The Vatican museums are considered to be the biggest museum complex in the world. It has over 1,400 rooms with 3,000 years of art, the Sistine Chapel, and parts of the papal palace. There is also a room for the works of Raphael, and murals of old maps of papal lands.
A visit to Rome is not complete without visiting the Vatican museums. However, it can become a stressful experience because of its vastness. There is therefore a need to know a little bit of the Vatican museums and follow some tips which will save you a lot of energy when you are there.
Getting to Know the Vatican Museums
There is not only one museum but endless rooms and crowded display cases. It has an area of 40 thousand square yards and wall space of extending to five miles. If you don’t know your way around the Vatican Museums, then you might become confused and tired.
Most of the art pieces are gathered in the Apostolic Palace complex where you can choose from four itineraries. If you have time, then you take the D itinerary but if you just want some selection of rooms then you can choose the other itineraries.
A long corridor joins all these collections and leads to the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel, which is the most popular among visitors. If you are not so knowledgeable about art, the Sistine Chapel is still something that would be familiar and magical for you. The ceiling is very exciting to see because of the architecture created by Michelangelo that looks like a painting and a sculpture at the same time.
If you become tired after the Sistine Chapel, you can always go to St. Peter, which is at the left corner of the Sistine Chapel. However, if you have more energy you can always follow the itinerary.
A Day at the Vatican Museums
If you intend to spend the day visiting the Vatican Museums, it is suggested that you wear comfortable shoes and eat a hearty breakfast. Visiting this place entails a lot of walking. The shortest itinerary can take one and a half hour while the longest may take five hours.
When to Visit the Vatican Museums
The most busy and crowded days are Saturdays, the last Sunday of month, Monday, before or after a holiday closure and rainy days. If you would want to enjoy a less crowded museum, then better visit during afternoons or Wednesday mornings. Wednesday morning is the best because the other tourists are busy visiting the Pope. If you arrive in the afternoon at 1pm then it is all right because this is enough time for you to tour before it closes at 4:45pm.
On a Budget
If you have the budget, avail of a tourist guide service because you can enter without waiting in the long line. There are tours with a Vatican guide but these are difficult to get. You need to book as early as one year in advance. If you email them and don’t get a response, that means they are fully booked. There are private tour companies and private guides that offer tour services. Sometimes, these tours can be expensive so you better find the best deals around.
