{"id":7424,"date":"2015-03-30T11:04:11","date_gmt":"2015-03-30T10:04:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/walks.friday.ie\/?p=7424"},"modified":"2025-12-05T10:43:58","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T10:43:58","slug":"visiting-the-vatican-museums-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/visiting-the-vatican-museums-part-1","title":{"rendered":"Visiting the Vatican Museums: What to Know Before You Go"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The <strong>Vatican Museums<\/strong> house some of the world\u2019s most beautiful and culturally significant art. Few museums in the world have the potential to be so moving to its visitors, yet few museums are as difficult and frustrating to navigate as well. So, let\u00b4s take a closer look at visiting the Vatican Museums.<\/span><\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-21307\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Walks_Vatican_St-Peters-Top-to-Bottom-0090.jpg\" alt=\"The view from St. Peters Basilica showing its large round plaza filled with people.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Walks_Vatican_St-Peters-Top-to-Bottom-0090.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Walks_Vatican_St-Peters-Top-to-Bottom-0090-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/>\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\/things-to-do\/visiting-the-vatican-museums-part-1\/#What_is_inside_the_Vatican_Museums\" >What is inside the Vatican Museums<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/visiting-the-vatican-museums-part-1\/#Must-sees_when_visiting_the_Vatican_Museums\" >Must-sees when 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-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/visiting-the-vatican-museums-part-1\/#The_Sistine_Chapel_Ceiling\" >The Sistine Chapel Ceiling<\/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\/things-to-do\/visiting-the-vatican-museums-part-1\/#The_Last_Judgment\" >The Last Judgment<\/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\/things-to-do\/visiting-the-vatican-museums-part-1\/#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-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/visiting-the-vatican-museums-part-1\/#Vatican_Art_Gallery\" >Vatican Art Gallery<\/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\/things-to-do\/visiting-the-vatican-museums-part-1\/#The_Laocoon_Statue\" >The Laoco\u00f6n Statue<\/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\/things-to-do\/visiting-the-vatican-museums-part-1\/#The_Apollo_Belvedere_and_the_Belvedere_Torso\" >The Apollo Belvedere and the Belvedere Torso<\/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\/things-to-do\/visiting-the-vatican-museums-part-1\/#The_Porphyry_Basin\" >The Porphyry Basin<\/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\/things-to-do\/visiting-the-vatican-museums-part-1\/#The_Borgia_Apartments\" >The Borgia Apartments<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/visiting-the-vatican-museums-part-1\/#FAQ_Visiting_the_Vatican_Museums\" >FAQ: 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-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/visiting-the-vatican-museums-part-1\/#What_are_the_opening_hours_of_the_Vatican_Museums\" >What are the opening hours of the Vatican Museums?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/visiting-the-vatican-museums-part-1\/#What_is_the_best_way_to_book_tickets_or_a_guided_tour\" >What is the best way to book tickets or a guided tour?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/visiting-the-vatican-museums-part-1\/#Is_there_a_dress_code_for_visiting_the_Vatican_Museums\" >Is there a dress code 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-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/visiting-the-vatican-museums-part-1\/#Where_exactly_are_the_Vatican_Museums_located\" >Where exactly are the Vatican Museums located?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_inside_the_Vatican_Museums\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What is inside the Vatican Museums<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The palace has an estimated 1,400 rooms, chapels, and galleries, most of which are a part of the Vatican Library and Museums. The enormous amount of paintings, sculptures and other works located inside can easily become overwhelming for even the most well-traveled visitor. Going with a plan or an idea of what you&#8217;ll find inside is the best way to avoid being overwhelmed by all the options. While most come just to see the Sistine Chapel, The Vatican Museums have much more to offer than just the Chapel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>We also run our own Vatican tours that allow you to skip the long lines and experience the one-of-a-kind splendor with the help of an expert, local guide who will bring the art to life with the stories and info that only someone who has studied the works for their entire lives could know. You can have a look at our <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/vatican-tours\/\">Vatican tours<\/a><\/strong> right here, but if you go on your own we want to make sure you get the most out of it, so check out the info below.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_11934\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11934\" class=\"wp-image-11934 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Visiting-the-Vatican-e1733992627141.jpg\" alt=\"Visiting the Vatican Museums\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-11934\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Vatican Museums house a total of fifty four separate collections!<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Must-sees_when_visiting_the_Vatican_Museums\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Must-sees when visiting the Vatican Museums<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Sistine_Chapel_Ceiling\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Sistine Chapel Ceiling<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Perhaps the most famous room in the Vatican Museums, the Cappella Sistina has a much higher footfall than the Museums themselves because so many visitors come twice. The ceiling frescoes were Michelangelo&#8217;s first major commissioned work yet it took him just four years to complete.