What is your favorite part of the Vatican Museums, besides the Sistine Chapel

The catacombs were our favorite. It was interesting to see which popes had the largest groups gathered in front of them.

School of Athens by Rafael.....loved it and SO much detail.

Hi Donna,

Catacombs under St Peters or are there some others in Vatican City you are referring to?

The Gallery of Maps!

As a librarian I enjoyed the Sistine Hall of the Vatican Library. This is a large corridor and adjoining space that people tend to shuffle through on the way to the Sistine Chapel as I did the first time. But on subsequent visits I’ve slowed down and looked UP and around to see all of the putti holding books in various poses, that cover the vast ceiling, columns and walls. On one of my visits they even had cabinets opened displaying books but that hasn’t always been available.

For my husband I’d say it’s been to slow down through the historical, fresco maps corridor and soak in the dates and places known to early Italian explorers. His second favorite place is the Raphael room, tiny and usually crowded, with four frescos, his favorite being The School of Athens.

I have really tried to no be a shuffler when visiting the Vatican Museums and walk away and into side areas that interest me.

I wish I could be more descriptive, but I've only been there once, in 2014, and I loved the stories behind the art, more than the art, and can't recall if the areas had names. But the first was a long hallway with the ceiling painted to look 3d. I think the technique is called trompe de loie? The skill of the artists of all the paintings in the Vatican is lost on me, but that style was the one technique that amazed me.

The other is a room somewhere close to the Sistine Chapel. I can't remember if the room had a name, or if the frescoes on the walls were of significance. All I remember is that our guide told us that it was in this room that Michelangelo and the Pope often met for lunch and to discuss things. It was the history of who hung out in that room that left the memorable impact.

My favorite part was the exit. It was so crowded I just couldn’t enjoy it. If you can get one of the early, before opening tours I think you will appreciate it more.

The Map Room, yes!

The Pinacoteca for the Carravagio painting and the Raphael Rooms that has the School of Athens. Use a good guidebook or a guide to have a better understanding of these great works. There are tours that go to the Museums before and after usual hours. It's worth it. You can spend a week seeing all the museums.

I think the Raphael painting of Christ is in the Pincotheca.

Definitely the Pinacoteca.

I like the pine cone, the spiral staircase, many parts, but probably number one to the Gallery of Maps