{"id":16713,"date":"2023-05-18T10:23:56","date_gmt":"2023-05-18T09:23:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/?p=16713"},"modified":"2026-01-26T12:35:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T12:35:32","slug":"the-vatican-museums","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums","title":{"rendered":"The Vatican Museums: Incredible Art, Must-See Rooms, &#038; Tips for Visiting"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vatican Museums<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> serve two purposes: As the Papal Palaces they have been home to centuries of popes, who built and decorated apartments to suit their sensibilities. Just as importantly though, they house some of the world\u2019s most beautiful and important art.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Covering a staggering 9 miles, <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the Vatican Museum<\/span>s\u2019 art collection includes Greek and Roman sculptures; masterworks by Raphael, Giotto, Perugino and Caravaggio to name just a few Renaissance geniuses; medieval maps and tapestries; and world-famous rooms like the Sistine Chapel.<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-16720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/7-Rome_Pristine-Sistine-16x9-0002.jpg\" alt=\"The Vatican Museums: Attraction in Rome\" \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nAlthough Pope Francis has opted for a more humble abode in the Vatican Hotel, his forebears shaped <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the Vatican Museums<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> into a unique mix of architectural masterwork and history-spanning art collection. The result is a huge and impressive complex that wonderfully blurs the line between private residence and public gallery.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums\/#Visiting_the_Vatican_Museums_What_to_See\" >Visiting the Vatican Museums: What to See<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums\/#The_Sistine_Chapel\" >The Sistine Chapel<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums\/#The_Raphael_Rooms\" >The Raphael Rooms<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums\/#Gallery_of_the_Maps\" >Gallery of the Maps<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums\/#Laocoon_and_His_Sons\" >Laoco\u00f6n and His Sons<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums\/#The_Apollo_Belvedere_and_Belvedere_Torso\" >The Apollo Belvedere and Belvedere Torso<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums\/#The_Borgia_Apartments\" >The Borgia Apartments<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums\/#The_Niccoline_Chapel\" >The Niccoline Chapel<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums\/#The_Pinacoteca_Art_Gallery\" >The Pinacoteca Art Gallery<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums\/#Neros_Bathtub\" >Nero\u2019s Bathtub<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums\/#The_Egyptian_Museum\" >The Egyptian Museum<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums\/#The_Room_of_the_Animals\" >The Room of the Animals<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums\/#Tips_For_Visiting_the_Vatican_Museums\" >Tips For Visiting the Vatican Museums<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums\/#_Opening_Times\" >\u00a0Opening Times<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums\/#Closures\" >Closures<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums\/#Rules_for_visiting_the_Vatican_Museums\" >Rules for visiting the Vatican Museums<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums\/#Best_Time_for_Visiting_the_Vatican_Museums\" >Best Time for Visiting the Vatican Museums<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums\/#Getting_there\" >Getting there<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums\/#Looking_for_a_More_Personalized_Experience\" >Looking for a More Personalized Experience?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Visiting_the_Vatican_Museums_What_to_See\"><\/span><b>Visiting the Vatican Museums<\/b><b>: What to See<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Sistine_Chapel\"><\/span><b>The Sistine Chapel<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Vatican\u2019s Sistine Chapel is probably the most well-known single room in the world, mostly because of the awe-inspiring frescoes by that titan of the Renaissance, <\/span><b>Michelangelo Buonarroti<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Michelangelo\u2019s work is actually comprised of two different frescoes: The ceiling, featuring scenes from the Old Testament, and the altar wall, which holds his dark and thrilling <\/span><b><i>Last Judgement<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> He painted both in the 1500s but with a break of 23 years between the ceiling and The Last Supper. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite considering himself more of a sculptor than a painter (in fact, he declined the pope\u2019s first request to paint the chapel), he created some of the most enduring and reproduced images in the history of art; such as <\/span><b><i>The Creation of Adam<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8712 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/RomeVatican-25-copy.jpg\" alt=\"The Vatican Museums: Sistine Chapel Ceiling\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/RomeVatican-25-copy.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/RomeVatican-25-copy-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nOften mistakenly called the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSixteenth Chapel\u201d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the room itself was built in 1481, under the commission of Pope Sixtus IV, for whom it was named. Although it attracts a large number of visitors e<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">very day, t<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">he Sistine Chapel<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is still used for masses and, more famously, papal conclaves. