The Vatican Museums (Italian: Musei Vaticani) are the museums of the Vatican City and are located within the city’s boundaries. They display works from the immense collection built up by the popes throughout the centuries, including some of the most renowned classical sculptures and most important masterpieces of Renaissance art in the world. Come see this historic collection on a Vatican City tour. Select your experience below.
WHERE WE EXPLORE
The Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel (La Cappella Sistina) is a chapel of the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the pope in Vatican City. It was originally known as the Magna Chapel, a chapel named after Pope Sixtus IV, who restored it between 1477 and 1480. Witness the breathtaking frescoes and historic architecture of this incredible monument.
St. Peter's Basilica
Basilica di San Pietro or St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the Papal churches in Rome. It is a part of the Holy See and enjoys extraterritorial benefits. It belongs to the Italian Renaissance Era. The beautiful erection owes its allure to numerous architects and artists, mainly, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno, Donato Bramante, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. It is one of the largest churches in the world. Although it isn’t the mother church of the Catholic Church it is respected as such.
Prepare for your visit
Food and drink
It is not permitted to enter the Museums with alcoholic drinks. It is obligatory to leave alcoholic drinks in the cloakroom before entering the Museums, these drinks must then be collected, on the same day, at the end of the visit.
Photography
Works of art and surroundings may be photographed. Permission must be given by the Management of the Museum for the use of tripods and other professional equipment. The use of telescopic “selfie sticks” is forbidden. It is forbidden to use flashlight photography inside the Museums.
Required clothing
Access to Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Gardens and Saint Peter’s Basilica is permitted only to visitors dressed appropriately (no sleeveless blouses, no miniskirts, no shorts, no hats allowed).
Guided tour in the Sistine Chapel
To ensure the respect due to a sacred place, explanation is not permitted within the Sistine Chapel, even if visitors are provided with Group Tour radio systems. Explanation may be offered prior to entry in the Chapel, using the dedicated panels on display throughout.
Drawing permission
Permission must be sought from the Management of the Museums in order to make pencil drawings and sketches in the Museums. The use of laser pointers is forbidden.
Mobile phones
The use of mobile phones is allowed, except in the Sistine Chapel. It is not recommended in order to guarantee the visitors a better fruition of the works of art.
Bags, backpacks, umbrellas
It is obligatory to deposit in the cloakroom suitcases, backpacks and containers with dimensions larger than cm 40 x 35 x 15. It is obligatory to deposit in the cloakroom bags and backpacks which are cumbersome, except those small-sized, that are carried on the shoulder.