The Vatican Museum Complex โ history, photos, descriptions, prices 2021, map
The history of Rome is forever frozen in its world-famous sights. Rulers changed, natural and political storms raged. The Romans always found a way out of a difficult situation. Their inquisitive mind, diligence, order helped to solve many technical and economic problems of those times, leaving to their heirs, for example, a unique water supply system that operates now. This applies to works of painting, architecture, sculpture. You can find them in every corner of Rome. Among them is an amazing cultural monument of the Vatican Museum Complex. You can walk along it for a long time, discovering new facts from the ancient life of Italy. Admiring ancient sculptures, masterpieces of painting by famous artists from public collections founded in the 18th century by Popes Clement XVI and Pius VI. By the way,
Construction history
The State of the Vatican, established in 1929 thanks to Benito Mussolini, despite its small size, has fabulous wealth accumulated in the country. On its square there are several dozen museums united in a single complex. Their expositions are occupied by two palaces, other premises, striking in their architecture. The entire Vatican, located on the hill of the same name, is a huge museum. The ancient Romans considered this place sacred. Circus games organized by order of Emperor Claudius were held here.
It was a place of mass spectacles, horse racing, chariot competitions. It became a shrine after the burial of the Apostle of Christ, St. Peter, sentenced to death by Emperor Nero. The history of Christianity is connected with the place. She, as if alive, coming from legends, tales, sparkling architecture of churches, basilicas, temples, attracts tourists from all over the world.
See the ancient frescoes โThe Creation of Adamโ, โThe Last Judgmentโ by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel. Imagine how, since the 15th century, the great words โwe have a popeโ have been voiced after long elections held by the cardinals. Even white smoke rises from the chimney in honor of the successful end of the election as if many centuries ago.
The priceless treasures of the Vatican are carefully stored in numerous museums united in the complex. The number of museums in the area of โโa small country is about 200 units. About 30 entered the museum complex, which is one of the most significant museums in the world. To take a closer look at the treasures acquired over the centuries, you need to spend a lot of time.
What museums are included in the complex
The sights of the Vatican are located behind the medieval fortress wall of the state in the state, built in the 9th century. Their number is constantly increasing. Palaces, cathedrals, Vatican gardens, art galleries, administrative buildings, the universities of Urbana, Thomas Aquinas, the residence of the popes, a radio station rise on the State Square. The complex includes the following attractions.
Egyptian Museum. The museum was opened in the middle of 1839 on the basis of the desire of Gregory XVI. Here are collected elements of Egyptian art. They were collected by Pope Pius VII. Statues, rich sarcophagi, ancient sculptures, papyri, mummies were brought from the collections of private owners, archaeological excavations from the period of the capture of Egypt.
They are considered the central elements of the museum. The expositions of the museum occupy nine halls. Their design corresponds to the style of Egypt. Among the ancient artifacts are the stele of a female pharaoh, the head of Amenhotep (21st century BC), a statue of Ramses II, numerous funeral urns of great people of antiquity.
Etruscan Museum. In 22 departments, a huge number of finds from the necropolises of the ancient settlements of Etruria, located near the city of Cerveteri, have been collected. The museum was opened in 1837. Its halls are decorated with frescoes showing scenes from the Old Testament. The expositions of the museum contain unique silver and gold items. Ancient samples of ceramics, household items made in the 7th century BC. One section stores the full equipment of ancient warriors of the 4th century BC. Of interest is the hall with burial urns, tufa sarcophagi depicting scenes from the mythology of ancient Greece. Now one of the halls is being renovated, which will show what the Etruscan temple was like.
Ethnological missionary museum. The beginning of work is connected with the International Exhibition of Missionaries in 1925. On the territory of the Vatican Gardens there are 24 pavilions with elements of a religious cult. They were brought here from all over the world. A large number of artifacts were presented to the pontiff by the Catholic Church. In the future, their number increased. A large museum began to develop on their basis. The building, erected in 1963, stores almost 100 thousand interesting exhibits from different parts of the world.
Museum of Secular Art. The opening of the Gregorian Museum took place in 1970. It contains ancient treasures of art found in the state. Among them are statues of ancient gods.
Pio Clementno Museum. It was created at the suggestion of Pope Clement XIV in 1769. It is dedicated to the artifacts of the ancient art of Rome, Greece, which are placed in the halls, the courtyard of the museum. The courtyard is made in the form of an octagon, surrounded by a port with 16 columns. The statues are set in the depths of the niches. Among them, the following niches are most famous:
The infrastructure of the museum is replete with numerous galleries, halls, for example:
The Gallery of Masks, the Halls of Perseus, the Apoxyomenos, the Rotundas, the Gallery of Busts are filled with interesting artifacts, works of art from different times in the Museo Pio-Clementio.
Raphael Stations. Otherwise, the rooms of the famous artist. They signed them together with their students in the period 1508-1517. All of them have a thematic orientation of the paintings. For example, similarly to the frescoes โFire in Bogroโ, โAthenian schoolโ, โWisdom, moderation and strengthโ, โExpulsion of Eliodorโ, โPeter's exileโ. The stanzas served for court sessions, church tribunals, and receptions. The vaults of the spans of the palace (Raphael Loggia) are decorated with frescoes by Raphael Santi on the themes of the Old and New Testaments.
Vatican Pinakothek. A rare collection of European, Byzantine paintings of the XI-IXX centuries is located in a separate building, erected in 1932. The founding time of the Pinakothek is considered to be the end of the 18th century, when, at the request of Pope Pius VI, his collection of paintings settled in a specific place. Now it has covered 18 halls, it consists of paintings created by the masters of Italy on the themes of religion. These are the famous names of Titian, Rfafael, Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Poussin, and others. Separate rooms are devoted to the works of artists of the schools of Flemish, Baroque, Netherlandish, Florentine painting. The Pinakothek contains masterpieces of icons, sculptures, tapestries, and mosaics.
Gallery of Arazia or tapestries. The opening of the gallery took place in 1838. The famous tapestries are created according to the sketches of famous artists on biblical themes. Among them are tapestries based on the works of the Flemish Peter Cook van Alst โMassacre of the Innocentsโ, โResurrectionโ, Adoration of the Shepherds. Previously, many were kept in the Sistine Chapel.
The Chiaromonti Museum, the Borgia Apartments, the Gregorian Museum of Secular Art, the Historical Museum, galleries of candelabra, geographical maps and other unique places were included in the complex.
Opening hours and ticket prices
Museums are open all week except Sunday. They open at 9:00 am. The museum closes at 1800, but tickets at the box office are sold until 1600. The museum complex is located in Rome at Viale Vaticano. It is convenient to admire the treasures of the museum by purchasing a single ticket worth 16 EUR.
Where is the complex located and how to get to it
You do not need to apply for a special visa to travel to the Vatican City. A Schengen visa to Italy, obtained, for example, from the Russian Embassy in Italy, allows you to fly to the country's capital. From the main airport, it is proposed to come to the Vatican by the Leonardo train, which leaves in half an hour from the railway station located on the airport square. The ticket price is โฌ14. At Roma Termini Central Station, change to the orange metro line. Get off at the Vatican Museums station. Tickets are punched before boarding. There is an option to travel only by metro from the train departure station. It will take more time.