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The 8,600\u00a0square foot\u00a0ceiling is divided into nine panels, each depicting a Biblically historical scene. The most famous scene is the Creation of Adam, showing God reaching out to touch the fingertip of Adam. The lighting and hush of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/top-attractions\/visiting-sistine-chapel\">the Sistine Chapel<\/a><\/strong> add to the magical moment, but the sheer quantities of people can make the visit less than serene. Stay quiet, calm and ignore the others as you turn to the <em>Giudizio Universale<\/em>, or Last Judgment.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7431\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/God2-Sistine_Chapel.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7431\" class=\"wp-image-7431 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/God2-Sistine_Chapel.png\" alt=\"Photo from Wikicommons\" width=\"640\" height=\"298\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7431\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo from Wikicommons<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Last_Judgment\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Last Judgment<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This <a href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/top-attractions\/visiting-sistine-chapel\"><strong>massive fresco<\/strong><\/a> by Michelangelo was started in 1535, nearly 25 years after the ceiling. The artist covered two existing wall paintings in order to depict his vision of The Last Judgement, a composition that shows hell as described by Dante.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Nude figures, saints and apostles surround an angry Christ, with the blessed on the left and the damned at the right. The painting is gruesome and mesmerizing, and many believe that Michelangelo painted his own face on the flayed body of St. Bartholomew &#8211; his (not so subtle) way of telling the Pope that he would rather be flayed alive than paint the Sistine Chapel again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>[Note: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/top-attractions\/visiting-sistine-chapel\">visiting the Sistine Chapel<\/a><\/strong> can be a crowded affair, if you&#8217;d rather not battle through with elbows and knees, check out our <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/vatican-tours\/pristine-sistine-chapel-tour\">Pristine Sistine Tour<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/vatican-tours\/key-masters-tour-sistine-chapel-vatican-museums\/\">VIP Key Master&#8217;s Tour: Open the Sistine Chapel<\/a><\/strong>, which gets you into the Vatican Museums before they open to the general public.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Raphael_Rooms\"><\/span>The Raphael Rooms<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">At the same time that Michelangelo began the Sistine Chapel ceiling, Raphael was tasked with covering the ceilings and walls of four of the <a href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/top-attractions\/raphael-rooms-vatican-museums\"><strong>Pope&#8217;s private apartments<\/strong><\/a>. Besides being the first work executed by the great artist in the Vatican, his work also marks the beginning of the high Renaissance. The most famous of the rooms is the Segnatura, Pope Julius\u2019 study and library and the first room Raphael painted.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_10545\" style=\"width: 1010px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10545\" class=\"wp-image-10545 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/WEB2286-copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"666\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/WEB2286-copy.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/WEB2286-copy-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-10545\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Going at night is the only way you will ever see the Raphael Rooms this empty!<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here you\u2019ll find his masterpiece, <em>La Scuola di Atene<\/em>, The School of Athens, hailing the advancement of science and featuring philosophers and scholars gathered around Plato and Aristotle. Raphael also included himself in the painting \u2013 he\u2019s the second figure from the lower right corner. Like the Sistine Chapel, these rooms are always rather crowded.\u00a0If you have time during your visit, it&#8217;s worth seeing the Pinacoteca (the Vatican Art Gallery) for more works by Raphael.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7429\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/640px-Raphael_School_of_Athens.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7429\" class=\"wp-image-7429\" src=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/640px-Raphael_School_of_Athens.jpg\" alt=\"The School of Athens is a must-see when visiting the Vatican Museums\" width=\"600\" height=\"392\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7429\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The enormous School of Athens shows some of the most prominent scientists, artists and philosophers in ancient Greece. Photo from Wikicommons<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Vatican_Art_Gallery\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Vatican Art Gallery<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> The <em>Pinacoteca Vaticana<\/em>, as it\u2019s known in Italian, houses canvases from some of the greatest Italian masters of the time, including paintings by Giotto, Perugino, and Caravaggio. It&#8217;s also home to Raphael&#8217;s &#8216;Transfiguration&#8217;, as well as his &#8216;Madonna of Foligno&#8217; and &#8216;Coronation of the Virgin&#8217;, considered three of Raphael&#8217;s\u00a0most beautiful, and divine,\u00a0paintings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Laocoon_Statue\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Laoco\u00f6n Statue<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Located in the Octagonal Courtyard of the Museo Pio-Clementino, the first century <a href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/top-attractions\/laocoon-and-his-sons-vatican\"><strong>Laocoon<\/strong><\/a> is an iconic marble statue still in nearly pristine condition. It depicts a turbulent, emotional death battle between a muscular Trojan priest (Laoco\u00f6n) and his two sons against two sea serpents sent by Athena.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_9077\" style=\"width: 1510px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9077\" class=\"wp-image-9077 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/RomeVatican-15-copy.jpg\" alt=\"The Vatican Museums: 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\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-9077\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Laocoon and His Sons, in the Vatican Museums. See this sculpture on a walking tour with Walks of Italy.