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The Vatican Museums in Rome

Written by VacationIdea.com Travel Editors.
You will probably not want to miss the Vatican Museums which house some of the most important works of art in the world. Everybody has heard of the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo and other superb artists in the 16th century. Then there are Raphael's Rooms, four rooms decorated by the famous painter Raphael between 1509 and 1520.

Other collections include the Gallery of Tapestries, the Egyptian Museum, the Gregorian Museum of Etruscan Art, the Vase Collection, the Gallery of the Maps and the Vatican Picture Gallery. In fact, the museum is so vast that you could spend a whole day inside and only see a small part of it.

If you are short on time, you should know that the Vatican Museums are laid out in a shape of a rectangle with the Sistine Chapel and Raphael's Rooms located at the farthest end from the entrance to the Vatican Museums. Since the museum is always quite crowded, it can take one hour just to walk from the entrance to the Sistine Chapel, even if you do not stop to admire the works of art along the way.

The Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays, except the last Sunday of the month. The museums are open from 8.45 a.m. to 4.45 p.m. from April to October, and from 8.45 a.m. to 1.45 p.m. from November to March. Be sure to confirm the opening times before you go since schedules in Italy change frequently.

Admission to the Vatican Museums, which includes the Sistine Chapel, costs Euro 8. Every last Sunday of the month, admission to the Vatican Museums is free. For reservations and information call +39-06-69884947.

Musei Vaticani e Cappella Sistina, Viale Vaticano - 00165, Citta del Vaticano, ,


Italy Vacation

The Colosseum in Rome
The Sistine Chapel
The Vatican
The Vatican Museums
Trevi Fountain
The Spanish Steps
The Roman Forum
Piazza Navona
The Pantheon
Saint Angelo Castle
Capitoline Museums

Written By the Travel Editors at VacationIdea.com, Last Update: Oct 23, 2003