 |
|
|
|
|
The Vatican Museums' collections are now housed in the Palaces where Popes, from the 1400s on, used to live, dine, keep their dens and private libraries, study late into the night, and entertain. The Palaces are not unified architecturally; they are the product of hundreds of years of changing tastes and styles, and a reflection of unfolding needs and concerns. After meeting up, our first stop in the Museums is the "Cortile della Pigna" or Courtyard of the Pinecone. We then head towards a marvelous ancient Greek and Roman sculpture gallery, started by the general and patron pope Julius II in the early 1500s. Many visitors will recognize Laocoon, the Trojan high priest, as he attempts to disentangle himself and his two sons from a pair of serpents. This ancient sculpture is just one of many world-famous artworks in the Vatican collections. Moving on to other splendidly decorated rooms and hallways, we can pit-stop in Raphael's rooms (if time and energy allow). We finish off the Museums with a visit to the spellbinding Sistine Chapel. Sensory overload will compel us to take a deep breath before plunging into the largest church in the world, Saint Peter's Basilica. Here we learn about the history of the Basilica, which is also home to Michelangelo's Pieta'. Tickets to the Vatican Museums are € 15. Children are eligible for a student discount together with young adults (under the age of 26) with a valid student ID. Saint Peter's Basilica is free of charge.
Ager Vaticanus: Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica 
