Museo Pio Cristiano

The Museo Pio Cristiano is a museum within Vatican Museums that displays stone coffins, statues, and carved inscriptions from the 2nd to 5th centuries. These objects come from Roman catacombs and reveal how early Christians lived and worshipped.

The museum was established in 1854 to preserve Christian objects from antiquity that had been discovered in Rome's underground burial chambers. Since then it has gathered artifacts that document the early spread of Christianity in the city.

The collection shows early Christian beliefs through sculptures and carved reliefs that you can see throughout the rooms. These artworks reflect how the first followers of Christ expressed their faith through stone and marble.

The museum is located within the Vatican Museums complex and can only be visited with a valid ticket for the entire site. The galleries are organized on a single level, though some stairs may be encountered when moving between sections.

One particularly notable sarcophagus features detailed carvings of biblical scenes from the 4th century and ranks among the museum's best-preserved objects. These stone carvings are rare because few such elaborate burial monuments have survived the centuries.

Location: Rome

Inception: 1854

Founders: Pius IX

Official opening: 1854

Part of: Vatican Museums

Address: Viale Vaticano

Website: https://museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/it/collezioni/musei/museo-pio-cristiano.html

GPS coordinates: 41.90650,12.45380

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:00