The Vatican on its own: what does a traveler need to know? Self-guided tour of Rome: Vatican City and St. Peter's Basilica Vatican City on the political map of Europe

The Vatican in Rome is a unique “state within a state”, the residence of the Pope and the center of the entire Catholic world. In addition, it is also a real cultural treasury, full of architectural, sculptural and pictorial values, an amazing historical monument, and for Christians - the center of the most important Christian relics. And although all this is located on a piece of land with an area of ​​only 44 hectares, sometimes you need to visit Rome and the Vatican several times to see all the beauties of this tiny state.

What's the best way to plan a visit to the Vatican? Given the incredible wealth of the museum's collections, the sheer size of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, and the variety of attractions, it makes sense to plan a visit to the Vatican yourself. This will give you a wonderful opportunity to proceed from your own interests and capabilities. Standard excursions, as a rule, allow you to walk “over the top” and “run through” the most famous places in the Vatican. But only independent travel allows you to consider what is interesting to you, explore places at your rhythm and in accordance with your preferences. Let's figure out how to visit the Vatican on your own and get the most out of it.

How to choose a time to visit

Despite the modest size of the Vatican, huge queues of tourists and believers from all over the world flock to it every day. To save energy, have time to see more and avoid crowds, it is best to go to the Vatican in the morning, while you are full of energy and before it is filled with tourist groups. St. Peter's Cathedral is open from 7 am, the Vatican Museums - from 9.00.

According to the observations of many travelers, the days freest from crowds are Tuesday and Thursday. The busiest day is Wednesday, as the Pope speaks in St. Peter's Square on Wednesdays. On Sunday the Vatican is quite free, but only because all the museums are closed.

The time of year also affects the number of visitors to the Vatican. January and February are the most best months for those who appreciate art and want to enjoy it to the fullest, at a relatively relaxed pace and without ending up in the incredibly dense crowd that gathers in the Sistine Chapel.

On the last Sunday of the month, admission to the Vatican Museums is free. Many tourists are tempted by this, however, the incredible overload of the Vatican with the number of visitors these days can spoil the impression and bring nothing but fatigue.

It should also be remembered that in some cases the Vatican is completely closed to tourists - this is due to events and visits of high-ranking guests.

Opening hours of St. Peter's Basilica: from October 1 to March 31 – 7.00-18.30 (closed January 1 and 6); from April 1 to September 30 – 7.00-19.00.

Opening hours of the Vatican Museums: from Monday to Saturday – 9.00-18.00 (entrance and ticket office – until 16.00). From May 6 to July 29 and from September 2 to October 28, the museums are also open on Friday nights (19.00-23.00, entry until 21.30). Closed on Sundays, except the last Sunday of the month (from 9.00 to 12.30 admission is free!)

How to best plan a visit to the Vatican

Two places in the Vatican attract especially many tourists. And each of them is distinguished by its gigantic size and abundance of attractions. This Saint Paul's Cathedral And . Each of these places has a separate entrance (to the Museums - paid, to the Cathedral - free). When planning your visit, keep in mind that exploring the museum's collections alone can take a whole day! And this despite the fact that only a small part of the treasury of world art is on display for tourists in museums - some rooms are closed to the public. As, incidentally, the part of the Vatican where the Pope and the administrative bodies of the Catholic Church live and conduct their business is also closed.

Is it worth visiting both the cathedral and the Vatican Museums on the same day? It depends on your interests and physical capabilities. If you plan to carefully study the rich collection of Museums, we recommend planning a visit to them on a separate day. Even a simple walk through the vast Vatican Museum complex can be tiring, and if you linger in each of the halls to look at the exhibits, the visit will definitely be lengthy. Will you still have the strength to explore the cathedral after this? It's very individual. And St. Peter's Cathedral deserves a separate careful study.

You only have to pay for admission to the Vatican Museums. There is no charge to visit St. Peter's Basilica, and it is accessible to visitors throughout the day (except when the entire Vatican is completely closed). Thus, you can save energy by dividing your visit to the Vatican into two parts, one of which will be entirely devoted to exploring the museum complex, and the second to visiting St. Peter’s Basilica and the adjacent square.

If you have little time in Rome, and you want to do as much as possible in a short time, then you can easily visit both the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica in one go. But in this case, determine in advance what exactly you want to see in the Museums so that you can immediately rush to the halls that interest you. Otherwise, you risk staying there for a long time.

If the standard program is not enough for you, and time allows, you can also order an additional excursion to Vatican Gardens (Giardini Vaticani)- the “green heart” of the tiny state. Beautiful sculptures, historical fountains, rare plants, magnificent landscape design make this park area, which occupies more than 20 hectares, a pleasant island of nature and art. Visiting the Vatican Gardens is only possible with an organized tour, which must be booked in advance.

One of the most difficult to reach, but interesting places Vatican - ancient necropolis, located under St. Peter's Basilica, under the Vatican Grottoes, at the floor level of the oldest basilica, built in the 4th century. Preserved in the necropolis ancient frescoes early Christian period. And the main shrine and value of these “Vatican dungeons” is tomb of St. Apostle Peter. It was above it that the basilica was once built, it is the resting place of the apostle that is the spiritual center of the Vatican, it is above this tomb that the main altar of the cathedral is installed. Access to St. Peter's Tomb and the ancient Roman necropolis requires special advance reservations.

How to get to the Vatican on your own

As an enclave state, the Vatican is located on the territory of Rome, the Italian capital. And despite the formal status of a city-state, the border between Italy and the Vatican is very arbitrary and is crossed freely.

It is convenient to get to the Vatican by metro. If you plan to start your visit to the Vatican from St. Peter's Basilica, the nearest station is Ottaviano – San Pietro . From the metro exit to the Vatican is a 7-10 minute walk. If you are visiting the Vatican Museums first, then go to the metro station Cipro. From here you will quickly reach the entrance to the museum complex. To avoid getting lost, use the offline map in our.

Tickets to the Vatican

For entry to Saint Paul's Cathedral There is no charge, nor is there a fee to visit the magnificent square in front of it. But to climb the dome of the cathedral you need to purchase a ticket (if it includes an elevator ride, it costs a little more than usual).

Visit Vatican Museums paid. You can pay only the entrance and explore the museum treasures on your own, or you can book a tour or take a museum audio guide (in the Vatican Museums it is issued with special equipment, which is handed over upon exit). The official audio guide in the Vatican Museums is available in Russian.

ADVICE. The official audio guide will “guide” you through all the halls, telling you in detail about the exhibits, but this can also lead to the fact that by the end of the route you will be left completely exhausted. But the famous Sistine Chapel is located right at the end of the route! Therefore, consider the size of the museum, your interests and time frame. Perhaps it makes sense to skip certain rooms so as not to miss the main thing. After all, if you linger in each of the halls, even a day may not be enough to explore the museum!

