The Vatican Museums: just a click away!

By Linda Bordoni

Perhaps it’s something you always wanted to do but never had the opportunity, maybe it was a secret wish you never even dared to hope would come true… of course, it’s not exactly the same as the real thing, but today you can go on-line and immerse yourself in the beauty and wonder of the Vatican Museums thanks to seven virtual tours offered on the Museum’s website.

In keeping with the precautionary steps taken by the Italian authorities due to the Covid-19 emergency, the Museums, which boasts one of the richest collections in the world, and that are visited by over 5 million people each year, are making themselves visible through all digital devices, free of charge.

The tours

The seven virtual tours regard the Sistine Chapel, the Pio Clementino Museum, the Chiaramonti Museum, the New Wing, Raphael’s Rooms, the Niccoline Chapel, and the Room of the Chiaroscuri. Once inside, the cyber-visitor can explore each of these environments, moving in every direction and focusing on even the smallest detail of the individual works, all of which are reproduced in high definition.

What’s more, every day the official @vaticamuseums Instagram account provides images of Vatican Museums’ masterpieces accompanied by short captions that explain the history and the meaning of the selected works.

In compliance with government directives, the Vatican Museums have been closed to the public since 9 March and will stay closed until 3 April at least. Precautionary closures also concern the Excavations Office (which is also offering a virtual visit of the necropolis underneath St. Peter’s Basilica), the Museum of the Pontifical Villas in Castel Gandolfo and all other Pontifical exhibition areas.