Pio-Clementino museum, Classical sculpture museum in Vatican City.
The Museo Pio Clementino displays Greek and Roman sculptures across 12 exhibition halls inside the Belvedere Palace built by Pope Innocent VIII. The collection includes famous works such as the Laocoön statue and Apollo Belvedere, arranged throughout interconnected courtyards and galleries.
The collection began with Pope Julius II's gathering of artworks in 1503, and was later expanded through excavations across Rome and the Lazio region. These acquisitions during the 18th century transformed the space into one of the largest repositories of classical art.
The Octagonal Court holds the first complete collection of classical sculptures gathered by the Vatican. Works displayed here represent how popes understood and valued the art of ancient times.
The entrance features the Atrium of the Four Gates and the Simonetti Staircase, which connects to other museums within the Vatican. Plan for an extended visit, as the halls contain many works and the route moves through several levels.
The Hall of Animals features marble sculptures of many different creatures, while the Round Hall contains a gilded bronze Hercules statue at its center. These two rooms stand out because they display more than just human figures.
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