As a rule, there is a long queue before entering the Vatican Museums. Depending on the season, day of the week and time of day, it can be simply long or incredibly long. Wasting valuable time in Rome waiting in line is simply a crime. And it’s very easy to avoid long waits - book tickets to the Vatican Museums online. The entrance to the museum is divided into two streams - a huge queue stands at the museum ticket office and consists of tourists who do not have tickets. And for those who have a printout of an online reservation, there is a special queue, which is never large (and sometimes there is none at all) and moves very quickly. If you speak English, the most economical and convenient option is to book tickets on the official Vatican website.

The Vatican on your own: what to consider when visiting

When visiting St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, you should remember that this is a temple that is a shrine for millions of people. Therefore, here, as in other basilicas, it operates dress code– knees and shoulders must be covered. You shouldn't go to the Vatican Museums in shorts and miniskirts either.

It is important to choose a light and comfortable one shoes, because you will spend the whole day on your feet. And if you decide to climb the dome, you will also have to climb the spiral staircase.

The Vatican takes issues seriously security. You should not take large bags, backpacks, cane umbrellas or long tripods with you to the Vatican Museums - all this will have to be left in the storage room. It is better to go to the Vatican lightly - this will not only simplify the verification procedure, but will save energy, which will require a lot.

Bring a bottle with you water. You will probably spend a lot of time in the Vatican, and you will need it. Especially in the vast area of ​​St. Peter's Basilica, where there are no shops. There is a cafe in the Vatican Museums, but take into account the incredible flow of people - it is rare to find a free place there.

The Vatican accepts payment Euro. Moreover, those coins minted by the Vatican (each Eurozone country produces coins with its own symbols on one side) are themselves souvenirs and are valued by collectors.

In the Vatican cards don't workRoma Pass.

Vatican Museums: what to look for

Numerous exhibits in the halls of the Vatican Museums cover a huge historical period. Antiquity, Renaissance, Baroque and even modern religious art are presented here in all their fullness and splendor. Collections of outstanding works of art have been collected over the centuries. Even if you choose the best time to visit the Vatican and prepare well, it is likely that you will not have time to fully explore all 54 rooms open to the general public.

The halls in the Vatican Museums are arranged in such a way that visitors go sequentially all the way through numerous collections of the most valuable works of art to one of the most coveted places - the Sistine Chapel. You won’t be able to get into the most famous chapel in the world right away - you must go through many other museum halls to get to it.

So, what should you pay special attention to? Everyone has their own tastes and interests, we will highlight only the most famous and popular halls.

Pinacoteca Vaticana

The Vatican Pinacoteca is definitely worth paying special attention to. The Pinakothek was founded in the second half of the 18th century. Amazing paintings on religious themes are collected here. These are mainly works by Italian masters: Giotto, Beato Angelico, Melozzo da Forli, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Caravaggio, Guido Reni, Titian. Among the pearls of the Pinakothek collection are the Stefaneschi triptych by Giotto; "Madonna and Child and Saints" and "Resurrection" by Perugino; “Madonna di Foligno”, “Transfiguration”, “Coronation of Mary” by Raphael; "Saint Jerome" by Leonardo da Vinci; "Entombment" by Caravaggio; “The Wedding of Our Lady” by Lippi and other masterpieces.

Ancient art (ancient, Egyptian, Etruscan)

Among the halls dedicated to ancient art, it is worth highlighting Pius-Clementino Museum, which houses the famous sculptural group “Laocoon and Sons” and a huge number of other works of Greek and Roman classical art. Antique works of art can also be seen in Gallery of candelabra (Galleria delle Candelabri), Chiaramonti Museum.

If you are interested in the history and culture of ancient Egypt, a large collection Egyptian antiquities, including mummies, you will find in Gregorian Egyptian Museum). A Gregorian Etruscan Museum (Museo Gregoriano Etrusco) will introduce you to the ancient culture of the Etruscans, which had a huge influence on the culture of Ancient Rome.

Early Christian art is represented in Museum Pio-Cristiano– here you will see works of art from the Roman catacombs, sarcophagi, reliefs, tombstones.

Tapestries and antique maps

In the luxurious upper galleries you can see many rare works of art. For example, in Galleria degli Arazzi there are magnificent ancient tapestries made according to sketches by Raphael Santi by his students. A Gallery of geographical maps (Galleria delle Carte Geografiche) stores almost fifty old maps of various areas.

Paintings by Pinturichio in the Borgia apartments

Apartment Borgia (Appartamento Borgia), formerly the personal residence of Pope Alexander VI Borgia at the end of the 15th century, they are distinguished by their lavish interior. The famous painter Bernardino Pinturicchio also worked on it.

Raphael's Stanze di Raffaello

Among the most “tasty” things that the Vatican Museums can show, it is also worth noting the famous “Raphael’s dances”. Stanzas are the living rooms of Pope Julius II, the painting of which was once entrusted to the young Raphael. It's hard to believe that once upon a time a great genius was essentially involved in residential interior design. Raphael himself painted 3 stanzas, and the fourth was designed by his students based on his sketches after the artist’s death.

The Sistine Chapel (Capella Sistina)

The Sistine Chapel is perhaps the most famous landmark of the Vatican, rivaled only by St. Peter's Cathedral. The name of the chapel is associated with the name of Pope Sixtus V, who ordered the construction of the chapel, which served as a house church. The chapel is famous, first of all, for its paintings, in which the genius of Michelangelo was so clearly demonstrated. Visitors are especially impressed by the ceiling painting, which is a whole cycle of frescoes depicting biblical scenes, as well as the painting of the altar wall, illustrating the “Last Judgment.” In addition, such Renaissance masters as Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Perugino worked on the design of the chapel.

The Sistine Chapel is not only a monument of the Renaissance, but also religious building. It is here that conclaves are held - meetings of cardinals to elect the Pope.

ADVICE. The Sistine Chapel is located almost at the very end of the path through the numerous halls of the museum complex. For this reason, many visitors enter the chapel already very tired. Let's add to this the incredible density of the crowd in the chapel (especially in summer season) and we get what many tourists call disappointment. After all, being exhausted, it is very difficult to appreciate the brilliant paintings. Therefore, we recommend setting priorities and calculating your strength in order to perceive art, and not think about tired legs.

Please be aware that taking photographs in the Sistine Chapel is strictly prohibited, as is talking loudly.

Exit from the museum complex

There are two ways to leave the Sistine Chapel - through the general exit, which leads to Michelangelo's famous spiral staircase, and through the side door, which is intended for the exit of tour groups and guides. Using the general exit, you will find yourself in several more museum halls, and after that a dressing room and the official exit from the museum will await you.

If you realize that you have absolutely no strength left, or you want to quickly and without waiting in line to get into St. Peter’s Cathedral, then you can use a trick and try to use a small “cheat” by leaving the chapel through the side door on the right, which is almost always open. This is not entirely according to the rules, but usually no one prevents this - participants in group excursions come through the door, and you may well pass for one of them. Once out the door, you can quickly and without queues enter St. Peter's Basilica.

