The Vatican Museums contain a vast store of works of art ranging from ancient to contemporary, including the world famous Sistine Chapel. Touring the Vatican Museums can easily take two hours or more (days if you have a wide range of interests), so it is imperative that you have a plan of action when you visit. You may have artwork that has meant something to you your entire life that you want to see firsthand. Or, you are an architecture buff and want to make sure you see all the architectural details.
There are many museums ranging from a lapidary museum to an Egyptian museum. There is an impressive carriage museum and a collection of contemporary art. Therefore, it is important to tailor your visit to your interests. The Vatican website also maintains an up-to-date list of museum opening and closing times to help you with your planning.
Here’s a list of the top attractions to look for when visiting the Vatican Museums, including key artworks, archaeological areas, architecture, and more. For a complete list, visit the Vatican Museums website.
Sistine Chapel
The curators of the Vatican Museums were wise to place the Sistine Chapel at the end of the museum visit, as it is the highlight of the visit.
Here you can admire the majesty of Michelangelo’s ceiling and altar frescoes, as well as paintings by other Renaissance greats such as Perugino, Botticelli, and Rosselli.
The Sistine Chapel stands on the foundations of an older chapel called Capella Magna. In 1477, Pope Sixtus IV ordered a restoration of the chapel, which, upon completion, received his name.
Raphael Rooms
The Raphael rooms are important to visit. Raphael worked on the fascinating frescoes in these four rooms, the apartments of Pope Julius II, while Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel. The paintings include several significant scenes from Christian history.
The most famous room of all is the Sala de la Segnatura, in which Raphael painted The School of Athens , a scene that incorporates the images of Raphael’s artistic contemporaries such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
Borgia Apartment
The artist Pinturicchio painted the rich frescoes in the rooms of the Borgia Apartment, the area on the first floor where Pope Alexander VI lived. The rich and colorful frescoes depict scenes from Egyptian and Greek mythology and speak of the bounty of the Vatican Palace.
Map Gallery
This incredible room has frescoed maps on both walls showing various parts of 16th century Italy. These historically significant frescoes of Italian cities, countryside, and geographic features such as the Apennine Mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea are a joy to inspect, as is the gallery’s sumptuously decorated coffered ceiling. The gallery reopened in 2016 after an art restoration.
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Nicolina Chapel
Some of the most beautiful and vibrant 15th century frescoes, painted by Fra Angelico and Benozzo Gozzoli, are in the tiny Niccoline Chapel. Named for Pope Nicholas V, who worshiped here, this chapel is located in one of the oldest parts of the papal palace.
Greek and Roman Antiquities
The Pio-Clementine and Gregorian Profane museums are dedicated to the treasures of antiquity. Highlights include the Apollo of the Belvedere , “a supreme ideal” of classical art; the Laocoon , a large marble composition from the 1st century AD; the Belvedere Torso , a Greek sculpture from the 1st century BC. C. the discus thrower , a fifth century BC depiction of a discus athlete on the move; and a collection of Roman mosaics.
Vatican Museums Tours
Taking a guided tour is a great way to navigate the vast maze of things to see in the Vatican Museums.
There are tours for individuals, families, groups, religious pilgrims, and for blind or deaf visitors. You can tour the museums, villas and gardens, and archaeological areas. Some visits are guided.
Tickets to visit the Vatican Museums can be purchased online.
