Free: Last Sunday each month 8:30am – 2pm (last admission at 12:30pm)
What started as a group of sculpture collections by Pope Julius II in the 16th century has today become the 5.5 hectare Vatican Museums complex. Perhaps best known for its Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo’s famous nine-panelled murals, the Museum also houses many other priceless works from Raphael’s to da Vinci’s. With the record-breaking 5-million visitors in 2011, you can expect to encounter insanely long queue, especially when it’s free on the last Sunday of each month. Arrive early as you’ll need the time to explore what the Vatican Museums have to offer.
Address: Viale Vaticano, 00165 Rome
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9am – 4pm; Closed on Sundays
Direction: Metro Line A to Ottaviano-San Pietro Station; Bus No. 49 to the museum entrance
Phone: +39 6 698 84 947
Website: www.vatican.va
Photo credit: Colin, Jesús Moreno, Jean-Pol GRANDMONT
