Vatican Museums, Art museum in Vatican City
Description
The Vatican Museums are a group of art museums in Vatican City with several interconnected buildings and galleries displaying ancient sculptures, Renaissance paintings, and religious objects. The rooms spread across multiple floors and connect courtyards with long corridors filled with frescoes and marble.
History
A pope from the 16th century started the collection with an ancient marble group and later popes expanded it with works from across Europe. Many pieces came from Roman excavations or were purchased from noble families.
Culture
The name comes from the Latin term for papal palace and the rooms show how popes collected art over centuries. Visitors see ancient statues from Greece and Rome alongside religious works that once stood in papal gardens.
Practical
You should arrive early in the morning to avoid the largest crowds and book admission online in advance. The tour can take several hours, so comfortable shoes are recommended.
Did you know?
A long corridor displays hand-painted maps of Italian regions from the Renaissance on its walls. The maps were painted directly onto the plaster and show mountains, rivers, and cities with surprising accuracy for their time.
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