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The latter take place when the College of Cardinals convenes to elect a new pope upon the death or resignation of the current one. Among all the beautiful rooms in Italy, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the Sistine Chapel <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reigns supreme for the unique experience it affords visitors of earth-shattering grandeur and startling intimacy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Raphael_Rooms\"><\/span><b>The Raphael Rooms<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1508 Pope Julius II decided to brighten his papal apartments with a lick of paint. He called on a young painter from Urbino by the name of <\/span><b>Raphael <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and the rest is history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The frescoes painted by the soon-to-be master (along with Michelangelo\u2019s Sistine Chapel frescoes) kicked off the period of incomparable artistic exuberance now known as the High Renaissance. The papal apartment project outlived Pope Julius II and even Raphael, so all of the frescoes in the largest room, the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sala di Constantino<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, were actually painted by Raphael\u2019s assistants.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-7824 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/raphael.jpg\" alt=\"Raphael's School of Athens is one of the most impressive works in the Vatican Find out what else to see in the Vatican Museums!\" width=\"640\" height=\"418\" \/><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nTo see the master\u2019s finest work, visitors crowd into the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stanza della Segnatura<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Pope Julius\u2019 study, to gape at the<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Scuola di Ateni <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">School of Athens<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, an incredible fresco that places all of the greatest minds of antiquity into a single, perfectly balanced scene. You won\u2019t find a better representation of the perfection of Renaissance form and ideals anywhere in the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The beauty of the four Raphael Rooms has made them one of the most beloved stops in <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the Vatican Museums<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, second only to the Sistine Chapel. When you visit, keep an eye out for likenesses in the paintings. Raphael painted many of his contemporaries into the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">School of Athens, <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">paying particular homage to his sometime hero, sometime rival &#8211; Michelangelo.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Gallery_of_the_Maps\"><\/span><b>Gallery of the Maps<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most striking of the Vatican\u2019s many long galleries, the Gallery of the Maps is lined with frescoes that are all based on the work of one man; the 16th century priest and polymath Ignazio Danti.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On top of being a respected scientist, mathematician, and astronomer, Danti was a dab hand at painting maps. When Pope Gregory XIII summoned him to Rome in 1580 to supervise the fresco painting in a new gallery, Danti embarked on a cartographic masterwork larger than anything ever attempted in Europe.<\/span><\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-16716 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/7-Rome_Pristine-Sistine-High-Res-0004-1.jpg\" alt=\"The Gallery of Maps\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1600\" \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nWorking from existing maps, he and a team of artists created 40 frescoes showing every part of Italy from a bird\u2019s eye view.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The frescoes sit somewhere between maps and landscape paintings, beautiful in their execution and nearly unbelievable in their scope.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visiting the Vatican Museums<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> today, you\u2019ll be surprised by the similarities and differences in 16th-century maps and those of the 21st century. Like, for example, how Pompeii is missing entirely in Danti\u2019s paintings! And don\u2019t forget to look up: The ceiling holds the gorgeous work of a group of mannerist painters that seems to imbue the plaster itself with a radiant glow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Laocoon_and_His_Sons\"><\/span><b>Laoco<\/b><b>\u00f6<\/b><b>n and His Sons<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This often-mispronounced Hellenistic statue (for the record, it\u2019s <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lay-o-ku-won<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is one of the most beautiful and controversial antiquities from Italy. Who sculpted it, where, and when are still matters of hot debate but this statue of a Trojan priest being killed by serpents sat in the Palace of Emperor Titus before being lost and buried in a vineyard for years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9077 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/RomeVatican-15-copy.jpg\" alt=\"Laocoon and His Sons, in the Vatican Museums. See this sculpture on a walking tour with Walks of Italy.\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/RomeVatican-15-copy.