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The story is that during the Trojan War, Laoco\u00f6n warned his fellow Trojans of the wooden horse left outside their city gates by the greeks. Athena and Poseidon favored the Greeks and sent the two sea-serpents to kill him. According to the Romans, the death of Laoco\u00f6n and his children were a signal to\u00a0Romulus and Remus&#8217; ancestor\u00a0to flee Troy, thus ultimately leading to the founding of Rome.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Apollo_Belvedere_and_the_Belvedere_Torso\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Apollo Belvedere and the Belvedere Torso<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Also located in the Museo Pio-Clementino, The Apollo Belvedere and the Belvedere Torso were both highly influential to the Renaissance artists at the time, especially Michelangelo. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Apollo Belvedere is a second century Roman copy of an even older Greek bronze. A masterpiece of classical sculpture, it\u2019s a representation of the sun god Apollo. <\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_8694\" style=\"width: 1510px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8694\" class=\"wp-image-8694 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Belvedere-torso.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Belvedere-torso.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Belvedere-torso-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-8694\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Belvedere Torso is said to be the body of Hercules\u00a0 one of the world&#8217;s greatest heroes.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Belvedere Torso is a sculpture of a muscular, twisted male torso, presumably Hercules, dating from the first century BC. It&#8217;s a pose supposedly replicated by Michelangelo in his painting of Christ in the Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Porphyry_Basin\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Porphyry Basin<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Porphyry Basin, also known as Nero&#8217;s Bath, dominates the Neoclassical room of the Rotonda. Nearly 40 feet across, this red stone basin was recovered from Nero\u2019s Domus Aurea \u2013 just further proof of the luxury and excess of the crazy emperor\u2019s House of Gold.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7442\" style=\"width: 1189px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7442\" class=\"wp-image-7442 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/IMG_8276_small.jpg\" alt=\"Nero's Bath: Visiting The Vatican Museums\" 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\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-7442\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Porphyry Basin, more affectionately known as Nero&#8217;s Bath.\u00a0<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><br \/><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Borgia_Apartments\"><\/span>The Borgia Apartments<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Long before the series aired on Showtime and Netflix, the Borgia family was already well watched and well followed in Italy. Check out some of the Vatican\u2019s top historical figures on the Borgia apartments elaborately painted ceilings. Painted by Pinturicchio in the 15th century, the paintings have since been retouched and restored. It\u2019s said that Cesare Borgia murdered his sister Lucrezia\u2019s husband in the Room of the Sibyl and that the painting of St. Catherine of Alexandria actually represents Lucrezia Borgia.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7434\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/605px-Borgia_Apartment_019.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7434\" class=\"wp-image-7434\" src=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/605px-Borgia_Apartment_019.jpg\" alt=\"The Prophet Hosea and the Delphic Sibyl Fresco Borgia Apartments, Hall of the Sibyls. Photo from Wikicommons\" width=\"600\" height=\"476\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7434\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Prophet Hosea and the Delphic Sibyl Fresco in the Hall of the Sibyls. Photo from Wikicommons<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It\u2019s no secret that the Vatican Museums are crowded \u2013 at times it has more than 20,000 visitors per day! Despite housing world-class art, visitors can deal with frustrations such as long lines, inadequate or wrong labeling and unannounced closures of galleries. Not to mention the fact that, at 9 miles long, the Papal Palace can be pretty tough to navigate. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Still, there are ways to avoid the worst of the crowds and get the most out of your visit. Planning ahead is your best bet to ensure success when visiting the Vatican Museums.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_8783\" style=\"width: 1010px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8783\" class=\"wp-image-8783 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/RomeVatican-25-copy-1.jpg\" alt=\"Visiting the Vatican Museums - The Sistine Chapel\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/RomeVatican-25-copy-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/RomeVatican-25-copy-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-8783\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Don\u00b4t forget to look up and enjoy the exquisite ceilings.<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ_Visiting_the_Vatican_Museums\"><\/span>FAQ: Visiting the Vatican Museums<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_opening_hours_of_the_Vatican_Museums\"><\/span>What are the opening hours of the Vatican Museums?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Vatican Museums are open <b>from Monday to Saturday, 8.00 am to 8.00 pm, with final entry at 6.00pm.\u00a0<\/b>You can also visit every<b> last Sunday of the month, <\/b>(provided this does not coincide with Easter Sunday, 29* June, 25 December , 26 December\u00a0 and 31 December )<b>\u00a0 from 9.00 am to 2.00 pm, with <i>final entry 12.30 p.m.\u00a0<\/i><\/b><br \/>\n<i><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Check the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.museivaticani.va\/content\/museivaticani\/en\/info\/orari-musei-vaticani.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vatican Museums website <\/a>for more information on holiday closings and special openings which <\/span>may affect the schedule.