Vatican Museum, A treasure trove of art and history

Viale Vaticano 00165

The museum has a rich collection

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Introduction

The Vatican Museums, one of the world famous museums, is located within the Vatican City and contains collections gathered by the Catholic Church over many centuries. The museum was initially established by Pope Julius II in the 16th century and its origins can be traced back to the purchase of a marble statue of Laocoön and His Sons 500 years ago, which was later bought by a pope and put on public display. The main exhibition halls include the Borgia Apartment, the Gregorian Etruscan Museum, the Raphael Rooms, the Vatican Gallery, and the Map Gallery. Famous exhibits include several paintings by Caravaggio, numerous works by Raphael, and sculptures, tombstones and inscriptions from ancient Rome. The museum is also one of Rome's most popular tourist destinations, but due to high visitor numbers, advanced booking is required, especially during peak periods. During summer evenings, there are live performances inside the museum, which can be booked online and holders of the Rome annual pass, Metrebus card, and the Rome monthly card, èRoma, can enjoy discounted tickets at €17 and priority access without queueing.

Address

Viale Vaticano 00165

Opening hours

Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 18:00 (ticket sales stop at 16:00, half an hour before closing for cleaning)
last Sunday of each month from 9:00 to 14:00 (entry stops at 12:30)
closed on Sundays (except for the last Sunday of each month), January 1st, January 6th, February 11th, March 19th, March 28th, June 29th, August 15th, November 1st, December 8th, December 25th, and December 26th.

Transportation

Get off at Ottaviano San Pietro Station on Subway Line A.

Phone +39-06-6988-3332

Website http://mv.vatican.va