When it comes to the Vatican, I have to confess that I almost didn’t want to go. Rome was already really fascinating with so much to see. Luckily, I decided to spend my final day in Rome at the Vatican otherwise I would have missed out on one of the best museum experiences in my life. This would be the Vatican Museums, a large grouping of connected museums that boasts artworks, sculptures and painted ceilings, including Michelangelo’s masterpiece in the famous Sistine Chapel.
The Vatican Museums is a grouping of over 20 Christian and art museums situated within one complex featuring over 50 galleries. It’s designed so that visitors can only go mainly in one direction. It’s smart because it allows you to take in everything on display, prevents people from getting lost, and eventually leads everyone to the Sistine Chapel.
I went on a weekday and it was incredibly crowded, especially at the entrance where the line extended outside and around the corner (I’d booked a ticket online so I got to avoid lining up). Inside was just as crowded, though when you’ve spent time in China as I have, you never mind crowds anywhere else.
The museum is well worth enduring the crowds. There are beautiful paintings, sculptures, painted ceilings, tapestries, and more. There’s a gallery featuring giant color maps of Italy created in the 16th century on the walls on both sides, while the ceiling is resplendent with golden decor and paintings. There are outdoor courtyard, with one featuring Roman sculptures as well as a more spacious one with lawns and giant bronze orbs.
While most of the artwork and exhibits are hundreds or even over a thousand years old, even dating back to Roman times, there are also galleries with modern contemporary paintings as well as a few done by 20th century masters like van Gogh and Paul Gauguin.
The Sistine Chapel ceiling is great, though it’s hard to appreciate it fully with all the people inside and the guards yelling at people not to take photos (it’s forbidden, allegedly due to the ceiling’s image rights being owned by a Japanese company; some say it’s to allow people to enjoy the artwork better).
I don’t think I covered everything in the Vatican Museums though I was there for at least 3 hours. I certainly wouldn’t mind going back to visit it.
How to get there: Get off at Ottaviano subway station and walk southwest.
Note: To avoid lining up, buy your ticket online (there is a 4 euro booking fee).
Cortila della Pigna courtyard
Gallery of Geographic Maps
One of Raphael’s works
Perseus with the head of Medusa
Sarcophagus with Dionysus from AD152
“Raising of Lazarus” by Girolamo Muziano, 1555
Jesus’ Last Supper
View of St Peter’s Basilica
There were some contemporary artwork as well
Busts of several Roman rulers and emperors
Outside in the courtyard
I really couldn’t get enough of these Roman sculptures
This gallery was dedicated to animal statues
As beautiful as the museum and its artworks are inside, its entrance is quite plain