ATTENTION. You should use the “service” door only if you did not leave things in the cloakroom and did not pick up an audio guide at the entrance to the museum. Keep in mind that if you cross the passage to St. Peter's Cathedral, then you will no longer have a way back to the museum complex.

For those who are traveling to Rome for the first time, we have compiled three routes with which you can see all the main city attractions in 3 days of leisurely walking. There is no point in rushing in Rome, it is better to come back here again;) On our first excursion we will walk around the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica.

Rome sightseeing map. Follow along and get the opportunity to save this route to your maps.

1. Vatican Museums

It's no secret that the Vatican Museums are one of the largest treasuries world values. Perhaps the most famous exhibit in the Vatican's collection of attractions is the Sistine Chapel, so it's worth visiting this place if only for that. Unfortunately, photography is prohibited in the chapel, but you can endlessly look at the ceiling and walls painted by Michelangelo, Raphael and Giotto. At the entrance to the Vatican Museums, do not forget to take a museum audio guide in Russian for 7 euros - the excursion will be more interesting.

Entrance to the Vatican Museums

On a note: The Vatican Museums, apparently, were designed by good merchandisers: to get to the Sistine Chapel, you will have to go through a dozen very interesting and beautiful halls. But the trouble is that, when you approach the chapel, you no longer have the enthusiasm for the most interesting and delicious things. In general, save your energy - the Vatican, like any other museum, is best absorbed in small portions, biting off the most delicious pieces first;)

2. Apostolic Palace

When walking through the halls of the Vatican, don't miss the courtyard Apostolic Palace, especially in clear weather. In the center of the courtyard is the famous sculpture "The Globe" by Arnoldo Pomadoro, purchased by Pope John Paul II in 1990.

Sculpture "Globe" in the Vatican

3. Belvedere

Here, in a small Roman courtyard, you will find two of the most famous statues: Laocoon and Apollo Belvedere.

Laocoon

4. Sistine Chapel

Along the walls of the chapel there are wooden benches where you can sit and, with your head up, find the famous fresco “The Creation of Adam”. But this is only a small part - all the walls and ceiling of the chapel are painted by the most famous masters of the early and mature Renaissance: Giotto, Raphael, Michelangelo...

Scene "Creation of Adam"

5. Exit from the Sistine Chapel

From the chapel, turning to the left will take you back to the museum on Michelangelo's famous staircase, and turning right will take you to St. Peter's Basilica, bypassing all the queues. Few people know about this exit, it is intended for groups and certified guides, but if you pretend to be a rag and turn right at the end of the Sistine Chapel, you will get to the Cathedral, saving time;)

Michelangelo's staircase in the Vatican

6. St. Peter's Basilica

You can get to St. Peter's Basilica in two ways: either by standing in line at the right wing of Bernini's colonnade that encircles the cathedral (it leads into the interior of the Cathedral and directly to observation deck dome), or by entering the Cathedral through the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican Museums.

Climb to dome of St. Peter's Basilica- This is a must-have program for any traveler. From here you have stunning views of the Vatican, the Vatican Gardens, Castel Sant'Angelo and the right bank of the Tiber. We recommend taking an elevator ticket. It costs 2 euros more than a regular ticket, but will save you a lot of energy, which you will still need to walk around the city.


View from the observation deck on the dome of St. Peter's Basilica

7. Interior of St. Peter's Basilica

You need to get into the cathedral itself at least to see the most grandiose temple of all time, Bernini’s bronze canopy and Michelangelo’s “Pieta”. “Pieta” or “Lamentation” is a very famous religious plot, when the Mother of God is held on her knees dead body Christ, just taken down from the cross. The sculpture is small in size and is kept behind glass. But this does not at all interfere with seeing the settled dead body, the lifelessly hanging hand of Christ and the completely girlish face of the sad Virgin Mary.

"Lamentation of Christ" - Michelangelo's first and most important pieta

8. St. Peter's Square and Bernini's Colonnade

In the center of the square, don't miss the Egyptian obelisk. At one time, Rome, like many European cities, was once again gripped by “Egyptomania.” In particular, this obelisk was brought by Emperor Caligula, then built by Emperor Nero on his circus, and already in the Middle Ages, the Roman pontiffs interpreted the concept of an obelisk or stele as a “lamp of faith”, demolished the statues of emperors crowning them and erected statues of the apostles and the Mother of God on them or, at the very least, just stars. By the way, there is a legend that the ashes of Caesar himself are kept in a bronze ball on the obelisk...

St. Peter's Square in Rome

9. End of the tour at via Concializione

At the end of our first walk, we suggest walking along Conciazione Street to the Castel Angela. From here there are several excellent panoramic views to St. Peter's Basilica framed by the streets.

Among the tiny states on the world map, the Vatican is of constant interest. Everyone knows that The residence of the Pope is located here.

But, to questions about state structure, history, flag and coat of arms of the Vatican, most people will find it difficult to give the correct answer. You have the opportunity to learn a lot interesting information about the smallest state in the world.

General information

The Vatican City State is located inside the city of Rome on the low Vatican Hill. For many, the Vatican and Italy are identical concepts. In fact, the Vatican sovereign state with the capital of the same name.

Some numbers and facts:

The Holy See makes decisions and governs the state. It is with this collegial body that the missions of foreign diplomatic missions in the Vatican are accredited. Due to the limited size of the territory, all embassies and consulates are located in Rome.

During the years of independence, the Holy See has established diplomatic relations with 174 countries. Vatican – member of many international organizations. The Pope is often a mediator in resolving international conflicts and always advocates their peaceful resolution.

On the territory of this enclave state there are masterpieces of world architecture and numerous museums. In the Vatican you can see St. Peter's Basilica and the famous Sistine Chapel.

The Vatican flag, unlike most national flags other countries, has a square shape. The cloth consists of two stripes of the same size, white and yellow. In the central part of the white stripe there are two crossed keys under the symbol of power- papal tiara.

The Vatican acquired its flag during the ceremony of independence from Italy. This significant event took place on June 7, 1929. Then Pope Pius XI was on the throne.

The Vatican coat of arms is full of symbolism. Motives Gospel reflected on the coat of arms in the form of keys, given by Jesus Christ to the Apostle Peter.

What does the Vatican coat of arms look like? The red shield depicts two crossed keys: silver and gold. The keys are tied with a blue or red cord. Above the keys is the papal tiara.

The Vatican exists through charitable contributions to the state treasury from Christians various countries and income from tourism business. Every year, the city-state is visited by millions of tourists and pilgrims who come to worship the Pope and listen to his Sunday sermon.

It is no less interesting to find out who built it, as well as how many people it could accommodate. Interesting Facts about the Colosseum - the symbol of Italy.