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/RomeVatican-15-copy-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nWhen <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Laoco<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00f6<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">n<\/span><\/i> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">was unearthed, it was immediately recognized as a masterpiece, both in its depiction of the of the body and unbridled agony. Like many stone statues of the period, it&#8217;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">s most likely a copy of a bronze statue that has been lost, though that is also a matter of debate. What is certain is that it\u2019s impossible to look upon the statue without feeling the thrill of knowing that something so lifelike was created by human hands over 2,000 years ago.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Apollo_Belvedere_and_Belvedere_Torso\"><\/span><b>The Apollo Belvedere and Belvedere Torso<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019d be hard pressed to find two statues that have had more of an influence on W<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">estern art than the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apollo Belvedere<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Belvedere Torso<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; both housed in <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the Vatican Museums<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apollo Belvedere<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the most important statue you\u2019ve never heard of. This 4th century BC marble statue of the Greek god Apollo was adored to the point of fetish by the men who developed the discipline of Art History in the 18th century.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For those who prefer something a little more robust, the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Belvedere Torso <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">has had a similarly outsized influence on artists; but while the Apollo is boyish and gentle, the torso is rugged and muscular.<\/span><\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8763 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/RomeVatican-16-copy.jpg\" alt=\"The Belvedere Torso in the Vatican Museums.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/RomeVatican-16-copy.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/RomeVatican-16-copy-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nIt is a first century sculpture, perhaps of Hercules, that was vaunted upon its rediscovery for its incredibly rendered musculature (think Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime), but cut from marble. Michelangelo is said to have been so impressed with the torso that he based some of the characters in the Sistine Chapel on it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you see the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Belvedere Torso<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, pay attention to the way it is posed. That same pose appears again and again in Renaissance art. In one of those strange twists of randomness that seem to happen fairly regularly with antiquities, the only reason both statues include \u201cBelvedere\u201d in their names is because they were originally on display in the Belvedere Courtyard. Apollo still stands there today, while the Torso has been moved inside.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Borgia_Apartments\"><\/span><b>The Borgia Apartments<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like his successor Julius II, Pope Alexander VI (AKA: Rodrigo de Borgia) commissioned a Renaissance master, Pinturicchio, to spruce up his apartment in the Vatican. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In two short years Pinturicchio painted and frescoed a complex set of works, celebrating the origins of the Borgia family with intense iconography and lush detail. One painting, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Resurrection,<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 even features what is thought to be the earliest known European depiction of Native Americans, which he painted in 1494, just two years after Christopher Columbus\u2019 fateful voyage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because they sit alongside the Raphael Rooms and Sistine Chapel, Pinturicchio\u2019s masterpieces are often skipped over or ignored by visitors but those in the know take advantage to enjoy some of the Renaissance\u2019s finest frescoes in relative peace.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Niccoline_Chapel\"><\/span><b>The Niccoline Chapel<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the Vatican\u2019s hidden gem, literally. It\u2019s stashed away behind lock and key in the oldest section of the Apostolic Palace. Originally built as a private chapel for Pope Nicholas V, it is adorned with frescoes by a lesser known, but absurdly talented painter who is remembered by the the nickname Fra Angelico.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Born Guido di Pietro, he was a Dominican friar and illuminator (basically an illustrator of bibles, when illustrating involved wildly intricate borders and lots of gold leaf) under the name Fra Giovanni before his career as a painter took off.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1445 he was called to Rome to paint scenes in the Vatican based on his reputation for having a peerless grasp of perspective painting. The <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Capella Niccolina<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> features scenes from the lives of St. Stephen and St. Lawrence and the tiny size of the chapel, along with its beautiful art make it one of the most affecting spaces in the entire Vatican.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Niccoline Chapel is only visitable on special access tours and is not open to the public.