The history of Rome is eternally encapsulated in its world-famous landmarks. Rulers changed, natural and political storms raged. The Romans always found a way out of difficult situations. Their inquisitive minds, hard work, and order helped solve many technical and economic problems of those times, leaving their descendants, for example, a unique water supply system that is still in use today. This applies to works of painting, architecture, and sculpture. You can find them in every corner of Rome. Among them is the amazing cultural monument, the Vatican Museum Complex. You can wander through it for a long time, discovering new facts about the ancient life of Italy. Admiring ancient sculptures, masterpieces of painting by famous artists from public collections founded in the 18th century by the popes of the Roman Empire, Clement XVI and Pius VI. Incidentally, the birth of the museums is associated with the discovery of the famous statue “Apollo Belvedere” in 1480 in Anzio.
History of Construction
The state of Vatican, created in 1929 thanks to Benito Mussolini, despite its small size, possesses fabulous wealth accumulated in the country. Several dozen museums, united into a single complex, are located on its territory. Their exhibitions occupy two palaces and other premises, impressive with their architecture. The entire Vatican, located on a hill of the same name, is a huge museum. The ancient Romans considered this place sacred. Circus games were held here by the order of Emperor Claudius.
It was a place of mass spectacles, horse races, and chariot competitions. It became a sanctuary after the burial of the apostle of Christ, Saint Peter, who was sentenced to death by Emperor Nero. The place is associated with the history of Christianity. It comes alive from legends, tales, and the sparkling architecture of churches, basilicas, and temples, attracting tourists from all over the world.
To see the ancient frescoes “The Creation of Adam” and “The Last Judgment” by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel. To imagine how, since the 15th century, the great words “we have a pope” have been spoken after long elections conducted by cardinals. Even the white smoke rises from the chimney in honor of the successful end of the elections, as it did many centuries ago.
The priceless treasures of the Vatican are carefully preserved in numerous museums united into a complex. The number of museums in the small country is about 200. About 30 have entered the museum complex, which is one of the most significant museums in the world. To carefully view the treasures acquired over centuries, you need to spend a lot of time.
Which Museums Are Part of the Complex
The attractions of the Vatican are located behind the medieval fortress wall of the state within a state, built in the 9th century. Their number is constantly increasing. The state’s territory is home to palaces, cathedrals, Vatican gardens, art galleries, administrative buildings, the universities of Urban and Thomas Aquinas, the papal residence, and a radio station. The complex includes the following attractions:
Egyptian Museum: Opened in mid-1839 at the behest of Gregory XVI. It houses elements of Egyptian art collected by Pope Pius VII. Statues, rich sarcophagi, ancient sculptures, papyri, and mummies were brought from private collections and archaeological excavations during the conquest of Egypt. They are considered central elements of the museum. The museum’s exhibitions occupy nine halls, decorated in the Egyptian style. Among the ancient artifacts are a stele of a female pharaoh, the head of Amenhotep (21st century BC), a statue of Ramses II, and numerous funerary urns of great people of antiquity.
Etruscan Museum: In 22 sections, a vast number of finds from the necropolises of ancient Etruscan settlements near the city of Cerveteri are collected. The museum opened in 1837. Its halls are decorated with frescoes depicting scenes from the Old Testament. The museum’s exhibitions contain unique silver and gold items, old ceramic samples, and household items made in the 7th century BC. One section houses the full equipment of ancient warriors from the 4th century BC. The hall with burial urns and tuff sarcophagi depicting scenes from Greek mythology is of interest. Currently, one of the halls is being renovated to show what an Etruscan temple looked like.
Ethnological Missionary Museum: Its work began with the International Missionary Exhibition in 1925. On the territory of the Vatican Gardens, 24 pavilions with elements of religious worship were placed, brought from different parts of the world. Many artifacts were donated to the pontiff by the Catholic Church. Over time, their number increased, leading to the development of a large museum. The building, erected in 1963, houses almost 100,000 interesting exhibits from different parts of the world.
Secular Art Museum: The Gregorian Museum opened in 1970, housing ancient art treasures found in the state, including statues of ancient gods.
Pio-Clementino Museum: Created at the suggestion of Pope Clement XIV in 1769, it is dedicated to artifacts of ancient Roman and Greek art, displayed in halls and courtyards of the museum. The courtyard is octagonal, surrounded by a portico with 16 columns. Statues are installed in niches. Among the most famous niches are:
- Laocoön: The marble sculpture from the 1st century, restored by Michelangelo Buonarroti, depicts a scene from the Aeneid where the priest Laocoön and his sons fight two sea serpents, representing Athena’s revenge for Laocoön trying to penetrate Troy inside the horse. The sculptural group influenced a generation of artists fascinated by the details used to depict the male body. Many famous works were inspired by Laocoön’s piece. The statue has a complex history. During Napoleon’s victory, it was taken from Italy and displayed in the Louvre. After returning home, the statue’s right arm was restored in 1906.
