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How to visit the Vatican Museum?

The Vatican Museums: one of the largest art collections in the world. Let’s learn more about these museums?! We have useful information for you to put on your travel itinerary to Italy!

Vatican in Rome
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How to visit the Vatican Museums?

The territory of the Italian Republic, keeps inside a small surprise: the Vatican City. The Vatican City is an enclave within the urban mesh of the city of Rome, the smallest independent state in the world, both by population (836 inhabitants) and by territorial extension (0.44 km²). It has an absolute monarchy system with the Pope as its leader; the official languages are Italian, for the Vatican, and Latin for The Holy See (Sancta Sedes). So: interesting, isn’t? Well, it was only a brief introduction: we have much more things to tell you about this amazing place and, today, we are going to learn How to visit the Vatican Museum? But: Here at Your Travel to Italy with Ana Patricia you make the trip of your dreams!!! ALSO: see our “Accommodation in Italy – Tips for your holidays!”

Como visitar o Museu Vaticano?

Introduction

This small country houses the Vatican Museums: one of the largest art collections in the world; founded by Pope Julius II in the 16th century when the newly elected Pope placed a statue of Apollo in the inner courtyard of the Belvedere Palace; from then on, he began to collect sculptures and his example has been followed over the centuries by other Popes. Find out here What are the main tourist monuments in Rome? and What to visit near Rome? The best tours from Rome!

Thus, its enormous collection of works of art, make this museum a complex of great importance both for its beauty and for its wealth. Composed by a set of rooms, halls, smaller museums, galleries, chapels, libraries, etc., from the Renaissance there was not an artist who did not leave a “touch” of his genius in one of the so many works that can be found in the Museum today. Just to give you an idea, the Louvre Museum, Paris, is 7,000 meters long, while Vatican Museums is 7,600 meters long! Incredible, isn’t it?

Fun Fact

In 2011, 6 million people visited the museum, making it the most visited “Italian” museum in the world, even if – in fact – it is not considered part of the territory belonging to the Italian Republic.

How to visit the Vatican Museum? UNDERSTAND THE ORGANIZATION OF THE MUSEUMS

In the image below you can understand how the Museums are organized, with their various sections where you can visit galleries on Egyptian, Etruscan, Greek and Roman art, as well as a set of four rooms decorated by Raphael (including the classic painting ‘Athens School’), the papal apartments with the frescoes of Michelangelo and Raphael and many other small historical and ethnological museums.

 

Como visitar o Museu Vaticano?



Its Organization

Basically, the museum is organized as follows:

Chiaramonti Museum

Collectes more than 800 Greek – Roman works as well as 5,000 pagan and Christian inscriptions.

Pio Clementino Museum

Holds so many neo – classical works, as well as the sarcophagus of Saint Helena and Saint Costanza, daughter of Emperor Constantine;

Rafael’s Rooms

When Raphael arrived in Rome he was introduced to Julius II, who decided to order with Raphael the frescoes for some rooms, among them the Athens School piece, where the artist portrays philosophers like Aristotle, Plato and Socrates;

Vatican Library

The first one in Europe in terms of antiquity, wealth of manuscripts and rare bibliographies, we can see – among so many rarities – the Bible code of the fourth century, the Gospel of St. Matthew of the sixth century and so many others important pieces.

Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel, which received this name in 1881 because of Sisto IV – the pope who rebuilt the old Magna Chapel of the Apostolic Palace. The frescoes on the ceiling, which portray scenes from Genesis, were painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512; talking about the paintings you can also see on the side walls paintings made by artists such as Ghirlandaio and Botticelli, moreover as you know, the Sistine Chapel is famous throughout the world for being the place where the conclave has been gathered since the 15th century for the election of the new popes!

And last and not least, you may know:

  • Maps Gallery;
  • Etruscan Gregorian Museum;
  • Egyptian Gregorian Museum;
  • Profane Gregorian Museum;
  • Patio of the Pine;
  • Ethnological Museum;
  • Braccio Nuovo;
  • Gallery of Candelabras;
  • Gallery of Tapestries;
  • Gallery of Maps;
  • Rooms of St. Pio V;
  • Room of Immaculate Conception;
  • Borgia Apartments;
  • Pinacoteca.

Fun Fact

A fun fact about the museum was when in May 1938 Adolf Hitler, the leader of Nazi Germany, arrived in Rome as a guest of King Victor Emmanuel III and Benito Mussolini. Pope Pius XI not only refused to receive him, but moved to the country side house, in Castel Gandolfo, for a few days; he also ordered that the museum and the Basilica remained closed for as long as the Führer was in Rome. By doing that, the German never entered the Vatican territory, but he also never visited the collections of the famous Museum!

Useful Information

Entrance: from 09 a.m. to 4 p.m. (the museum closes at 6 p.m.) and is open from Monday to Saturday. The ticket costs EUR 17. The museum does not open on Sundays, with the exception of the last Sunday of the month when admission is free (from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.). In addition, the museum is closed on the following dates:

  • January: days 01 and 06;
  • February: 11th;
  • March: 19th;
  • April: days 05 and 06;
  • May: the 1st;
  • June: 29th (SS. Pietro and Paolo);
  • August: 15th;
  • December: days 08, 25 and 26.

