Do Not Visit In The Middle Of The Day - My Chaotic Experience Visiting The Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
One of the things I have wanted to do since I was a child was see the Sistine Chapel. I was that weird kid who was fascinated by art history even though she had no idea what anything meant, so when I had the opportunity to go to Italy and see the Sistine Chapel, it healed my inner child and honestly changed my life. But I did make a mistake; I went in the middle of the day. I would NEVER do this again and advise you to avoid this as well. Here is my chaotic experience visiting the Vatican Museums.
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Buying Tickets
This was a super last-minute trip, and my friend and I bought our tickets through Tiqets using their Roman Tourist Card. If you want to read more about my experience, check out my post here: Is Tiqets Worth It? - My Experience With The Rome Tourist Card. The tourist card came with Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Skip The Line Last Minute tickets and the St. Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour.
Entering The Vatican Museums
Vatican Museums Entrance
For years, I was under the impression that in order to enter the Vatican Museums, you had to go through St. Peter’s Square, and this is not true. The entrance (pictured above) is in a different location. It is off to the side, and you are technically no longer in Italy. You are in the smallest county in the world, Vatican City. To the left of the photo I inserted above was the queue for entry times. Our entry time was at 1 pm, and we could enter the museum around 12:30 pm after showing our ticket on our phones to a worker.
Cortile della Pigna or Pine Courtyard
Sfera con Sfera or Sphere within a Sphere
Once we were inside, it was PACKED. It was gorgeous, but the surrealness of being inside the Vatican Museums did not hit me until we got to the Pine Courtyard, where we were not around so many people anymore.
Read about the Sfera con Sfera (Sphere within a Sphere). It symbolizes the contradictory relationship between order and choice in the modern world. It looks like a giant ball, but the meaning is fascinating.
The exhibits in this area were the least crowded in the museum, making me think our journey to the Sistine Chapel wouldn’t be chaotic. Yeah… about that.
Chiaramoniti Museum
Nice View of St. Peters Dome
Since this visit, I have been to many other museums, but this was hands down the most beautiful museum I have ever visited. The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The National Gallery in London are tied for second. The Vatican Museums were just so opulent. The collection of statues was mesmerizing, and I was shocked by how close you could get to all of the works. It enabled you to see the details.
Chiaramoniti Museum
I wish I had a list of works to recommend to you not to miss out on, but there was so much to see, and I got overwhelmed. That is why I wish I had purchased an audio guide. There were so many art pieces at every turn, and it was impossible to read each one and keep track of everything.
Hot take: You need to visit twice during your trip to Italy.
Laocoön and His Sons
But I do recommend stopping and observing the original Laocoön and His Sons. A 16th-century replica by Baccio Bandinelli is on display at the Uffizi Gallery, and I saw it days earlier during our day trip to Florence. I thought it was the original, so imagine how shocked I was to see the original here.
One of my favorite works, Ugolino and His Sons by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, located at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, is similar in style to this one, so seeing the original and admiring it in real life was an extraordinary experience.
I was so antsy to see the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s Peitá (more on that later) that we skipped a bunch of the museum and joined the massive crowd of tourist and tour groups strolling down the Gallery of Maps towards the Sisitine Chapel and this was when the experience became chaotic and overwhelming.
Getting to the Sistine Chapel & Mistaking The Location Of the Pietà
I was so happy to see this. It meant I was about to see the Sistine Chapel!
So, the walk to the Sistine Chapel was eventful. At this point, the Vatican Museums were very crowded, and it seemed they were not enforcing any cap on capacity. They could have, but knowing that they let us in 30 minutes early without question makes me think that they wanted to get as many people as possible in for the day because of the amount of money they would make, to be honest.
Gallery Of Maps
Gallery Of Maps
As we slowly walked through the breathtaking Gallery of Maps and Round Hall, we were sometimes shoulder-to-shoulder with people, which was unbearable. If you are claustrophobic like I am, It takes a toll on you, especially since, at the time, the meds I was taking made me overheat quickly. So keep that in mind.
Apollo and the Muses by Tommaso Conca -Hall of the Muses
The Bath Of Nero - Round Room
But don’t forget to look up. Many of the ceilings during this walk are decorated in the most stunning frescos you will ever see. It is also a nice precursor to the Sistine Chapel. My favorite was Apollo and the Muses by Tommaso Conca (pictured above).
Antinoos - Round Room
Antinoos is a sculpture I suggest taking the time to find during this walk. This work has a backstory that some may find romantic and others would find problematic. But this is a statue of Antinoos, the young lover of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. Antinoos committed suicide by throwing himself into the Nile River after hearing a prophecy that the emperor would die unless he gave up his most precious thing. Hadrian deified Antinoos and had statues erected of him in his honor. He also founded a city in his name.
Some see this as love; others see it as a toxic and abusive relationship, and I think that is a conclusion that you need to come to yourself. If it was true love, I could see how much Hardian loved Antinoos because this sculpture is stunning.