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Pinacoteca_Art_Gallery\"><\/span><b>The Pinacoteca Art Gallery<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A gallery within a gallery, the Pinacoteca Art Gallery is a more modern wing of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the Vatican Museums<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and home to an impressive collection of paintings and works, stretching from the early Renaissance all the way to modern day. Compact in size, it makes for a very manageable visit although it\u2019s covered on very few tours. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep an eye out for the only work by Leonardo da Vinci in the Vatican Museums, a rough sketch called <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">St. Jerome in the Wilderness<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; numerous works by Raphael including the stunning <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transfiguration<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; Caravaggio\u2019s <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Entombment<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; and paintings by Veronese, Bellini, Titian, Correggio and Perugino.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Neros_Bathtub\"><\/span><b>Nero\u2019s Bathtub<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Valued by some as high as \u20ac2 billion, Nero\u2019s bathtub is one of the most precious works in <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the Vatican Museums<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Stretching a whopping 25ft in diameter, it\u2019s made of a deep red\/purple porphyry marble. This stone was quarried from a single source in Egypt and no other deposits of it have ever been found.<\/span><\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-7442 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/IMG_8276_small.jpg\" alt=\"Nero's Bath \" width=\"1179\" height=\"786\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/IMG_8276_small.jpg 1179w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/IMG_8276_small-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1179px) 100vw, 1179px\" \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nIn the age of Nero, porphyry was one of the most desirable decorative materials available. Weighing a ton, it was a nightmare to move an inch, let alone transport by boat from Egypt to Rome &#8212; making its ownership the ultimate show of wealth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> As time went by, the steel and stone used by the Ancient Romans disintegrated, but porphyry marble was hard enough to withstand the passage of time and elements. It outlasted other artifcats to become the ultimate symbol of Ancient Roman power, wealth and skill. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today the Vatican is home to 80% of the world\u2019s store of porphyry and Nero\u2019s Bathtub is its most impressive piece.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Egyptian_Museum\"><\/span><b>The Egyptian Museum<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Egyptian Museum is a wing of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the Vatican Museums<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that few visitors ever see, and one that\u2019s well worth a visit in its own right. Decorated in an Egyptian style, these rooms house a collection of mummy cases and sarcophagi, Ancient Egyptian jewelry, Egyptian-style statues taken from Hadrian\u2019s Villa in Tivoli and a number of authentic Ancient Egyptian statues dating all the way back to the 21st century BC.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because they are so different to the rest of the collection, the Egyptian antiquities are rarely included on group tours. But they are a fantastic reflection of the diversity contained within the Vatican Museum\u2019s art collection.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Room_of_the_Animals\"><\/span><b>The Room of the Animals<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Great for kids and animal-lovers, the Hall of the Animals was created under Pope Pius VI as a \u201cstone zoo\u201d and follows through on its promise with a number of fantastic stone sculptures, most of which were created in the 1700s.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Read more: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/visiting-the-vatican-museums-part-1\">A Guide to Visiting the Vatican Museums<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tips_For_Visiting_the_Vatican_Museums\"><\/span><b>Tips For Visiting the Vatican Museums<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-16721\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/7-Rome_Pristine-Sistine-16x9-0008.jpg\" alt=\"The Vatican Museums: Best time to visit\" \/>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"_Opening_Times\"><\/span><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><b>Opening Times<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Measures are presently in place to ensure visits can take place in the best and safest conditions, and prevail over the ordinary conditions. <b>Entry to the Vatican Museums is by obligatory online booking.\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Until June 30, 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Monday to Thursday:\u00a08.30am to 6.30pm with last entry at 4.30pm<\/p>\n<p>Friday and Saturday:\u00a08.30am to 8.00pm with last entry at 6.00pm<\/p>\n<p><b>From July 1, 2021<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Monday to Thursday: 8.30am to 6.30pm with last entry\u00a0at 4.30pm<br \/>\n<b><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Friday and Saturday: 8.30am to 10.30pm with\u00a0last entry 8.30pm<br \/>\n<i><br \/>\n<strong>Visitors are required to leave the halls 30 minutes before museum closing time.