What not to miss while visiting the Vatican museum.
Top 10 Must-See Vatican Highlights: Art, History & Hidden Gems
Planning a visit to the Vatican? Whether you’re an art lover, history buff, or a curious traveler, these unforgettable landmarks inside the Vatican Museums and Saint Peter’s Basilica should be at the top of your list. From Michelangelo’s masterpieces to ancient Egyptian artifacts, here’s your complete guide!
1️⃣ Sistine Chapel 🎨
The Sistine Chapel—named after Pope Sixtus IV—is world-famous for its ceiling painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512. Visitors flock here daily to witness the stunning Last Judgment and Creation of Adam.
📍 Location: To reach it, enter the Vatican Museums and follow the route to the end.
💡 Fun fact: The Sistine Chapel is where a new pope is elected during the Papal Conclave.
🕒 Want a guided Vatican tour with Sistine Chapel access? Scroll down to book your spot!
2️⃣ Raphael Rooms (Stanze di Raffaello) 🖌️
Painted by a young Raphael of Urbino around 1508, these four rooms are filled with Renaissance brilliance. His most iconic fresco, The School of Athens, represents philosophy, featuring Plato, Aristotle—and even a cameo of Michelangelo.
📷 Perfect for: Art lovers and Renaissance fans!
3️⃣ Saint Peter’s Square ⛲
Designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1656–1667), Saint Peter’s Square (Piazza San Pietro) is an architectural masterpiece. The grand colonnade welcomes thousands of faithful who gather to see the Pope give blessings from the church’s central balcony.
🗿 Don’t miss: The obelisk in the center, originally from the Circus of Nero.
4️⃣ Saint Peter’s Basilica ⛪
The heart of the Vatican and one of the most important churches in the world. Built over the supposed burial site of Saint Peter, this basilica took more than a century to complete.
🎟️ Entry: Free of charge—but be sure to cover shoulders and knees!
🌟 Must-see: Michelangelo’s Pietà and the breathtaking dome.
5️⃣ Gallery of Maps 🗺️
Commissioned in 1580 by Pope Gregory XIII, this 120-meter-long corridor features 40 detailed frescoes of Italian regions, painted by Ignazio Danti.
🌍 It remains the world’s largest pictorial map collection.
6️⃣ Michelangelo’s Pietà 💔
Created when he was just 24 years old, Michelangelo’s Pietà shows the Virgin Mary holding Jesus after the Crucifixion. You’ll find it behind bulletproof glass inside Saint Peter’s Basilica.
🖋️ It’s the only work Michelangelo ever signed—after someone wrongly credited it to another artist!
7️⃣ Apollo of the Belvedere 🏛️
This statue, rediscovered during the Renaissance, was hailed as the perfect example of classical beauty in the 18th century. Likely a Roman copy of a lost Greek original, it inspired artists like Michelangelo and Raimondi.
📍 Find it in the Cortile del Belvedere inside the Vatican Museums.
8️⃣ Gregorian Egyptian Museum 🐫
Founded by Pope Gregory XVI in 1839, this museum houses ancient Egyptian treasures—statues, mummies, jewelry, and hieroglyphs—mostly collected by Roman emperors and found in places like Villa Adriana in Tivoli.
🔍 Look out for: The statue of Queen Tuaa, mother of Ramses II.
9️⃣ Bronze Hercules 🛡️
Unearthed in 1864 near the Theater of Pompey, this bronze statue was ritually buried after being struck by lightning. It dates back to the early 2nd century and is now displayed in the Circular Hall of the Vatican Museums.
🔟 Nero’s Porphyry Bathtub 🛁
Once belonging to Emperor Nero, this massive tub was carved from the largest single piece of porphyry ever found—a rare, royal purple stone from Egypt.
📍 Today, it’s on display in the Vatican Museums’ Circular Hall.
💡 Pro Travel Tip:
🎟️ Join a guided Vatican tour to skip the lines and get expert insight into these iconic works. Whether you’re short on time or want the full story behind the art, a local guide makes all the difference.
🏁 Final Thoughts
These 10 highlights are just the beginning—there’s so much more waiting inside the Vatican Museums, Saint Peter’s Basilica, and Sistine Chapel. With this guide, you’ll know exactly what to look for and why it matters.
👉 Visit the Free Tour Rome homepage