How many people do you think live in dwarf San Marino and what is its capital? As well as other answers on the pages of our website.

Vatican on the world map

Thanks to the power of the Internet, you can see detailed map Vatican. Wonderful places and architectural masterpieces in such a tiny area there is more than enough.

History of the state

During the Roman Empire, there were no settlements or cities on the territory of modern Vatican City. The Romans considered this place holy. During the reign of Emperor Claudius, circus games were held on Vatican Hill.

Since the spread of Christianity in Europe, at the site of the supposed burial of the Apostle Peter The majestic Basilica of Constantine was built. The year 326 marked the beginning of the history of the Vatican.

By the 8th century, numerous settlements were united into a papal state, which occupied a significant part of the territory of the Apennine Peninsula. But the Vatican was unable to preserve its own territories. In 1870, the Italian kingdom brought the Vatican under its rule.

The papal state gained independence after the Lutheran Accords, prisoners of Benito Mussolini in 1929. Since then, the boundaries and structure of the Vatican have not changed.

Geography and population

The Vatican is located 20 km from the coast Tyrrhenian Sea in the center of the Apennine Peninsula. Vatican Hill located in the northwestern part of Rome on the right bank of the Tiber River. The picturesque Vatican gardens are laid out on the gentle part of the hill.

On all sides the papal state borders only with Italy. Geographical coordinates: 42° north latitude and 12° east longitude.

Border dwarf state marked by a defensive wall. Entrance to the Vatican is through six gates.

St. Peter's Square formally belongs to the Vatican, but order is maintained by the Italian police. The borders of the Vatican are guarded by the Swiss Guard and the Gendarmerie, subordinate to the Pontiff.

As of 2014, the tiny state is home to 842 people. More than 70% of the population is clergy, about 13% are national guards. There are few lay people - their number does not even reach a hundred.

The Vatican is the seat of the Holy See, the papal court and its staff. You won’t be able to go there just for a “visit,” but you can visit individual attractions. What tourist sites can you see in the Vatican?

The Vatican is the smallest state in the world, a dwarf enclave state. You cannot go there just like that, “on a visit,” but you can visit certain tourist sites here. Each of them has its own visiting order. What sights can you see? ordinary tourists in the Vatican?

St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro) is the largest Roman square, located at the western tip of the Holy City. Piazza San Pietro is surrounded on all sides by a colonnade. A white line is drawn on the stone tiles along the outer perimeter of the square. This is not just a marking, but the state border of the Vatican. The entire remaining territory of the state is surrounded by a medieval high wall.

The impregnable wall was built in the 16th century to protect sovereign territory from external invasions. Total length of the Vatican state border is three kilometers. You can easily walk around it completely in an hour, although you are unlikely to get any interesting impressions from such a hike, because the Vatican is surrounded by ordinary city houses of modern buildings. You can enter Piazza San Pietro freely - it is closed only during important government events.

The best way to reach the square is via Via della Conciliazione (Reconciliation Street). Along the way you will receive unforgettable impression from the grandiose façade of the cathedral, which appears before your eyes and, as you approach it, gradually goes down. This visual effect is achieved because the main façade of the cathedral protrudes far ahead of the rest of the building.

Egyptian obelisk

In the very center of Piazza San Pietro stands an Egyptian obelisk topped with a bronze ball. This 35-meter colossus, made of pink granite, was brought to Rome by Emperor Caligula. The obelisk was installed on the square under Pope Sixtus V. It was moved under the leadership of the architect Domenico Fontana in 1586. There is a legend that the ashes of Caesar himself are kept in the ball crowning the upper part of the obelisk.

Bernini's Colonnade surrounds the square with two giant semicircles. The architectural ensemble of the square, formed by 284 Doric columns and the facade of the cathedral, resembles the outline of a key that opens the gates of heaven. There are two points marked on the square - two small circles of white marble. These points mark the centers of the circles formed by the colonnades. If you stand on one of these marble circles, all four rows of columns will merge into one. In this case, the observer will only see the first row of columns located at a considerable distance from each other.

Fountains on the square

Fountain in St. Peter's Square, photo attilio47

There are three fountains on the square. Two monumental Baroque structures, created by the architects Bernini and Maderno, stand at symmetrically located points on either side of the obelisk. A small elegant drinking fountain “Tiares” (1852) is installed behind the right colonnade.

Apostolic Palace

Papal Palace, photo by Manuel Marella

The Apostolic or Papal Palace (Palazzo Apostolico) is a complex of buildings that is located behind the right colonnade of the square. The architecture of this palace cannot be called harmonious and orderly. Over the centuries, by order of each pontiff, new rooms and buildings were added to the palace. Now this one architectural ensemble is an irregular quadrangle consisting of many palaces and halls, galleries and gardens. On the top floor of the first building from the square there is the Pope's office. From the second window on the right, the Pontiff personally blesses and crosses the believers who come to the square on Sundays.

The Sistine Chapel

Sistine Chapel (Cappella Sistina), photo xiquinhosilva

Swiss Guard, photo nobbiwan

The Vatican Swiss Guards (Guardia svizzera pontificia) in their brightest striped dress uniform stand at four points in the square. These calm soldiers guarding the peace of the Pope can be seen near the Bronze Gate at the entrance to the cathedral and next to the exit from the basilica in the left corner of the square; near the Papal Auditorium; at the Gate of St. Anna (Cancello di Sant’Anna).

Vatican Post

Mobile office of the Vatican Post in Piazza San Pietro, photo by katie g*

The small building of the Vatican Post Office (Poste vaticane) is located in the left corner of Piazza San Pietro. If you decide to send home a postcard with a unique Vatican stamp, be sure to do it before you leave the territory of the state - after all, Vatican postage stamps are not valid in Italy. The post office building sells colorful Vatican stamps and collectible coins.

Behind the colonnade you can see small Lamborghini police cars. Local law enforcement officers use these cars to protect the Vatican!

Saint Paul's Cathedral

It is impossible to see the entire interior of the cathedral in one visit - the internal space of the temple is blocked off with barriers; usually only the side naves and the rear area are left for tourists. At the far end of the main nave is the pulpit of St. Petra, created by Bernini, and to the right of it is a monument to Clement XIII, made by Antonio Canova. You will be lucky if you manage to get close to these cathedral attractions.

Above the tomb of St. Peter there is a Papal altar with a 30-meter canopy by Bernini surrounded by 95 lamps. These unquenchable lamps illuminate the descent to the tomb of the apostle. Ordinary tourists are not allowed to go down to the sacred tomb.

You can take photographs of the decoration of the cathedral. To navigate inside the huge temple, grab good guide With detailed description its altars, chapels and tombs.

