Vatican Museums
Art museum · Città del Vaticano ·
Vatican City museums display vast papal art collections including Renaissance masterpieces.
Vatican City museums display vast papal art collections including Renaissance masterpieces.
"A near after-hours experience that lets you glide through lavishly frescoed rooms and treasure-packed galleries at your own pace; highlights include immersive views of Raphael's Rooms, 360-degree panoramas of the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the Last Judgment, and lesser-seen spaces such as the Pio Clementino Museum and the Room of the Chiaroscuri." - Andrea Romano Andrea Romano Andrea Romano is a writer and editor in New York City. For the last eight years, she has been a lifestyle journalist for Mashable, Brit+Co, Reviewed, Bustle, and Travel + Leisure. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Offered as a limited, after-hours VIP experience on Sept. 8, this UNESCO World Heritage Site's public museums allow small groups to explore for two hours after closing, enjoying a serene, intimate visit away from the usual crowds. Guests can walk beneath the iconic Michelangelo-painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, meander the museum grounds and courtyards, and take in the rich art, history, and architecture before concluding with an apericena — the Italian tradition of relaxed drinks and a light meal — in the museums' courtyard. The opportunity is available only to passengers who book one of three multi-day Railbookers itineraries (8–10 days) that include luxury hotels, private transfers, private and small-group sightseeing, and first-class rail travel; tickets start at $6,459 per person." - Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a writer with more than eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s also the founder of the travel site justpacked.com. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"For the Vatican Museums, which are a very popular attraction, it's best to book tickets in advance to avoid sellouts and higher last-minute costs." - Laura Itzkowitz Laura Itzkowitz Laura Itzkowitz is a writer and editor based in Rome. She has been contributing to Travel + Leisure since 2014, when she started as a fact checker before becoming a contributing digital editor in 2015. She has also held positions as a contributing editor at The Points Guy and the NYC cities editor at DuJour Magazine. In addition to Travel + Leisure, her writing has appeared in Architectural Digest, Surface Magazine, Brooklyn Magazine, T Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, GQ, Departures, Afar, Fodor's, Town & Country, Condé Nast Traveler, Robb Report, Hemispheres, and others. When she's not jetsetting around Italy and beyond, she can be found in Rome, enjoying some cacio e pepe or relaxing at home with her husband and two dogs. Originally from the Boston area, Laura moved to New York City in 2011 to pursue a master's degree in creative writing and translation at Columbia University. She also holds a bachelor's degree in French from Smith College. * 10+ years of experience writing and editing * Co-wrote "New York: Hidden Bars & Restaurants," an award-winning guide to New York City's speakeasy scene published by Jonglez Editions in 2015 * Contributed to "Fodor's Brooklyn," published by Penguin Random House in 2015, which won silver in the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism competition * Contributed an essay to "Epic Hikes of Europe," published by Lonely Planet in 2021 * Updated the 2022 edition of "Fodor's Essential Italy" Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Open late on Friday and Saturday evenings from April through October (until about 10:30 p.m.), after-hours visits offer a far more relaxed way to experience the complex, with far shorter lines and beautiful amber light at sunset. A guided evening tour that picks you up at the hotel and arrives by about 7:30 lets you breeze through the entrance, enjoy an Aperol Spritz at the open-air café in the Cortile della Pigna, and benefit from a guide who uses diagrams to explain papal history and point out Italy’s regions in the Gallery of Maps. Highlights mentioned include the deep reds of the Raphael tapestries, the gilded frescoes lining the Gallery of Maps, and the ability to sit and properly take in the blues of Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment — all experienced at a gentler pace that works well for families and those who prefer to avoid daytime crowds." - Jacqui Gifford Jacqui Gifford As the editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure, Jacqui Gifford is always on the next plane. She constantly scouts for new hotels, shops, and restaurants to give readers the latest news and trends, and frequently appears as an expert guest on television networks, including NBC, CBS, ABC, CNBC, and MSNBC. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"The major papal museum complex is presented as a reservation-worthy cultural anchor, used to illustrate that dining should be treated with the same intentionality as planning museum visits; the comparison frames a good meal as an integral, culturally meaningful part of travel rather than mere consumption." - Jaya Saxena