Vatican Museums

Home to an enormous collection of pieces of art that were collected by the Popes in the last 500 years. The very first exhibit was bought in 1506 and it was a statue called Laocoon and His Sons. It is still on display at the Vatican Museums today.

The museums include exhibits from many cultures and many periods of human history – Ancient Egypt, Etruscan civilization, Ancient Rome or Ancient Greece, but they also display works of Renaissance artists (e.g. Raphael) and even the modern ones (such as Picasso or Van Gogh).

Among some of the most imposing exhibits are: Book of the Dead (in Ancient Egypt section), Augustus of Prima Porta statue (located in the New Wing), or the beautiful Gallery of Maps.

Since the museums are so large, you might want to pick only some of the exhibitions that interest you. The collections are arranged thematically and the color-coded itineraries (A, B, C, D) guide you through the museums depending on how much time you want to spend there.

If you want to avoid the main wave of tourists, you should begin your visit early in the morning. The later you come, the longer the queues. Also, be aware that the museum visit (usually connected to the visit of the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica) is quite physically demanding with lots of walking involved.