Vatican grottoes

Papal tomb, photo by C K Leung

The lower level of the basilica is called the Vatican Grottoes. You can get there by going down from the transept. The grottoes contain papal tombs (the list of pontiffs who rested in the cathedral is engraved on a marble slab installed in front of the entrance to the treasury). The relics of the emperors Otto II and Hadrian IV are buried in underground mausoleums; the remains of Queen Christina of Sweden, King James III; the ashes of many other noble persons. Here is the Capella delta Confessione - the chapel where St. Peter confessed. Entrance to the underground grottoes (Grotte Vaticane) is free.

Tourists climb to the dome of the basilica from the street, following the sign. There is always a queue for this climb. For 8 € you can walk up the high stairs, and for 10 € you can take a special elevator to the middle of the road. This is the tallest dome in the world - its height is 136.5 meters. The first stop on the steep route is the balustrade inside the cathedral. It is located above the gold inscription that runs along the circumference of the inside of the dome.

Tourists move along the mosaic wall. A fine-mesh mesh separates those walking from the deep fifty-meter abyss, through which the pulpit and the floor mosaic of the main nave are visible. Only from such a great height can one truly appreciate the beauty of the mosaic composition. Michelangelo's oval dome is located very close to those walking. From here you can see the details of its painting.

The second stop on the way is the roof of the cathedral. There are huge statues along the outer edge - you can get close to them. Here, right on the roof, there is another post office and a coffee shop.

The third and very last stop on the way is the top of the dome. Along a narrow staircase laid between the outer and inner shells of the spherical structure, the most persistent travelers go to the observation deck near the laterna window. The most impressive panorama of Rome opens up to the eye from this observation deck.

Vatican Museums

Vatican Museums (Musei Vaticani), photo by Gé N.

Which museums are included in the list of Vatican Museums

Vatican Museums:
  • Gregorian Etruscan Museum
  • Vatican Library
  • Pio Cristiano Museum
  • Vatican Pinakothek
  • Chiaramonti Museum
  • Historical Museum (Vatican)
  • Collection of Contemporary Church Art
  • Ethnological Missionary Museum
Museums in the Papal Palace:
  • Apartment Borgia
  • The Sistine Chapel
  • Niccolina Chapel
  • Stanzas of Raphael
  • Gallery of geographical maps
  • Gallery of candelabra
  • Arazzi Gallery
  • Loggia of Cardinal Bibien
  • Chariot Hall
Museums in the palace of Nicholas III
Palace of Innocent VII:
  • Pius Clement Museum
  • Gregorian Egyptian Museum
  • Chiaroskuri Hall
  • Loggias of Raphael
  • Tower of Borgia
  • Palace of Nicholas V
  • Loggias of the courtyard of San Damaso
  • Urban VIII Chapel
  • Ladies Hall
  • Hall of the Virgin
  • Papal Apartments
  • St. Martha's House
  • Sobieski Hall
  • Hall of Immacolata

This museum complex is called “museums” in the plural, because it contains many exhibitions, different in content and focus. Tourists most often visit the Sistine Chapel, the Pio Clementino Sculpture Museum and the Stanzas of Raphael. If you have enough energy and time, you can gradually visit all the museums here, but you will not be able to complete such an intense program in one day.

Tourists have a choice of four routes through the Vatican Museums (Musei Vaticani), and a visit to the Sistine Chapel is included in each of them. If you have little time and want to see only the chapel, you need to follow the signs for Cappella Sistina. The road from the entrance to the Vatican territory to this attraction will take you about twenty minutes. However, you cannot buy a ticket just to view the chapel - its visit is included in the general itinerary for visiting the Vatican museums. Tourists should know: there are two exits from the Sistine Chapel. The exit to the left leads further along the “museum” route; to the right you can go straight to the Cathedral of St. Petra, skipping the line.

Photography is allowed throughout the Vatican Museums, but without flash. In the Sistine Chapel, it is strictly forbidden to use a camera or even talk loudly - it is believed that this could damage the precious frescoes.

All information about the Vatican Museums and detailed list All exhibitions are presented on the official website.

In the Vatican Museum, photo by Marcus Winter

How to get to the Vatican Museums

You can get to the museums from the Ottaviano metro station or from Piazza San Pietro - towards Piazza Risorgimento. There is a long line to get to the museums along Vaticano Street. If you have booked your ticket in advance, you will no longer have to stand there, and then it will be more convenient for you to get to the museums from the Cipro metro station.

Free Vatican Museums

You can visit the Vatican Museums for free. This opportunity is given to tourists every last Sunday of the month. You need to get in line at half past seven in the morning and prepare yourself for a long wait. Visitors are not allowed in in very large groups; you can stand there for about two hours. Entry is open until 12:30, and museums are open until 14:00.

You can also visit the Vatican Museums for free on International Tourism Day (September 27).

Tickets

On normal days there are also long queues here, but you can save time if you buy tickets online (but you will have to pay an additional 4 € for online reservations). Ticket price – 17 € (Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel), audio guide 7 €. The voucher that will be sent to your email after the reservation must be printed and presented at the entrance to the museum. After this you will skip the line.

Recently, tourists have a convenient opportunity to visit the main parts of the Vatican Museums in the evening - on Fridays, from 19 to 23:00. Entry is only possible with pre-booked tickets.

A trip to museums usually takes at least three hours. There is a self-service canteen for tourists, but only the hungry ones should go there. The food in the Vatican dining room is too expensive and tasteless. For example, a plate of regular French fries costs 4.5 €.

Vatican Gardens

Vatican Gardens (Giardini Vaticani), photo Einsiedler

Excursion booking

Entrance to the Vatican Gardens is only possible by prior reservation (2 months before the visit). The price for visiting is 33€. The price includes a guided tour of the gardens (you must specify the audio language in advance - you can choose Russian) plus a visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. After paying for your reservation on the official website, you will receive an email with your reservation code, and the attached PDF file will contain a voucher for a visit to the museums, which you need to print out.

Vatican Station, photo R4all

What to see in the Vatican Gardens

The duration of the tour of the Gardens is two hours. Tourists are shown the dacha of Pope Pius IV - Villa Casina, small and picturesque, built following the example of ancient Roman villas. Visitors see numerous stone benches and sculptures, ancient towers (Vetrov, John, Gallinara) and moss-covered stairs, old Vatican walls, a radio tower, a helipad and a quiet, deserted Vatican train station. The most impressive of the local fountains is the Galleon Fountain (XVII century). It is a small copy of a ship - an Italian galleon, shooting water from sixteen cannons.

French, Italian, English gardens impress with their unique style and extraordinary, impeccable grooming - as befits a true paradise. Twenty gardeners look after the green spaces. Near each plant in this outlandish Garden of Eden you can see a sign with its name.

Animals live freely here: squirrels and rabbits, bats, foxes and hamsters, lizards and snakes. Flocks of restless green parrots flutter along the branches. They say that these birds once flew away from the cages of merchants and found shelter in the Vatican gardens.

