Vatican Museums

The Latest

The Vatican Museums.

Vatican Museums announce new hours, ticket price, and entrance

Nov 10, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The museums have announced a series of novelties beginning both this month and after the new year, in anticipation of... Read more

Ultima Generazione (Last Generation) climate change activists Ester Goffi (right) and Guido Viero (second right) arrive at the Vatican on May 24, 2023, to attend their second hearing for having glued themselves to the statue of "Laocoon and His Sons" at the Vatican Museums in August 2022.

Vatican convicts climate activists, orders them to pay $30,000 in damages

Jun 13, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The activists superglued their hands to the marble base holding Laocoön and His Sons, an ancient marble sculpture, on Aug.... Read more

Restorers in the Vatican Museums’ restoration laboratory work on the Cross of Sant’Eutizio.

Crushed in an earthquake, shattered 15th-century cross restored in time for Easter

Apr 7, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

One of the Abbey of Sant’Eutizio’s artworks was shattered into at least 30 pieces in the rubble of earthquakes in... Read more

Laocoön and His Sons, Vatican Museums.

Vatican takes climate activists to trial for damage to base of famous statue in Vatican Museums

Mar 9, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Guido Viero, 61, and Ester Goffi, 26, were ordered to appear before the Vatican City State’s tribunal on March 9. Read more

The Vatican Museums.

Claims of phony Vatican art licensing ‘scheme’ draw strong denials

Dec 20, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

An Italian publishing house involved in immersive art exhibitions has denied an American attorney’s claim that it is wrongly presenting... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Cesar Landa, Peru's foreign minister, at the Vatican, Oct. 17, 2022.

Vatican to return three pre-Columbian mummies to Peru 

Oct 19, 2022

By CNA Staff

The Vatican on Monday returned three pre-Columbian mummies to Peru, which had been loaned for the 1925 Universal Vatican Exposition. Read more

The sculptures of the Chiaramonte Gallery in the Vatican Museums on June 8, 2020, in Vatican City.

Tourist who ‘wanted to see the pope’ smashes busts at the Vatican Museums

Oct 5, 2022

By Zelda Caldwell

A man visiting the Vatican museums in Rome on Wednesday flung two ancient Roman busts to the ground, causing moderate... Read more

The facade of St. Peter’s Basilica was illuminated on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, with 3-D projection mapping of Renaissance art from the Vatican Museums in a new light display titled “Follow Me: The Life of St. Peter.” The display will be projected on the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica every 15 minutes between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. each night through Oct. 16, 2022.

Video on St. Peter’s facade ‘an encounter between ancient and modern,’ cardinal says

Oct 3, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The facade of St. Peter’s Basilica was illuminated on Sunday night with 3-D projection mapping of art from the Vatican... Read more

The Vatican Museums.

New COVID-19 rules for visitors to Vatican Museums

Jan 13, 2022

By CNA Staff

The museums are a major source of revenue for the Holy See. Read more

A bronze sculpture, Sphere Within Sphere, by Arnaldo Pomodoro at the Vatican Museums.

Visits to Vatican Museums fell by 5.6 million in 2020

May 20, 2021

By Courtney Mares

COVID-19 forced the Museums to close for nearly five months. Read more

The modern Bramante Staircase in the Vatican Museums, pictured Nov. 12, 2015. Credit: Bohumil Petrik/CNA.

‘Secrets of the Vatican Museums’ video series brings art masterpieces to YouTube

Apr 21, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The museums themselves remain closed to the public due to the pandemic Read more

Staircase at the Vatican Museums on Nov. 12, 2015.

Vatican Museums to reopen with strict new measures in May

Apr 8, 2021

The Vatican Museums are planning to reopen to the public next month with strict new COVID-19 measures. Read more

The modern Bramante Staircase in the Vatican Museums, pictured Nov. 12, 2015. Credit: Bohumil Petrik/CNA.

Vatican Museums hope to reopen in February

Jan 14, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Vatican Museums are expected to reopen in February if coronavirus restrictions permit it, according to the museums’ director.  Read more

The spiral staircase at the Vatican Museums on Nov. 12, 2015.

Vatican Museums to close again amid tightening coronavirus restrictions

Nov 4, 2020

The Vatican announced Wednesday that the Vatican Museums will close until Dec. 3 as Italy implements further coronavirus restrictions.   Read more

Visitors in face masks at the newly reopened Vatican Museums.

Vatican Museums offer free entry to Italian medical workers

Jun 3, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican Museums announced Wednesday that it is offering free entry to medical workers in appreciation for their work on... Read more

The newly restored Hall of Constantine in the Vatican Museums, June 1, 2020.

Vatican Museums reopening unveils restored Raphael Rooms

Jun 2, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican Museums reopened Monday revealing newly restored frescoes in the Raphael Rooms depicting scenes from early Church history to... Read more

The Sistine Chapel.

Vatican Museums will reopen June 1 as Italy opens borders to tourists

May 23, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican Museums announced Saturday that it will reopen on June 1, two days before Italy opens its borders to... Read more

A view of the Vatican's Sistine Chapel.

Vatican Museums to reopen with temperature checks, mandatory face masks

May 11, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican Museums are preparing to reopen by reservation only with new health measures to prevent the spread of the... Read more

The Transfiguration by Raphael. Public domain.

Raphael revisited: Vatican offers virtual tour 500 years after artist's death

Apr 6, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Today marks the 500th anniversary of the death of Raphael, the Renaissance painter responsible for “The School of Athens” and... Read more

The Sistine Chapel.

Vatican Museums closed until April 3

Mar 8, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican Museums will be closed until April 3 as a precautionary measure to help prevent the spread of the... Read more