The masterpieces of papal patronage

An expression of the magnificence of pontifical patronage, the collection of the Vatican Museums is among the largest and most important in the world. We will retrace the footsteps of the popes, visiting the palaces where popes have lived since the Middle Ages where the masterpieces of art are held. We will start from the Pinecone Courtyard, designed by the architect Donato Bramante at the request of Pope Julius II Della Rovere, before heading into the Pio Clementino Museum, the first nucleus of the Museums open to the public in the second half of the 18th century. Still today it offers visitors the greatest masterpieces of ancient art works, from the Belvedere Apollo to the famous sculptural group of Laocoön, from the Belvedere Torso to the splendid sarcophagi in red porphyry from the costantinian period. We will continue our itinerary along the upper galleries: the Gallery of the candelabra, the Gallery of the tapestries with the precious flemish and roman works of the 16th and 17th century and the Gallery of geographical maps with amazing Mannerist frescoes. After the Sobiesky Room and the Immaculate Conception Room we will visit the Rafael Rooms, the highest expression of the Renaissance and standing in front of the famous School of Athens we will reconstruct the personality of the master of Urbino and his illustrious students. Finally we will cross the Borgia apartments with the collection of Contemporary Art before concluding with the grandeur of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel, a treasure trove of art and faith.

We are completely at your disposal to extend the tour of the Museums to include other areas such as the Gregorian Egyptian and Etruscan Museums, the Pinacoteca and the Carriage Pavilion.

Temple of Christendom

It is also possible to complete the tour (dependent on opening hours and religious celebrations in progress), with a visit to the Basilica of San Pietro and the famous Pietà by Michelangelo. This Temple of Christianity has seen the involvement of the most significant architects of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. One of it’s most important features, by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, is the scenographic Saint Peter’s Square and the majestic colonnade topped by figures of saints that symbolically embrace the visitor, directing one’s gaze toward the Dome of Michelangelo.