Among the green thickets you will see different buildings: the grandiose Palazzo Governatorato - the palace of the Vatican government; Ethiopian College - an educational institution for training Catholic missionaries to African countries; ancient Abyssinian temple of St. Stefan. The Sistine Chapel viewed from the rear. Views of the dome of St. Petra opens up from everywhere here.

In the Vatican Gardens, photo by R4all

The Vatican Gardens are extensive, but don't be afraid to get lost among the trees. Both guides and representatives of the gendarmerie closely monitor the movements of tourists. You won’t meet any residents of the Vatican, much less the Pope himself, along the way.

The tour of the Gardens ends in the lobby of the Vatican Museums - group members can begin exploring the exhibitions on their own from there.

You can only go to the museums on the day of the Gardens tour - unfortunately, tickets for the next day are not valid. If for some reason you are unable to visit the Vatican Gardens on the day of your reservation, you have the opportunity to reschedule the tour date. How to do this is indicated on the website.

Necropolises of the Vatican

Necropolis of the Vatican (Necropoli Vaticana), photo Samantha Lombardi

Hidden beneath St. Peter's Basilica are the foundations of an ancient basilica built during the era of Emperor Constantine. When archaeological excavations were carried out here in the first half of the 20th century, extensive dungeons were discovered under the old foundation. These were Vatican necropolises - multiple burials of the 1st-4th centuries, concentrated around a large and, by all indications, very important tomb for Christians.

If the Vatican Grottoes provide free entrance for tourists, you can’t just walk into the necropolises. These dungeons are the holy of holies of the Christian religion. Given their extraordinary importance and significance, visiting the site is strictly regulated.

Booking an excursion to the necropolis

Excursions to the necropolis (Necropoli Vaticana) must be booked in advance. You should indicate your last name, desired date of visit, and language of the excursion (Russian-language escort is not offered here). When, after checking your details, the time for your visit is set, you must send confirmation of participation and pay within 3 days. The cost of this excursion is €27 (Necropolis + Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel). If tourists refuse to visit the Necropolises, the paid amount is not refunded. Further instructions to future group members will be sent by email after payment

Children under 13 years of age are allowed on an excursion to the Vatican Necropolis only if accompanied by an elder. Groups of ten to twelve people are formed. The dress code, as when visiting the cathedral and throughout the Vatican, is closed. Bare shoulders, open shorts, and short skirts are unacceptable. However, for an excursion into the dungeons even in summer time you should dress warmer.

The gathering of formed groups of excursionists takes place in Piazza San Pietro. You must arrive fifteen minutes before the start and do not forget to print out your reservation. With this paper you need to turn to the guards standing in the far left corner of the square under the clock, near the exit from the basilica. Law enforcement officers will evaluate the compliance of the tourists’ appearance with the Vatican “dress code” and will allow those gathered under the arch.

You need to go to the Skavi office between metal fences. To the left of the road stands the Teutonic College with its adjacent cemetery, located in a small palm garden. These burials have existed since the 8th century. Behind the Teutonic Cemetery stands the Factory of San Pietro; after it comes the Treasury. Next you will see the office of Ufficio Scavi. There you will again present your printout, exchange it for a ticket and wait for the guide.

Excursion to the necropolises

The journey through the dungeon begins with a large hall in which ancient sarcophagi are installed. This is followed by the entrance to the necropolis. If you have already visited the Roman catacombs, here you will see certain similarities with them. However, there are significant differences in the structure of these dungeons. The catacombs were originally laid underground, and the Vatican necropolises were an open cemetery - the church foundation appeared above them later.

They will tell you about the burials. You will see fragments of the walls of an ancient basilica built under Constantine, the family crypt of a Roman aristocratic family, richly decorated with paintings and mosaics. Gradually you will get closer to the “heart” of the necropolis - the legendary tomb found during excavations in 1939. On this tomb the inscription “Peter is here” - “Petros eni” was discovered.

The tomb of the apostle is located directly under the main altar of the cathedral. Scientists to this day do not agree on whether St. Peter really lies in the tomb marked with the inscription? The probability is very high, but no reliable conclusive evidence has been found.

There is no answer to main question scientists: why the burial was hidden from people for so long. There is a version that in this way Emperor Constantine sought to hide the tomb of the apostle from destruction. He covered the tomb with the bulk of the basilica, marking the place of sacred burial inside the temple.

The tour of the Necropolis ends at the Vatican Grottoes. Tourists can explore these dungeons on their own. In order to go back to the cathedral, when leaving the arch you need to turn left and go up the steps of the portico.

Photography in the necropolis is strictly prohibited. As a kind of compensation for tourists, the Vatican website offers a video with details of this excursion.

Visit the tomb of St. Petra and the necropolises are available for 13€. Complete information on organizing excursions.

Lateran Palace

Lateran Palace (Palazzo del Laterano), photo Dan

The Lateran Palace is located next to the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano. In the previously existing palace, which was the predecessor of the modern Lateran, the popes lived until the 16th century inclusive, until they moved to the Vatican. The palace that we see now was built later - in 1589, at the insistence of Sixtus V. The building belongs to the Vatican State. Today it houses the apartments of the Vicar General of Rome, the offices of the Diocese of Rome, various bureaucratic services and the Historical Museum.

Tourists visit the Lateran Palace. You can enter the building to the right of the portico of the main façade of the basilica. Guided tours of the palace are conducted daily, except holidays and Sundays - four times a day, every hour, starting at 9 am.

Tourists inspect the interiors with rich ceiling paintings and ancient mosaics. Guides present objects of the Vatican ceremony to tourists and talk about its traditions; demonstrate the most important historical documents, uniforms and weapons of the Vatican Guard.

Visiting the Lateran Palace is now only possible by prior reservation, in groups of at least thirty participants.

Audience of the Pope

The Pope blesses the faithful, photo by Gaetano Castaldo

On Wednesday mornings, during his stay in residence, the Pope addresses numerous pilgrims. He comes out to the assembled believers and personally blesses them. In warm weather, this event takes place in Piazza San Pietro, and in winter or on rainy days, the ritual is held in the Auditorium - a white modern building with a fancifully curved roof, built to the left of the basilica. In July and August, the general audience ceremonies are moved to the town of Castelgandolfo, the summer residence of the Pope. The schedule of the order of audiences is presented on the state website.

The ceremony begins at half past ten in the morning. Already from 9 o'clock, pilgrims gather behind the colonnade: nuns, organized groups various parishes, associations and religious schools, ordinary tourists. The crowd is excited in anticipation of the Pope, and the guards have great difficulty restraining it.

A papal audience is an unforgettable event even for people who do not profess the Catholic religion. Tickets for this event are issued by the Prefecture of the Pontifical House.

When visiting the Vatican, remember that the Roma Pass is not valid on its territory. There is no passport control at the Vatican-Italy border.

