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An Evening at the Vatican Museums



A couple of years ago, I visited Rome with my university and, as I was studying History of Art, a trip to the Vatican Museums was a focal point of the trip. However, as amazing as the artwork was, the crowds and crowds of people that visit the museums every day made it difficult to see some of the art at a distance, let alone linger on any one piece up close.

I’d read online that there was another way...a better way...where you could visit at night, away from the hoards of people.



Last time I left you we’d just spent the whole day sightseeing around Rome, so it’s safe to say our bellies were rumbling in protest after all that exercise.


We headed to Prisco, a restaurant just down the road from our AirBnB.

We grabbed a couple of drinks first; prosecco for Liv and Flic, and a Negroni for me.



If there's one thing I want to do in Italy, it's eat my own weight in delicious pasta. Luckily, Prisco didn't disappoint.


Amatriciana rigatoni. Creamy, salty, tomato sauce, with crispy pancetta.


Gnocci in a tomato and basil sauce.


The special; linguine in a tomato and anchovy sauce with breadcrumbs. Full flavoured and perfectly seasoned.


We had a booked time slot for the museums, so we skipped dessert and headed straight to the Vatican City.


There was no queuing to enter, so we slipped straight in and soon found ourselves in a huge courtyard, where a brass quartet were setting up.


We sat on the front row and listened to the talented musicians do their thing. It was a wonderfully unexpected highlight of the evening.


We dragged ourselves away from the music, and headed into the museum, starting with the sculpture halls.

The expanse of Ancient Greek, Roman and Renaissance sculpture on offer is almost overwhelming.



The effort and detail that was obviously put into each piece is amazing, and you're able to get up close and personal with the art.


Some pieces were impressive...



...other's less so...



...but hey! Size isn't everything.

We met my twin:


And a very good (old) boy:


The larger sculptures are mostly in a covered area outside, but as you head further into the museum there are smaller, more delicate pieces within its walls.


The interiors of the Vatican Museum are artwork themselves. Wherever you look, the vast wealth and rich history of the Vatican is reflected in frescoes, sculpture and gilding.


This room holds the Belvedere Torso, which is a particular favourite of mine.


Most of the original figure has been lost, but what remains is so lifelike that it was used as a model for much of Renaissance sculpture.



The ceilings in the museum are especially ornate. The architects evidently took advantage of the extra space, and used it as a canvas for beautifully detailed religious scenes.



Soon we arrived in one of my favourite galleries; the Map Room!



The maps line the wall, showing Italy as it was hundreds of years ago.



I think this room is an excellent example of what makes the Vatican Museums so different from other museums. The majority of the pieces they have on display aren't in glass boxes in a cold, empty space. It's more like you're looking at someone's personal collection of art, displayed in their own home. Except, of course, that person is incredibly rich, incredibly old, and...the Pope.


As you head upstairs, you pass through a series of apartments on the way to the Sistine Chapel.



It feels like each is more elaborate and opulent than the last, every inch of wall and ceiling space taken up by paintings and gold.



It wasn't long before we came across a very special someone...


His Excellency himself!


I Pope I made a good impression!


Unfortunately they don't allow photography in the Sistine Chapel, but after a good couple of minutes admiring Michelangelo's fresco we exited into the modern art exhibition.


This section is less to my personal tastes, but it's interesting to see the modern interpretations of religious art.


By this point, it's safe to say we were worn out.


Happy and exhausted, we left the Vatican, and returned home to our snuggly beds.


Unfortunately the Friday evening opening times have now finished for the year, but they'll be up and running again in April. I really recommend visiting this way; the museum was quieter, more intimate, and there's something magical about being somewhere after hours.

Honestly, I Vati-can't think of a better way to spend an evening!

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