Musei Vaticani

We decided to leave the Pope's public address a little early to beat the crowds to the Vatican Museum - and it worked!

My absolute favorite piece in the Vatican museum was Raphael's "The School of Athens" (1509-1511) where famous minds and artists are depicted in one scene. Some that have been identified with certainty include Plato and Aristotle (in the painting's center), Socrates, Pythagoras, Euclid, Ptolemy, Zoroaster, Raphael (self portrait), Sodoma and Diogenes. This painting was not intended to represent a school that actually existed, but rather an ideal community of intellects from the entire classical world.

Pro Tip: Use Rick Steves' Vatican Museum audio tour

🌍🛫📝: Rick StevesRead more