Vatican Museums

Inaugurated 500 years ago, the Vatican Museums were probably what struck me the most when visiting the Vatican. Of course, visiting the monumental Saint Peter's Basilica, is impressive, but the richness in collections and decorations of the Vatican Museums is simply unbelievable.

After the 3 hours visit of the museum, I saw so many masterpieces that I could hardly focus and appreciate the beauty of the Chapel's paintings. I got a light version of what is commonly calles Stendahl syndrom. So I would definitly visit it again.

On your visit Path of the Vatican Museums, you will have the opportunity to contemplate the Sistine Chapel. Besides being a religious icon for all Catholics by holding the Conclave for the election of a new pope, the Sistine Chapel is definitly one of the most beautifuly decorated monuments in the world. The Chapel is the last step and crowns the visit of the Vatican Museums, and will crown your visit after passing through 53 rooms ro salas each decorated in a magnificent way, and which will overwhelm you with teh richest paintings and sculptures collections in the world.

I particularly admired the Gallery of Maps, which, with the Sistine Chapel, was the most memorable scene I saw.

We put an "s" to Museum since there are four museums that you will be able to visit with different themes:
- Museo Pio-Clementino: works of Greek and Roman sculpture
- Museo Chiaramonti: diversified works, including 300 tablets
- Museo Gregoriano Etrusco: Etruscan works
- Museo Gregoriano Egiziano: Egyptian works

I strongly recommend the Guided Tours of the Vatican proposed with official guides. The prices are between 32 and 37 EUR/person
And by booking online before going, it will make you avoid the huge waiting line. On sundays, the museum is free, and the waiting line is even longer, so if you are visiting Rome for just a few days, avoid visiting the Vatican on Sundays, and buy the tickets online, which will
allow you to avoid the queue.

It is possible to organize the following Guided Tours:

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Vatican Gardens
Vatican Museums and Basilica of Saint Peter (probably the best - Price 37 EUR)
Vatican Museums and Basilica of Saint Peter - Art & Faith

Contacts to book guided tours:
e-mail: visiteguidatesingoli.musei@scv.va
tel. : +39 06 69883145 - +39 06 69884676

Closing Days:
Sunday (except the last Sunday of every month, free entrance from 9 am to 12.30 pm; the Museums close at 2 pm unless it coincides with Easter Sunday, the 29th of June (St. Peter and Paul), 25th and 26th of December (Christmas and St. Stephen)
January 1, 6
February 11
March 19, 31 (Easter)
April 1 (Easter Monday)
May 1
June 29 (St. Peter and Paul)
August 14, 15
November 1
December 25, 26

For more information, you can also visit the Wikipedia PageLess