Tickets:

  • Enter the Vatican’s official website and make your purchase safely. Ticket price (*): 17.00 Euros per person with an additional 4 Euros for online purchase. Total: 21 Euros.
  • Buying your ticket with our partner is faster and easier: Clicking Here
  • For Groups Tour I recommend buying the tour with a guided visit and tickts: Click Here!

How to get to VATICANO?


1) How to get to VATICANO? BY PLANE

Main close airports: Leonardo Da Vinci, Fiumicino or Ciampino airport.

2) How to get to VATICANO? BY TRAIN / SUBWAY / BUS

Train Stations: San Pietro Station / Termini Station / Tiburtina Station.

From Termini Station or Tiburtina Station:
  • By Subway: Arriving in Rome, the closest subway stop is OTTAVIANO, line A, located 10 minutes’ walk from the Vatican Museum and 12 minutes from St. Peter’s Basilica. Read here: “How to use the subway in Rome?” and see how easy it is to get around Rome.
  • By bus: There are several connections from major Italian cities to Rome. Almost all long distance services have as their last destination a point in front of metro stations, among which the main ones are Tiburtina and EUR Fermi.

Did you know that Trenitalia is the main Italian company for the management of rail transport? Find out here “What’s the difference between trains in Italy?” Buy your ticket online in advance and save a lot, read the post “How to buy a train ticket in Italy?”

Are you going to stay in Rome? So you can get our exclusive hotel tips!

Here you will find great and free tips to not get fooled when choosing your hotel in Italy.

Plus: read our tips and advices about the Rome neighborhoods and where to stay! Here you will find the perfect hotel for you and for your needs, respecting you budget! Also: booking at booking.com, you will help us to keep our blog and for free! No fees, no click baits, no fake news!

Hotel I suggest near the Historic Center

If you are passionate about art and would like to stay in the center where you can move around walking, as well as having countless possibilities for places to have lunch / dinner or a snack, I advise you to stay in the historic center. Regions near the Trevi Fountain, the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, the Imperial Forum and the Villa Borghese, Piazza Spagna and Piazza Navona can be considered as “historic center”. These are the most expensive areas, but you will be close to everything, literally!

If you want to save a great option is the B&B, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion make your reservation and guarantee good prices. ????

If you prefer a good hotel, I have three options that I really like, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)

Hotels that I suggest near the San Giovanni Region

For those who want to find cheaper alternatives in quiet areas, but at the same time close to the means of transport to the center, I suggest the region of San Giovanni or Monti (near the metro stations San Giovanni, Castro Pretorio and Circus Massimo) – which it is a more residential neighborhood; therefore, more economical and quiet! And with just 15 minutes by subway you will be in the center too!

I have two options for Hotels that I recommend, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)

I have two options of B&B that I recommend, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)

Hotels I suggest near Vatican City

An interesting area to stay and a little cheaper than the historic center is the Vatican area (Vatican Museums) which is very well connected with everything.

I have two options of B&B that I recommend, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)

If you prefer a hotel, I have three options that I recommend, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)

Hotel I suggest near Termini Station

For those who prefer to stay in neighborhoods that have good access to the rest of the city and at a better price, then you should choose accommodation in the surroundings of Termini Station (from where a dense network of public means of transport starts, serving both: the local people and tourists).

I have 3 good hotel suggestions in Termini, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)

If you prefer B&B I have 2 good suggestions, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)

Hotels that I suggest in Trastevere

For those who prefer to “taste” authentic and characteristic Rome, there is nothing better than booking a hotel in Trastevere (on the outskirts of the city’s historic river), full of typical Roman history and traditions, known for the tortuous streets of sampietrini stones and the centers medieval style housing.

The neighborhood is in the historic center and to the right of the Tevere River, in the midst of a spectacular landscape, where each visitor can observe the countless churches and squares (such as Santa Maria in Trastevere). In addition, this neighborhood offers several local restaurants and canteens for those who want to try typical Roman cuisine.

If you want to save a great option is the B&B, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)

If you prefer a good hotel, I have two options that I really like, click on the links below and get to know each one. If you like the suggestion make your reservation and guarantee good prices;)


Conclusion

How to visit the Vatican Museum? Walking through the corridors of the Vatican Museums, as you imagined, is a unique and incomparable experience and, precisely for this reason, it should be done in the best possible way, if you want to visit only the Sistine Chapel in a superficial way I suggest you to make the tour alone, but if you like art or if you want to understand better the importance of some of the rare works that you will find in the Museums, I really suggest you to make the tour with a guide, who will explain you all the details and the best of the surprising and unique history of this museum! And you will never forget it!

If you feel insecure or have no time, and need help to organize your trip, do not hesitate to look for me! I will love to help you make your dream trip to Italy. And how can I do that? Continue reading this post until the end and you will understand how can we make your life and journey easier ????

Did my post help you? If yes, make sure to leave your comment below, but if you still have questions, just leave them as a comment below and I will reply, O.K.?



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