Vatican City AKA the Artwork of my Dreams

We woke up super early to meet our tour guide at the Vatican. Because we had booked tickets in advance and were with a guide, we got to skip the massive, probably 4-hour, line and only queue for about 15 minutes. I’m so glad we got there that early because by the time we left it was insanely crowded by the time we left, as in no moving room…

It was SO amazing seeing some of my favorite works of art in person and mind-blowing to see the scale of the Vatican Museums. We saw hardly anything and it was still slightly overwhelming! But at least I still have plenty to see when I go back one day!!

I’ll let the pictures do the talking on this one. We saw the Sistine Chapel, several wings (including the Map Room, Tapestry hall, several Greek and Roman statues, some Ancient Roman paintings, paintings by Raphael and much more).

Such a pretty view/day

Sistine Chapel ceiling

Not really sure what it means, but it’s cool!

Notice the painted in eyes. The last original sculpture with them. All sculptures would have painted in eyes, and, if wearing clothes, those would be colored as well.

I swear I saw this in my Art History textbook…

The fact that this is a tapestry blows my mind…

The table switches directions as you walk by it!

Raphael Rooms

Painted caryatids

The first painting depicting a night scene

The School of Athens!!!! One of my favorites ~ was so happy to see it in person!!

Love these ceilings

If you look closely, there’s a cat inside the vase the guy is holding!

Laocoon!

The Holy Door, opened every 25 years. It symbolizes “the redemption of man’s sins and starting a new life”

The domes are gorgeous.

Every “painting” is actually a mosaic. Phenomenal

Pieta!!

You can see the red curtain where the Pope made his Christmas address

I really wish we could’ve gotten to see the Egyptian / Etruscan art but that’s for next time. You really had to be there to see the true beauty of it but I hope these pictures help capture it. I will never forget it!