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In total, there are 26 museums in the Vatican, many of them are not large at all, but there is nothing to think about embracing the immensity and viewing at one time all the collections of art objects collected over 500 years by the Catholic Church. Many museums bear the name of the Pope who created them. The oldest collections date back to XVI century. Therefore, in this article I will tell you what to choose for the first acquaintance, and what you can skip. The Vatican Museums are always crowded, so don’t be under the illusion that you won’t be able to view the exhibition in peace and quiet.

It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance and think in advance about what you would like to see. I wrote about different options for visiting the Vatican in the previous article “”, if you haven’t read it yet, I recommend that you read it first, where I tell you how to buy tickets and what options for visiting are possible and how much different options cost, where you can download free audio guides.

If you bought your tickets online, you can skip the line at the box office. When entering you will have to go through metal detectors, so it is better to leave knives, multitools, and scissors at the hotel. In the lobby you need to select the “Cassa online individuals” window and exchange your voucher for a real ticket if you bought a ticket only for the Vatican Museums. If you bought a ticket with gardens or a visit to Castel Gandolfo, you need to look for the inscription “Guided tour”.

Box office

I recommend printing out the map of the museum at home so you don’t get lost. The plan is not issued along with the tickets.

The first place where all tourists end up is the cone yard. The cone is antique and in ancient Rome she decorated a fountain, then for some time the cone stood in the old Basilica of St. Peter, and now she has given her name to the entire Vatican courtyard. At the foot of the cone, two ancient Egyptian lions lay down to rest. In this building, behind the cone, the Gregorian Egyptian Museum is located.



The yard is big, estimate how many people there are

Pio Clementino Museum

Typically, the average visitor begins their tour of the Vatican Museums with the Pio Clementino Museum. The museum received a double name from the two popes who founded it - Clement XIV (1769-1774) and Pius VI (1775-1799). Pio Clementino's exhibitions feature a wide collection of ancient sculpture.

The crowd will carry you through the hall of animals; you cannot enter the hall itself, it is fenced with ropes. And it will take you out into a magnificent octagonal courtyard.



Crowds of people in an octagonal courtyard

This is where you need to linger. It is in this courtyard that the famous statues of Apollo Belvedere, Hermes Belvedere, Perseus Triumphant with the severed head of Medusa the Gorgon are installed. The latter was sculpted by Antonio Canova, i.e. This is already the 19th century, not antiquity. Where the largest crowd stands, the famous Laocoon disappears most quickly. Laocoon is of great importance for Rome. I'll tell you why below.



Perseus Triumphant 19th century, Laocoon, Torso

A description of the Laocoon sculptural group is contained in the ancient works of Pliny the Elder. It is said that during the Trojan War, Laocoon, a priest of Apollo in the city of Troy, dissuaded the Trojans from dragging into the city a wooden horse left by the Greeks outside the city gates. Athena and Poseidon, who were on the side of the Greeks, sent two large sea serpents to kill the priest and his sons. From the Roman point of view, the death of these innocent people is crucial for Aeneas, who believed Laocoon's warning and fled Troy. It was the fugitives from Troy, led by Aeneas, who founded Rome.

There is still debate about the age of the statue. The incredible emotionality of the sculpture is striking; on the other hand, we know that the ancients did not know how to convey movements and emotions so clearly, but this did not stop art theorists from attributing the date of birth of Laocoon to the beginning of our era.

In the center of the Hall of the Muses there is a statue of the “Torso”. This is an antique sculpture, they say it was from it that Michelangelo copied the nude figures of the Last Judgment fresco that adorns one of the walls of the Sistine Chapel. Below are photos of antique sarcophagi, they are very wonderful.



Sarcophagus with the Battle of the Amazons

Sarcophagus depicting Dionysia

I photographed the bust of Socrates because his name is written almost in our letters, Fortune for good luck. The most valuable exhibit below the trinity is Hercules with the apples of the Hesperides. Firstly, this is ancient bronze, and not many ancient bronzes have survived to our time, and secondly, many marble statues are copies of ancient bronzes that have not survived to our time. Antique bronzes are now exhibited only in museums in Italy and Greece; they are not found in other countries.



Socrates, Muse Fortune, Hercules with the apples of the Hesperides

The floors of the Round Hall are decorated with antique mosaics. And in the center there is a huge porphyry pool with a diameter of 5 meters. It is believed that the pool is antique, how they made it remains a mystery, porphyry is a hard stone. Making something from porphyry is much more difficult than making the same thing from marble or travertine.



Round Hall

In the Hall of the Greek Cross there are two porphyry sarcophagi on display. One of them, according to legend, belonged to Saint Helena, and the second to Constantius. These look like typical antique sarcophagi. The audio guide tirelessly talked about the Christian warriors depicted on the sarcophagus of St. Helena, but there were no signs of the warriors belonging to Christianity. The sarcophagus of Constantius is decorated with scenes of the grape harvest, suggesting analogies between the grapes resurrected as wine and the resurrection of Christ. In my opinion, all this is very far-fetched. Even according to official version Saint Helena and her son Constantine accepted Christianity at the end of their lives, before they had time to make Christian sarcophagi for themselves. We just need to acknowledge this fact.



In the background is the sarcophagus of Saint Helena, in front people look at the mosaic floors

It is curious that the next Pope was later buried in the sarcophagus of St. Helena. For me, this is on the verge of blasphemy, but the Holy Fathers are not at all embarrassed by such things.



Mosaic floors in the Hall of the Greek Cross

This is where the halls of the Pio Clementino Museum end. From here you can go either to the Egyptian Museum or to the Etruscan Museum. The halls of the Egyptian Museum will lead you back to the beginning of the Pio Clementino Museum. Here everyone decides for himself whether he wants to turn left and see the Gregorian Museums or not.

Gregorian Egyptian Museum

The Gregorian Egyptian Museum is named after Pope Gregory XVI, who founded the collection in 1839. The museum consists of only 9 halls and presents typical Ancient Egypt collections, such as numerous hieroglyphic inscriptions, sarcophagi, statues of ancient Egyptian deities with animal heads, and even the real mummy of an Egyptian noble lady named Amenirdis, covered in a net of precious beads. What struck me most was the ancient Egyptian god Bes, the patron saint of babies and pregnant women. If he had to ward off evil spirits, then his appearance was the most suitable.

Gregorian Etruscan Museum

As you may have guessed, it was opened by Pope Gregory XVI. The museum consists of 18 halls and was one of the first museums dedicated to the Etruscans. I recommend all Slavs to visit this museum. There are historical theories according to which the Etruscans were Slavs and lived much later than is commonly thought of them now. The Polish scientist Tadeusz Wolanski deciphered many Etruscan inscriptions back in the 19th century and published books about his research. For this, the Pope asked the Russian Emperor Nicholas I to apply an auto-da-fé from his books to the scientist. This episode took place in the enlightened 19th century. The books were banned, the issue was hushed up, official science still considers the Etruscan inscriptions unreadable.