<\/strong><br \/>\n<\/i><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Closures\"><\/span><b>Closures<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The extraordinary openings on the last Sunday of the month are suspended.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Closed: Sundays, 25<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and 26<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of December (Christmas and St. Stephen\u2019s Day) ; January 1, 6; February 11, 22; March 19, 28; June 29 (the Feasts of St. Peter and Paul); August 15; November 1; December 8.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Check the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.museivaticani.va\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vatican website<\/a> for more information on holiday closings and special openings.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23032\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23032\" class=\"wp-image-23032 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Walks_Vatican_St-Peters-Top-to-Bottom-0043.jpg\" alt=\"The concrete dome of St. Peter's Basilica with scaffolding at the bottom.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Walks_Vatican_St-Peters-Top-to-Bottom-0043.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Walks_Vatican_St-Peters-Top-to-Bottom-0043-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-23032\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The concrete dome of St. Peter&#8217;s Basilica.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rules_for_visiting_the_Vatican_Museums\"><\/span><b>Rules for visiting the Vatican Museums<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rules of the Vatican are strict and pretty uncompromising &#8211; please familiarise yourself with them before attempting to visit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Food and drink are not allowed into the Vatican Museums. You can, however, leave them in the cloakroom and collect them at the end of your visit. Any food or drink that goes uncollected will be disposed of at the end of each day.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You cannot bring any bag, backpack suitcase or container larger that cm 40 x 35 x15 into the Vatican Museums. Similarly, you can\u2019t enter with medium to large umbrellas, any umbrellas with spiked tips, camera tripods, signage (apart from signs used by certified guides) or walking sticks &#8211; except those required by disabled visitors. All of these items can be left in the cloakroom.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Firearms are strictly prohibited for visitors within the Vatican Museums and cannot be checked in the cloakroom. Knives, scissors and other cutting tools are permitted but must be deposited in the cloakroom as as a precaution against harming the artwork inside.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Vatican Museums are under constant video surveillance and any touching or tampering with artwork is strictly prohibited. Also, no laser pointers.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All tour groups are required to wear headsets for groups of 11 or more people. The use of microphones or any type of voice amplifiers is prohibited.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Vatican has a strict dress code. Both men and women should be sure to wear clothes that cover their shoulders and knees. Occasionally visitors get away with wearing a bit less but it\u2019s best not to risk it. Hats are also not allowed.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Due to the sacred nature of the Sistine Chapel speaking is not permitted inside.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Selfie Sticks are strictly forbidden along with flash photography. However, visitors are allowed to take non-flash photographs anywhere in the Vatican Museums besides the Sistine Chapel. If you try to break any of these rules the Vatican security is authorized to take your photos.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to draw anything in the museums you must first get permission from the Vatican Management.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mobile phone use is allowed everywhere beside the Sistine Chapel.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Read more: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/visiting-the-vatican-tips-and-mistakes\">The Biggest Mistakes When Visiting the Vatican<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13075\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Sam-20170824-ROME-Vatican-Stock-0132-BEST-OF-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Sam-20170824-ROME-Vatican-Stock-0132-BEST-OF-scaled.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Sam-20170824-ROME-Vatican-Stock-0132-BEST-OF-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Sam-20170824-ROME-Vatican-Stock-0132-BEST-OF-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Best_Time_for_Visiting_the_Vatican_Museums\"><\/span><b>Best Time for Visiting the Vatican Museums<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a normal year, May through September are considered the high season in Rome, with a bump around Easter which, for a few days, is the busiest time of year. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you visit <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the Vatican Museums<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> during these months expect to be shoulder to shoulder. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Getting_there\"><\/span><b>Getting there<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best way to reach <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the Vatican Museums<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is by taxi or metro<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If traveling by taxi, make sure to specify to the driver that you are going to the entrance of the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the Vatican Museums, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(\u201cMusei Vaticani\u201d<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/i> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NOT the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Basilica of St. Peter (\u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano\u201d<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/i> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">which is a 15 minute walk away.