Vatican City: A Whirlwind of History and Art!
They don't tell you, but visiting the Vatican Museums isn't just one museum; it's a whole experience! Imagine a 7km journey through over 20 museums, a rapid-fire history lesson with art smacking you in the face, from ancient Egypt to modern times!
The entire museum is a collection of "MAX style" artworks curated by popes, who collected whatever they fancied without a second thought, like:
- "Oh, that Greek god statue is beautiful. Take it!" 😎
- "This painting is mysterious, but also holy. Grab it!" 😎
- "Wow, an ancient Egyptian coffin? Let's bring it home!" 😎
This extravagant collecting style makes the Vatican feel like a "deluxe collector's" edition on a global scale!
Must-See Spots: Don't Miss These!
1. Stanze di Raffaello (Raphael Rooms)
Rooms painted by Raphael and his students, the famous "School of Athens" featuring humanity's greatest minds.
2. Museo Pio-Clementino
Filled with Roman and Greek mythological statues, including those with chiseled abs. The most famous: Apollo Belvedere, an idol of stunning beauty.
3. Gallery of Maps
A super long gallery filled with hand-painted maps of Italy from the Renaissance period, so detailed that you can see tiny boats even when zoomed in 1000%.
4. Sistine Chapel
We were lucky enough to visit when the chapel was open. The highlight is Michelangelo's ceiling, which he painted while lying on his back for four years (reportedly, he complained a lot and even argued with the pope hehe).
The legendary "The Creation of Adam" painting - two fingers almost touching - has touched the hearts of all humanity 🫱🏼🫲🏻
Bonus Fun Facts:
- The Vatican once had a mafia-style pope, the ultimate boss, Alexander VI. He had a whole harem and at least 7 or 8 illegitimate children 😰
- The Vatican Museums welcome over 6 million visitors a year - as crowded as a Taylor Swift concert.
- The spiral staircase at the end is so popular it has its own fanclub!
- Surprise??? There are almost no official works by Leonardo da Vinci on display! 😮
- Michelangelo was the master of sculpture, Raphael was the master of painting. The two had their own "factions" in the Vatican, forming teams, arguing behind the scenes, but still saying "Ciao, bello!" like always 😅
Survival Tips:
- Wear good shoes so you can explore to your heart's content!
- Don't go hungry ☺️. You need to be full before you can immerse yourself in art.
We spent just over 4 hours in the museum, and it felt too short. We were so busy admiring the art that we forgot to take pictures!
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