How to Visit the Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums are a complex of galleries in Vatican City that display a portion of the vast art collection owned by the Roman Catholic Church. Begun in the early 16th century by Pope Julius II, the site has expanded throughout the years to include several museum buildings and galleries. In addition, a number of palaces and chapels, including the Sistine Chapel, are included in the Vatican Museum tour.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. View the Gregorian Etruscan and Egyptian Museum. Founded by Pope Gregory XVI in the mid-19th century, this portion of the Vatican Museums houses a diverse array of artifacts from ancient Palestine, Rome, Assyria, Egypt and other ancient cultures.

2. Explore the Picture Gallery. The Picture Gallery (pinacoteca Vaticana) contains works by some of the greatest Italian artists in history. Among them are Caravaggio, Fra Angelico, Raphael and Michelangelo.

3. Marvel at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The Sistine Chapel, located in the Museo Pio-Clementino, is the highlight of any visit to the Vatican Museums. The ceiling, painted by Michelangelo from 1502 to 1508, depicts nine central stories from the "Book of Genesis," including the Creation of Adam, the Banishment from the Garden of Eden and the Great Flood.

4. Visit the Raphael Stanze. The four Raphael rooms are the former apartments of Julius II. The walls are decorated with friezes by the painter Raphael and members of his school, from 1508 to 1524.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't try to view everything in one visit. Like the Louvre and the Hermitage museums, the Vatican's collection is too vast to be viewed in one day.