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_best_way_to_book_tickets_or_a_guided_tour\"><\/span>What is the best way to book tickets or a guided tour?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Because visiting the Vatican Museums is one of Rome\u2019s most popular activities, lines can last for hours, especially in summer or around Easter. <span style=\"color: #000000;\">For those with flexible schedules, you can try visiting the Vatican Museums in the afternoon for shorter lines or tour the quieter galleries, such as the Pinacoteca, at peak times and the famous stops toward the end of the day. Visiting early in the morning is also recommended, particularly during high season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>The best strategy is to use the <a href=\"https:\/\/tickets.museivaticani.va\/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">official Vatican Tickets site<\/a> for booking regular tickets or a guided tour, or <span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>book one<\/strong> of our <a title=\"Vatican tours\" href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/vatican-tours\">Skip<\/a><a title=\"Vatican tours\" href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/vatican-tours\"> the<\/a><a title=\"Vatican tours\" href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/vatican-tours\"> Line Vatican Tours<\/a> for fast-track entry.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_13088\" style=\"width: 2058px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13088\" class=\"wp-image-13088 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/RomeVatican-23-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/RomeVatican-23-scaled.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/RomeVatican-23-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/RomeVatican-23-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-13088\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Opt for a guided tour for a more complete experience.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_there_a_dress_code_for_visiting_the_Vatican_Museums\"><\/span>Is there a dress code for visiting the Vatican Museums?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes. When visiting the Vatican Museums, both men and women must cover their shoulders and knees. Even though some visitors slip through with shorter clothing, it\u2019s not worth the risk of being denied entry after waiting in line, modest attire is essential.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_exactly_are_the_Vatican_Museums_located\"><\/span>Where exactly are the Vatican Museums located?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re visiting the Vatican Museums, you\u2019ll find the entrance at Viale Vaticano in Vatican City. The easiest ways to arrive are via Metro Line A (Ottaviano or Cipro stops\u2014about a 10-minute walk), bus 49 (which stops right at the entrance), or a taxi.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21301\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21301\" class=\"wp-image-21301 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/vatican-library.jpg\" alt=\"A large room with vaulted ornate ceiling and columns inside the Vatican library.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/vatican-library.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/vatican-library-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-21301\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Believe it or not, this vaulted ornate ceiling and columns are inside the Vatican library.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you want to maximise your time and get the most out of visiing the Vatican Musuems then two of the best options are our <a title=\"Pristine Sistine Chapel tour\" href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/vatican-tours\/pristine-sistine-chapel-tour\">Pristine Sistine tour<\/a>\u00a0or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/vatican-tours\/key-masters-tour-sistine-chapel-vatican-museums\/\">VIP Key Master&#8217;s Tour: Open the Sistine Chapel<\/a> . You will have access to a local expert guide who can bring the vast array of artefacts to life, and you can also take advantage of exclusive pre-opening access, so you enter before the doors even open to the crowds!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<div style=\"display: none;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8032\" src=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Copy-of-10-BEAUTOF-4.jpg\" alt=\"What to know what to see and where to go in the Vatican? Check out our Insiders' guide!\" width=\"620\" height=\"775\" \/><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Vatican Museums house some of the world\u2019s most beautiful and culturally significant art. Few museums in the world have the potential to be so moving to its visitors, yet few museums are as difficult and frustrating to navigate as well. So, let\u00b4s take a closer look at visiting the Vatican Museums. What is inside [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":7824,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[68,20,76,18,19,211,284],"ppma_author":[161],"class_list":["post-7424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-things-to-do","tag-art","tag-attractions","tag-museums","tag-rome","tag-vatican","tag-vatican-city","tag-vatican-museums"],"authors":[{"term_id":161,"user_id":40,"is_guest":0,"slug":"ginamussio","display_name":"Gina Mussio","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d9497ce1b0417babd82886ad23b18998?s=96&d=mm&r=g","user_url":"","last_name":"Mussio","first_name":"Gina","job_title":"","description":"Gina is a Midwesterner living in Lombardy, Italy where she writes about Italian culture, travel and food. She is a bilingual primary school teacher by day, forever interested in developing cross-culture communication skills across languages. Gina loves touring Italy's beautiful and tiny borghi with her family and exploring Italy's culture through its culinary history."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7424"}],"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\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7424"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7424\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24378,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7424\/revisions\/24378"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7424"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=7424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}