Vatican Museums and other Rome, Italy Things to Do Tips

First of all, please be aware that the Vatican Museums have varying open days and times! Check their website to verify that they will be open when you plan on visiting.

http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/z-Info/MV_Info_Orario.html

The beginnings of the Vatican Museum can be traced back to 1503, when Pope Julius II put some statues on display in one of the rooms that is still part of the museum today. Because the museums are so expansive, I recommend renting an audio guide to give yourself a complete history of each piece and the Vatican as a whole. The rental of one audio guide costs € 5,50.

Give yourself plenty of time to view everything, especially the Sistine Chapel, which is part of the loop around the museums. You must visit the Sistine Chapel as one of the last parts of the tour, although I have read that people skip ahead to it and are sometimes allowed back into the museums again. However, I don't believe that there is any reason to do that. Just follow the direction layed out for you. We spent about 5 hours going through everything (not including St. Peter's).

Some of the treasures contained in the museums include: Egytian art, Etruscan art, Greek statues and art, jewelry, mosaics, paintings, statues, religious art and the Vactican palaces which showcase magnificent murals by Raphael.

Of course, the most famous piece of the museums is the Sistine Chapel which was painted by Michaelangelo. Some things to note about the chapel are: There are no photographs allowed (but it isn't impossible to sneak one in when the guards aren't looking), there is no talking allowed, no food and everything is pretty forcefully stressed by the guards stationed throughout the chapel. There is a bench which follows along each wall and stretches the length of the chapel. If you can grab a seat, it provides a much more relaxed manner of being able to look up at the masterpieces.

The entrance fee is 12 Euro for adults and 8 Euro for the reduced fee.

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Address: Viale Vaticano, Rome
Directions: Nearest Metro stop: Cipro-Musei Vaticano or Ottaviano
Website: http://mv.vatican.va/

One of Bernini's masterpieces. It is no wonder that this square is used as the centerpiece in the Catholic religion. It is a perfectly constructed square and is in ways more representative of art than of architecture.

The Piazza Di Pietra was built between 1656 and 1667 under the commission of Pope Alexander VII. The Egyptian obelisk in the center was brought to Rome by Caligula and stood near the spot where St. Peter was cruxified. It was ordered to be brought to this location when the original basilica was built in honor of Peter. It is said that because it was located near the place where many Christians were killed, that it is the last witness to their martyrdom. It is the last standing Egyptian obelisk in Rome.

One very interesting aspect of Bernini's architecture are the columns which surround the far end of the piazza. They were placed just close enough together so that when important dignitaries were driven through the center of the collonade, they could not get a glimpse of the basilica until they reached a point where they were totally overwhelmed by the sight of the massive building.

The piazza is a major sight for tourists and is usually brimming with them. Unless you plan to be a part of very large Catholic crowds who are there to see the Pope, don't plan your visit on Wednesday or Sunday. This is when the Pope comes out of his home to speak to and bless the crowds.

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Address: Vatican City

The Basilica is the most ostentatious church ever built and that is with good reason because it is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church. Emperor Constantine, the first Roman Emperor to not only approve of the Catholic religion but also to follow it, ordered that the basilica be built. It was constructed on the spot where in 64 AD, Peter the apostle was buried. The first church was finished in 349 AD. After many years of serving as the center of Roman Catholicism, the church fell into disrepair and in the 5th century, orders came through for a new basilica to be erected. The role of architect changed hands a couple of times before Michaelangelo was finally put in charge. Michelangelo died in 1624, two years before the dome was completed.

The church is filled with many important works of art, including Michaelangelo's Pieta and Bernini's Throne of St. Peter. The pope's altar sits in the middle of the nave and is only used when the Pope is actually giving mass. Otherwise, services are held behind the altar, just below Bernini's "Throne". We attended a mass which was said in both Latin and Italian, but since the Catholic mass is the same everywhere, it was very easy to follow if you are at all familiar with Catholic tradition.

Under the basilica lies the biggest mystery of the church. Bones were discovered during excavations which are presumed to belong to St. Peter. They are housed in a glass-enclosed room among the remains of former Popes. Someone we met during our trip said that when she was down viewing the casket which the remains are in, a group of priests came into the room where they immediately dropped to their knees and began chanting at their first site of the shrine. She said it was the most moving thing she has ever witnessed. There is a lot of mysticism involved with this church and its religion and the sheer beauty of the marble statues and stained glass windows is very intriguing. Even if you are not Catholic or not a religious person, I encourage you to visit.

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Address: St. Peter's Square

editing

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The forum was my favorite thing to see in Rome. It was amazing to be standing on the same ground where Emperors walked. The amount of history in that area of Rome is astounding!

The foundations of the Forum date back to 500 BC. It was the center for government, religion, commerce, and societal functions during its time. Around the time of Julius Caesar, the forum was added to in the area which is now known as Caesar's Forum. Augustus also added to the forum during his reign. The stone and metal from the forum's buildings was stolen by various rulers and thieves throughout the centuries and now all that is left are its ruins.

Entrance to the forum is free and accessibility varies depending on what groups are working on excavations at the time of your visit. I am not sure how legitimate these people are, but beware of students offering to give you a tour for little money. We were approached probably 20 or more times and after a while it got annoying, so we just ignored most of them.

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Address: Between the Colosseum and Capitol Hill