It wasn’t until we left the museum and I did some research that I discovered that Michelangelo’s Pietá was located inside St. Peter’s Basilica, not the Vatican Museums, and if you watched my Italy vlog. You would know why this is heartbreaking. I looked forward to seeing the work in person, as it was my all-time favorite sculpture. That was until I was Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia Gallery in Florence.
The Sistine Chapel Made Me Cry
Wikipedia
I have no photo or video of the Sistine Chapel because pictures and video are prohibited, and you are supposed to be quiet. But I saw many people taking pictures and videos, and it was deafening until the workers told people in Italian and English to be silent.
They didn’t enforce the no photo and video rule. They just made a statement but didn’t ask people individually to stop. It was odd because there was so much signage in the halls leading up to the chapel advising you not to do it. I didn’t even bring my camera with me that day, and I put my phone in my bag because I feared they would think I was secretly recording.
Smarthistory
But the moment you see the Sistine Chapel is one you will never forget; regardless of how chaotic, hectic, and overwhelming it was to get there, it was worth it. I wish I had gone at a time with fewer crowds, and if I ever find myself back in Italy, I will make sure to buy tickets for the beginning or end of the day.
World History Encyclopedia
Looking up at the frescos of the Creation of Adam and the Temptation and Expulsion of Adam and Eve moved me to tears. The emotions of being in such an iconic and holy place and realizing this is something I have wanted to do since childhood hit me all at once, and I couldn’t hold back my tears. It’s unbelievable to know that a human painted this.
Wikipedia
Surprisingly, I was more captivated by The Last Judgement fresco than by the painted ceiling. This large fresco depicting the second coming of Christ is vast and gorgeous. The colors are more vibrant than the ceiling, and I stared at it more.
Once you leave, you are we were then led into the many gift shops
Tips & Things To Know
Watch Conclave (2024) - Hear Me Out
Focus Features
I recommend watching Conclave (2024) before visiting so you have some idea of the historical significance of this chapel. I recommend it because it is a fantastic movie and it is in my top 4 on letterboxd.
Also, check out my blog post about it if you are interested: This Film Hits Different If You Have Visited The Sistine Chapel | My Thoughts On Conclave
Go At The END OF THE DAY
I would recommend going at the end of the day because my logic is if you go to a museum, site, etc., in the morning, you will have it all to yourself, which is cool, but as time goes on, it will start to get busier, and you may feel pressured to do and see everything before the crowds and tour groups come and this could make the experience overwhelming.
I think that by going at the end of the day, you know that even if it is crowded, you are guaranteed fewer crowds as the time gets closer to closing. Ultimately it is up to you and whether or not you have good time management skills or have crippling anxiety like me.
And it won’t be as hot.
Check the hours on the website
Depending on the time of year you visit the Vatican Museums, opening days and times vary. Check the Hours of operation HERE.
Book Tickets in advance
Even though I was able to get my tickets days before my trip, I don’t advise doing so unless you have no other choice. You can try booking tickets on the official website or booking via a third party. My favorite third-party tour company is Viator, and if you’d like, you can book using my affiliate link below!
DISCLAIMER: The following links are affiliate links. If you decide to purchase anything from these links, I may earn a commission on eligible bookings at no additional cost to you. This is a great way to support me while also benefiting yourself! Thanks!
There is No Air-Conditioning
It’s an ancient structure, so there is no air conditioning. Most museums and places in Rome do not have A/C, so if you visit in the summer, be prepared to sweat. It’s worth it imho.
Dress Modest
This was another thing that was not enforced, which was shocking. Dress modestly, covering your legs and shoulders, and if you want to wear a hat, be sure to take it off whenever you are inside.
There Is Seating In the Sistine Chapel, But not much
Be prepared to stand. I do not remember if the seating was reserved for those with mobility concerns.
How Much Time
I recommend at least 3 hours or going twice and spending at least 90 minutes on each visit.
Beware of the stairs
Bramante Staircase
When you leave the Museums, you will see a beautiful staircase called Bramante Staircase. If you choose to go down it, use caution, take your time, and hold the handrail because it is very easy to trip and fall. Once you are at the bottom, look up and take a photo!
It’s crazy how, on Halloween in 2021, my friend and I went to a Michelangelo Sistine Chapel Exhibition in NYC and joked about how we would go to Italy together….and then it happened 😳
Hi! I’m Andrea, the creator of Cinematic Excursions.
I am a video editor, photographer, travel and events vlogger, and blogger who likes to write movie analyses and yap about fandom. I also have a useless film degree.
I have been creating videos since 2018. In 2023, I started Cinematic Excursions to share my unfiltered experiences traveling, cruising, going on excursions, and using city cards that are supposed to save money.
I also use my platform to document my experience attending events like New York Comic-Con, MCM Comic-Con London, and the Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival, advising others and covering news from these events.