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If traveling by metro, take the Metro A line to the Ottaviano stop. As you exit the stop turn left down Via Candia and turn left at Via Tunisi. At the end of the street you\u2019ll reach a set of steps. Climb them and at the top you\u2019ll find yourself at the entrance to the Vatican Museums.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Remember:<\/strong> Unless you are traveling with a guided tour that includes St. Peter\u2019s Basilica, the church isn\u2019t accessible from the Museums. If you want to visit it you will have to exit the Museums, turn right, and follow the wall around to the entrance of St. Peter\u2019s. It\u2019s about a 15-minute walk.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_13034\" style=\"width: 2058px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13034\" class=\"wp-image-13034 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Michelangelos-painting-on-the-Sistine-Chapel-Vatican-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"The Vatican Museums: Sistine Chapel ceiling\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1368\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Michelangelos-painting-on-the-Sistine-Chapel-Vatican-scaled.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Michelangelos-painting-on-the-Sistine-Chapel-Vatican-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Michelangelos-painting-on-the-Sistine-Chapel-Vatican-1536x1026.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-13034\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">See the Sistine Chapel without the crowds on a private tour to the Vatican.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3 data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Looking_for_a_More_Personalized_Experience\"><\/span><strong>Looking for a More Personalized Experience?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For those looking to make their visit truly special, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/rome-tours\/attraction\/private-tours-in-rome\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Walks of Italy\u2019s Private Tours in Rome<\/a> offer an exclusive way to experience the Vatican Museums and the city&#8217;s other highlights. With a private guide, you\u2019ll enjoy a tailored itinerary at your pace: Explore without rushing, with freedom to slow down in moments that matter to you<\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s Included:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Private tour of the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel and Raphael Rooms<\/li>\n<li>Visits to major sites like the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Pantheon (depending on the tour selected)<\/li>\n<li>Priority entry to avoid long waits<\/li>\n<li>Personalized recommendations for the rest of your stay in Rome<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Booking a private tour ensures you can explore the Vatican\u2019s treasures at your own pace, ask questions, and dive deep into the history and art that make this place unique. For more information and to book, take a look at our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/rome-tours\/attraction\/private-tours-in-rome\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Private Tours in Rome<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Vatican Museums serve two purposes: As the Papal Palaces they have been home to centuries of popes, who built and decorated apartments to suit their sensibilities. Just as importantly though, they house some of the world\u2019s most beautiful and important art. Covering a staggering 9 miles, the Vatican Museums\u2019 art collection includes Greek and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":80,"featured_media":16716,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[149],"tags":[68,20,63,19,211,284],"ppma_author":[194],"class_list":["post-16713","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-attractions","tag-art","tag-attractions","tag-trip-planning","tag-vatican","tag-vatican-city","tag-vatican-museums"],"authors":[{"term_id":194,"user_id":80,"is_guest":0,"slug":"martinav","display_name":"Martina V.","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Martina-Vitale.png","url2x":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Martina-Vitale.png"},"user_url":"","last_name":"V.","first_name":"Martina","job_title":"","description":"Martina is an art historian and travel writer from Rome, Italy. Martina currently resides in the eternal city and draws inspiration from its iconic landmarks and timeless beauty. When she's not immersed in the vibrant artistic heritage of Italy, Martina can be found sipping espresso in charming cafes, and scoping out the city\u2019s best tiramisu\u2014her favorite dessert!"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16713"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/80"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16713"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16713\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24745,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16713\/revisions\/24745"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16716"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16713"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16713"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16713"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=16713"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}