Etruscan gold jewelry is very similar to what we have on display in the Golden Pantry of the Hermitage, i.e. on Scythian things.

Gallery of candelabra

The Candelabra Gallery is part of the Profano Museum. The length of the gallery is 80 m. The gallery got its name thanks to the antique candelabra that decorate it on all sides. The ceiling is decorated with paintings on the theme of reconciliation between religion and science, religion and art, and even harmony between paganism and Christianity.



Vatican crowds, gallery of candelabra, coat of arms of Pope Leo XIII

Tapestry gallery

The gallery of tapestries was decorated under Pope Pius VI. The main exhibits are tapestries from the Brussels manufactory of Pieter Van Elst, woven in the 16th century under Clement VII, which came to the gallery much later than 1838, until that moment they adorned the walls of the famous Sistine Chapel. The weavers of Flanders managed to depict complex religious subjects using threads of only 6 colors.

Gallery of geographical maps

The unusually long, narrow gallery of maps is perhaps the most impressive room in the Apostolic Palace and was frescoed by Pope Gregory XIII. It took three years from 1580 to 1583 for the 40 frescoes to take their places on both sides of the gallery. Some maps have important cartographic value. The maps show the areas of Italy that belong to the Papal States. At the very end of the gallery there is a map of Italy during antiquity, and on the other side a modern map of Italy at the time the fresco was painted (XVI century).



One of the regions of Italy in the gallery of geographical maps

During the Renaissance, it was quite popular to decorate the halls of palaces geographical maps For example, the Globe Hall in the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence is decorated in a similar way.

On the way to one of the most remarkable parts of the palace, we looked into the Vatican courtyard, probably this is all the personal life of the Vatican available to tourists. Nothing human is alien to the Holy Fathers; they love cars and drive them to Rome. The Vatican is so small that there is nowhere to travel there.



Vatican courtyard

Stanzas of Raphael

I highly recommend exploring these rooms with an audio guide. The stanzas, or simply rooms, were painted by Raphael and his students from 1508 to 1524 for Pope Julius II della Rovere. There are only 4 rooms. Each of these paintings was replicated in different palaces around the world. If you don’t know who these people are and what the plot is, then it’s better to go to the store to choose wallpaper, the effect will be about the same. For example, tapestries repeating Raphael’s scenes “Constantine before his army”, “The Expulsion of Heliodorus from their Temple”, “The School of Athens” and “Parnassus” are now exhibited in the Hermitage. Initially, they were made to decorate the Mikhailovsky Castle in St. Petersburg.

So that you can get an idea of ​​the greatness of these paintings, I will insert the official video of the Vatican Museums. I won’t explain the plots; this could easily be stretched into a whole article. And anyone can easily find everything on the Internet.

The next place worth visiting and stopping at is the Borgia Apartments.

Apartment Borgia

Fans of the Borgias series should definitely stop here. The paintings were done by Bernardino Pinturicchio (Pinturicchio in Italian means simply beautiful painting) at the very end of the 15th century, earlier than the paintings of Raphael, in your mind you should first look at them, and only then get acquainted with Raphael’s stanzas, but the route was drawn up so that in these The rooms can only be reached after the chambers of Julius II, successor and rival of Alexander VI Borgia.

People who watched the series will remember this plot. Pope Alexander VI Borgia is still considered a libertine, a murderer and a very bad a good man- this is the official version. According to the unofficial version, he lost in the political struggle to his opponents and they denigrated him, attributed to him and even his children all conceivable and inconceivable sins. He is even accused of corrupting his 13-year-old daughter Lucrezia.

Alexander VI certainly did not suffer from modesty; for example, he placed his image on a fresco with the famous religious plot of the Resurrection of Christ. But in this he was no different from his followers. In the church near the Pantheon, we saw Cardinal Carafa inserted into the plot of the Annunciation.



The Resurrection of Christ, Pope Borgia is depicted in this fresco

But this sordid story is not all the interesting and mysterious that the Borgia apartments can offer you. Our scientists G.V. Nosovsky, A.T. Fomenko calculated the date encrypted on the ceiling of the Sibylline Hall. They believe that the date depicted on the ceiling is August 28, 1228 AD, and corresponds to the creation of the Ptolemaic system of the world. Official historical science believes that the Ptolemaic system of world order appeared in the 2nd century AD. The 1000 year gap is obvious. Calculations by G.V. Nosovsky and A.T. Fomenko are published on the Internet; those interested can read them and form their own opinion.

The Sistine Chapel

All the way in Rome I was amazed by the close interweaving of pagan and Christian symbols. This feeling reached its apogee in the Sistine Chapel. Could you imagine that the hierarchs of the Orthodox Church held their meetings in such a hall? And the fathers of the Catholic Church hold their conclaves in the Sistine Chapel, where they choose a new Pope.

This is a glitchy 3D panorama of the Sistine Chapel from the official Vatican website, it keeps asking you to save the music file, ignore it.

Initially, Michelangelo painted all the figures completely naked with all the anatomical details; loincloths were added to them much later. Sibyls are again present on the ceiling. I read the Bible and remember well that throughout the entire Old Testament, a red thread runs through the idea that fortune-tellers and soothsayers are an abomination in the face of the Lord. And in Rome, almost every church depicts fortune tellers in the form of Sibyls.

Taking photographs in the Sistine Chapel is completely prohibited. The fact is that the Italians did not have the money to restore the chapel. They were forced to sell to a Japanese company that invested in restoration. The Japanese received exclusive rights to film in the chapel. At the moment when we examined the chapel, the people in it were like on a bus at rush hour. Everyone stood shoulder to shoulder and listened to their audio guides. I only saw the magnificent floor of the Sistine Chapel in a 3D panorama.

If you go left after the Sistine Chapel, you can get into St. Peter's Cathedral without a queue, and continue to the museums to the right.

In general, we spent about 5 hours exploring the described part of the Vatican Museums, but everything is individual. Official guided tours of the Vatican Museums usually last 2-3 hours. If you take your own audio guide, you can probably walk there for 8 hours. There are cafes in museums where you can have a snack - it’s not tasty and it’s expensive. I don’t even know what I wanted more: to sit down or eat something. There is definitely more seating, but there were no free seats in the cafe, only standing tables. People ate while sitting on the stairs. Some rooms have benches.

You can go to the Vatican Museums, like the Hermitage, many times, each time choosing something new. We didn’t go to the Pinakothek and out of 26 museums we only visited 9, and even then not completely, but we were filled with impressions. Some museums are of interest only to specialists, for example, lapidariums.

Have you been to the Vatican Museums? How long did it take you to complete the inspection? What interesting things did you learn?

Do you want to travel to Rome on your own? Read in one article. You will learn: about all types of airport transfers (cost), about the cost of tickets for public transport, get a plan for exploring the city for 6 days, where is the best place to buy tickets to museums in Rome and avoid queues.

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