This collection of 460 paintings, displayed in 18 different rooms, represents definitely one of the best parts of the tour of the Vatican Museums. It was inaugurated in 1932 by Pope Pius XI, and it is full of art treasures that were previously located in different apostolic buildings of the Vatican.

The collection of the Pinacoteca contains works made by artists such as Leonardo, Caravaggio, Raphael and Giotto, so that lovers of Renaissance art will definitely enjoy this part of the museums.

It is one of the most fascinating venues of the Vatican Museums. It is a very huge room with topographical maps of the regions of Italy painted on its side walls by Ignazio Danti, commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII.

And if this were not enough, the room is topped by a luminous vault from which you will not take your eyes off. The Gallery of Maps is undoubtedly a space where it is worth stopping for a few minutes to appreciate its details during the visit to the Vatican Museums.

If you are an admirer of the art of sculpture, and especially of classical Greek sculptures, you can not miss this museum.

There, you can find two of the most important sculptures of the whole complex of the Vatican Museums: the Apollo Belvedere and the Laocoön sculpture group, both Roman copies of the Greek originals.

This complex, consisting of twelve rooms and a courtyard, was the first of the Vatican Museums, founded in 1771 by Pope Clement XIV. This is another of the 7 things you can not miss in your tour to the Vatican Museums.

While Michelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel, another great Renaissance artist was commissioned to paint the rooms of Julius II. As the name of the rooms indicates, the artist chosen for this task was Raphael, who began in 1508 to finish in 1520, the year of his death. After that, it was continued by his pupils for four more years.

These four rooms have impressive frescoes on their walls and ceilings, so stopping to contemplate this beauty will be a fascinating experience.

The Carriage Pavilion is located in the Papal Apartment of the Lateran Apostolic Palace, in a separate section of the Historical Museum. It was created by Pope Paul VI in 1973.

As its name suggests, this curious room contains carriages, saddles, automobiles and palanquins used by various pontiffs over the centuries. Although it is not as magnificent as the other rooms, it is a rather curious and different place, so it is worth having a look at it during your visit to the Vatican Museums.

At the end of the tour, on the way out of the Museums, there is a spectacular spiral staircase known as “Bramante staircase”.

The original staircase was designed in 1512 by Donato Bramante with the aim of connecting the Belvedere Palace of Innocent VIII with the city. This staircase was later replaced by the one which is displayed nowadays, created by Giuseppe Momo in 1932.

We recommend observing the perspective from both above and below the stairs at the end of your visit to the Vatican Museums. We assure you that you will not be disappointed.

Finally, the most popular and visited point during the tour of the Vatican Museums: The Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo.

It is one of the most renowned art works in history, so it is normal to find large crowds of tourists inside. However, despite being smaller in size than many of the other rooms in the museums, being able to contemplate it is an unforgettable experience that you can not miss during your visit to the Vatican Museums.

We recommend that you take a few minutes to admire the paintings that cover the vault, which portrays everything from the world-famous Creation of Adam (perhaps the most reproduced fragment of the entire Chapel) to the Last Judgment, which covers the wall of the Altar.

Visiting Vatican Museums is undoubtedly a unique opportunity to see some of the most important universal art works. Book your visit today and immerse yourself with us in this unique experience.