Vatican Musuem Review

How enormous is this museum?  If you spent 3 seconds admiring each individual piece in their collection, you would be there for 12 years.  That's a lot of stuff!  How impressive is the museum?  It makes the Lour've in Paris look like a Costco, and that's not easy to do.  In addition to the Sistine Chapel, the Basilica, Michelangelo's works, DaVinci's works, Bernini"s works, Caravaggio's works, Raphael's works, you name it, they're there's works, just the palatial corridors and display rooms are enough to knock your socks off.  It's one of the few places you cannot enter and be not absolutely "God smacked", as my British buddies are so fond of saying.  The jaw dropping wow factor is about a 12 on a 1 to 10 scale. 

The museum does have it's downsides though, (being minimal in the event of the chance of getting to view a world class museum with one of a kind art and treasures).  The lines, they are huge even in off season travel.  Shorter in the AM, but still impressive in their length.  The crowds inside, (see attached pics), fill even the widest of corridors. 

The museum's up sides are:  The entry price is extremely reasonable.  The cafeteria has very good food, and is also reasonably priced.  The coffee bar is terrific, and they crank out the cappicinos' in rapid fashion.  The best gelato in Italy is directly across the street, Viale Vaticano, from the entry to the museum.  (Trust me on this one, as I backpacked 160 miles through Italy working off a lot of gelato). 

As with many museums, flash photography is prohibited, but photography is permitted if you have the ability to turn your flash off.  The down side to this is that the light is minimal in some areas, and without a flash you have to afford long shutter speeds.   Tripods and monopods are prohibited, and you'll be trying to hold yourself steady within the ebb and flow of the ensuing masses of visitors to the Vatican.  Backpacks need to be checked in at the coat check, (which is free), and only small bags such as purses are permitted inside.  As with all world class museums, passing through security and the accompanying xray machines are mandatory for entry.  

The exit of the museum routes you towards St. Peters Basilica and Square, with transportation, (taxi stand, buses, and Rome tours), being just across the street, Via Ottaviano.  It's also a short walk to the Tiber River from the exit, where river cruises, and dinner cruises can be obtained.  The museum is too way cool not to experience when in Rome, and not to be missed by the art and sculpture lover.