The Vatican Museums and Colosseum in Rome

A Visit to the Vatican Museums and Colosseum in Rome

By Diana Vahedi

Photos courtesy of Diana Vahedi

Imagine walking among ruins and monuments that are thousands of years old. Imagine traveling to a city that is as much a museum as it is a world-famous metropolis. Rome, the Eternal City, is just

that place. With its Egyptian obelisks brought back from ancient conquests, to the serene, hallowed beauty of Vatican City, Rome, Italy has something to offer everyone. Where else can you walk in Julius Caesar’s footsteps, be mesmerized by the glorious artwork of Michelangelo, Titian and Rafael, pretend to be a gladiator preparing to fight in the Coliseum, and dine on sumptuous, authentic Italian cuisine?

My husband, daughters, and I arrived in Rome in the middle of Europe’s biggest heatwave in July of 2019, but that did not dampen our spirits. Rome is better to view while walking because many of the famous sites are within walking distance from each other. Therefore, wearing comfortable shoes is important. Although Rome is home to numerous tourist attractions and a bevy of history, its streets were filled with cigarette butts and trash. But the ethos of historical facts and Roman architecture quickly detract from that detail. There are so many things to see in Rome, but the two places that stood out the most to me were the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum. They were both interesting as well as teen and tween friendly.

We began our tour by visiting the Vatican Museums, since it was simply too hot and too crowded to visit St. Peter’s square. Tickets are easy to purchase on site and cost about 17 Euro for adults and 8 Euros for children between 6 and 18. Children under six are free. You can also purchase an audio tour for an additional 7 Euro.

Most people visit the museum to see the famous Sistine Chapel, but the architects of the museum were clever to put that at the very end of the tour so visitors must walk through a plethora of different rooms before reaching Michelangelo’s masterpiece. The museum dates back to the 16th century and houses an enormous collection of Renaissance art and sculpture amassed by the Catholic Church and the papacy throughout the centuries. As you wander through the 53 rooms and galleries, your eyes are drawn to such memorable works as Leonardo da Vinci’s St. Jerome in the Wilderness, Raphael’s Transfiguration, Caravaggio’s Entombment along with numerous jewel encrusted reliquaries, crosses, and Roman sculpture. I majored in Art History in college and had only seen these paintings in textbooks. To see them in person was truly amazing. The highlight of the tour is, of course, The Sistine Chapel, perhaps considered the crown jewel of the museum. What struck me was how small and dark the chapel is. While one revels at the illustrious artwork on its ceilings, the sanctity and joy is somewhat dampened by the guards’ constant shushing and loud reminders that photos are not allowed. However, when you look up at the ceiling, you cannot resist becoming entranced with Michelangelo’s deftly painted elongated figures depicting the Book of Genesis in the Bible. The most famous panel is the “Creation of Adam” where you can almost feel the energy flowing between God’s and Adam’s finger. Despite the noise and the constant warnings, that invisible spark between Adam and God makes this museum worth the trip.

Our next stop was the Colosseum. As you approach what remains of one of Rome’s most famous sites, it is hard to believe that it is 2000 years old and was once covered in white marble. It is strongly encouraged to buy tickets ahead of your visit on any of the online sites in order to avoid the long lines. Even if you buy tickets beforehand, it is impossible to avoid the long lines. Tickets are priced at 24 Euros for adults. Teenagers and children under 18 are free. If you ask the tour coordinators for help getting in with the preferred line, they pretend that preferred entrance does not exist, and you end up in line with the other hundreds of hot, dehydrated visitors.