Wall houses art works like the Last Supper by Rosselli, Temptations of Christ and Baptism of Christ.
“Without having seen the Sistine Chapel one can form no appreciable idea of what one man is capable of achieving.” 
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe
The Raphael Rooms
The Stanze of Raphael cover the four rooms forming a part of the apartment situated on the second floor of the Pontifical Palace. The Raphael Rooms along with Sistine Chapel define the touchstone of artistry and creative genius of the High Renaissance.
Each Raphael Room has its own unique theme. The four rooms are called: Hall of Constantine, Room of Heliodorus, Room of the Segnatura, Room of the Fire in the Borgo.
The School of Athens (1509 - 1511) is perhaps the most significant masterpiece by Raphael, depicting a significant aspect of Ancient Greece and all the notable philosophers in one painting.
The Pio-Clementino and Octagonal Courtyard
This museum is the omphalos of Ancient Sculpture Collections by the Pope. It has twelve rooms showcasing art works from Roman and Greek civilizations. If you like sculptural art works, don't miss this museum.
The most significant must see pieces include: The Apollo Belvedere by Leochares, The Laocoon and His sons, also known as Laocoon Group Venus Felix (Showcases Venus and her son Cupid), River God The Belvedere Torso.
The Georgian Egyptian Museum formed of 9 rooms, was founded by Pope Gregory XVI in 1839. If you like Egyptian art, the few noteworthy collections to see are; Black marble Stature of the Nile, sarcophagi of Constantine’s Wife and Daughter.
The Gallery Of Maps commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII is located on the west side of Belvedere Courtyard. Italian friar and astronomer Ignazio Danti painted a series of topographical maps of Italy from 1580 to 1583.
The Helical Staircase
There’s no way one can miss the famous staircase on the way out of the Vatican Museums. This beautiful stairwell was designed by architect Giuseppe Momo in 1932.
It is an architectural marvel, with its double helix design where one ramp will take you upwards and another one takes you down, forming a perfect helical shape.
Director Barbara Jatta
Italian art historian Barbara Jatta, is the current Director of the Vatican Museum. She became the first female director of the Vatican Museum after she was appointed by Pope Francis on 20th December 2016.