For all the art fanatics, the Roman architecture of Italy is on the top of their favorite list. And there is absolutely no reason to deny the fact that Italy amalgamates a beautiful connoisseur of Baroque, Roman, and Renaissance art styles. And as a result, it is always charming to witness its architecture. Vatican museum is one of the top ten most visited museums in the entire world. It gathers archaeologists, art lovers, designers, architects, and exhibitors from all around and the globe. All the books and pictures combined do not do justice to the beauty it beholds in itself!
A typical one-day tour to the smallest country in the world gives you access to 26 museums in the city-state. It most certainly gives you a head rush, spending several hours inside these stunning rooms. Vatican museums are said to have opened in the year 1503 where Pope Julius II decided to give a part of his art collection to the committee. In the coming time, the rich families of Italy started donating expensive, rare art collectibles and that’s how the Vatican museums started forming.
Architecturally it is very easy to differentiate the various buildings that are designed in different art forms. One of the latest additions to the design was done by famous Italian architect Giuseppe Momo in 1832. He designed the very famous, Snails staircase; a combination of two circular iron rods that intertwine in a way that it appears as a helix.
Throughout the corridors and passageways, the ceilings are decorated exorbitantly. One of the most visited museums in the 360 feet long Room of Maps. It displays the world maps that were designed in the 16th and 17th centuries. The newest museum opened in 1973. ‘Portraits of the Pope’. It is dedicated to all the Popes that have served till now. It also showcases a very interesting work which is called ‘Papamobili’ which means, transport of the Popes. The exhibition displays the earliest mode of transportation carriages used by Popes till very recent motorized ones. The Raphael Rooms acts as a magnificent entrance to the Vatican museums. These were painted by Raphael and Michelangelo and showcases the four brilliant stanzas; Sala di Costantino, Stanza di Eliodoro, Stanza Della Segnatura, and Stanza dell’Incendio del Borgo. A lot of rooms also display art pieces by modern artists and throughout the year the Vatican hosts a number of exhibitions in the separate garden area as well.
The most important structure of Vatican museums of Roman Architecture is the St. Peter’s Cathedral and the Sistine Chapel. It is the exact same place where Pope organizes and regular processions and inside the Sistine Chapel rooms, the Pope is elected. It is the same place where Michelangelo painted his masterpiece, ‘The Last Judgement’ on the ceiling. Once you enter the Chapel, the murals capture you. Looking at the ceiling will take away your breath. It took decades to finish this famous artwork. The intricately painted figures were made using special painting techniques that make them look so real even today!
Visiting the Vatican museums and exploring art is one of the most wonderful experiences! And for all those who refrain from going to museums, this one would definitely change your perspective for good!