- Canova: Named after the author who created a copy of the original damaged statue of the Greek Perseus, adorned with ancient attributes like Hades’ helmet, Hermes’ sandals, Medusa’s head, and Hephaestus’ sword.
- Apollo Belvedere: A copy of the bronze creation by sculptor Leochares from 4th century BC Greece.
- Hermes: A copy of an ancient Greek statue created by Praxiteles in the 4th century BC.
The museum’s infrastructure boasts numerous galleries and halls, such as:
- Hall of the Muses: Its main decoration is frescoes depicting Apollo and the Muses, created in the 18th century by Tommaso Conca. The hall was designed to store sculptures found in the villas of Cassius and Tivoli.
- Round Hall: Its shape resembles the Pantheon, and the floor is adorned with mosaics depicting sea monsters and heroes from Roman myths. The mosaic floor, created in the early 2nd century BC, was found in the town of Umbria. From there, a statue of Neptune, sculpted by Greek Bryaxis in the 4th century BC, was also brought. In the center of the hall is Nero’s giant basin, surrounded by statues, including a bronze Hercules from the 2nd century BC.
- Hall of Animals: A collection of animal sculptures and ancient mosaics.
- Hall of the Greek Cross: Displays ancient sarcophagi of famous families, such as the sarcophagus of Emperor Constantine’s mother, Helena, and granddaughter, Constantina.
- Gallery of Statues: Filled with statues, each with its history and interesting legends. The sculpture of the sleeping Ariadne, daughter of King Minos, inspired many artists and was purchased by Pope Julius II in 1512. For a long time, it was assumed to be Cleopatra, who allowed herself to be bitten by a deadly snake.
- Gallery of Masks, Halls of Perseus, Apoxyomenos, Rotunda, Gallery of Busts are filled with interesting artifacts and works of art from different times in the Pio-Clementino Museum.
Raphael Rooms: Also known as the rooms of the famous artist, painted by him and his students between 1508-1517. Each room has themed frescoes, such as “Fire in the Borgo,” “The School of Athens,” “Wisdom, Temperance and Strength,” “The Expulsion of Heliodorus,” and “The Liberation of St. Peter.” The rooms were used for court sessions, the church tribunal, and guest receptions. The vaults of the palace (Raphael’s Loggias) are decorated with frescoes by Raphael Sanzio on themes from the Old and New Testaments.
Vatican Pinacoteca: A rare collection of European and Byzantine paintings from the 11th to 19th centuries is housed in a separate building erected in 1932. The pinacoteca was founded in the late 18th century when Pope Pius VI’s painting collection was established. It now covers 18 halls and consists of paintings by Italian masters on religious themes, including Titian, Raphael, Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Poussin, and others. Separate halls are dedicated to works from Flemish, Baroque, Dutch, and Florentine schools. The pinacoteca also contains masterpieces of icons, sculptures, tapestries, and mosaics.
Gallery of Tapestries: Opened in 1838, the gallery features famous tapestries created from sketches by renowned artists on biblical themes, including works by Flemish artist Peter van Aelst, such as “The Massacre of the Innocents,” “The Resurrection,” and “The Adoration of the Shepherds.” Many were previously stored in the Sistine Chapel.
Chiaramonti Museum, Borgia Apartments, Gregorian Museum of Secular Art, Historical Museum, Gallery of Candelabras, Gallery of Maps, and other unique places are part of the complex.
Opening Hours and Ticket Prices
The museums are open all week except Sunday. They open at 9:00 AM and close at 6:00 PM, but tickets are sold until 4:00 PM. The museum complex is located in Rome at Viale Vaticano. It is convenient to admire the museum’s treasures by purchasing a single ticket for 16 EUR.
Location and How to Get There
You do not need a special visa to visit the Vatican State. A Schengen visa for Italy, obtained, for example, from the Italian embassy in Russia, allows you to fly to the country’s capital. From the main airport, you can reach the Vatican by taking the “Leonardo” train, departing every half hour from the station located at the airport square. The ticket costs €14. At the Roma Termini central railway station, transfer to the orange metro line and get off at the “Vatican Museums” station. Tickets are validated before boarding. Another option is to travel solely by metro from the train’s departure station, which will take more time.