The Popes have not only been spiritual guides but also connoisseurs of art, and it was in the early 16th century that Pope Julius II decided to preserve this art. The Vatican Museums contain over 70,000 works of art, of which about 20,000 are on display at any given point of time. Over 6.5 million tourists visit the museums each year, making it one of the top visited art museums in the world.
The Vatican Museums have 54 galleries which include the Vatican Historical Museum, the Sculpture Museums of Pio-Clementino, Chiaramonti, Gregoriano Etrusco, and Gregoriano Egiziano, as well as the collection of Modern Religious Art. The collection includes art and sculpture from across the Roman world and stunning Renaissance art, including the art created in the Museum buildings itself.
A visit to the Vatican Museums will showcase the works of greats like Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Caravaggio, and Rapahel all under one roof!
Vatican Museum Highlights