Everyone has heard of the Vatican. But how much do you really know about it? The Vatican City itself is a landlocked state and as such it is walled off from the rest of Rome.

This does not mean you cannot visit the city however, and in fact there are several significant reasons why you would want to do so. One of the main ones is the presence of the Vatican Museums.

Make no mistake – many of the world’s most famous artists have works inside these museums. Names such as Raphael, Matisse, Leonardo and Van Gogh are represented here, and their works are definitely well worth seeing. Ideally you should plan an entire day here to appreciate everything fully, particularly if you are a fan of art anyway.

Not everyone is aware that the Sistine Chapel forms part of these museums. As you make your way around the museums and their many delights, you will be able to see the chapel itself and its very famous ceiling. To give you an idea of how big the ceiling here is, Michelangelo was commissioned to paint some 12,000 square feet of it. Small wonder it took him four years to complete it – especially when you consider the amazing degree of detail it contains. Be prepared to get neck ache as you gaze up and try to take it all in.

There are many different sections in the museums themselves, and this is partly why a whole day is ideally required to see it all. On one Sunday at the close of each month, the museums open their doors to the public free of charge. You may want to avoid this date however because the queues to get in and see the works of art are phenomenal. The artists would be amazed that their work is still much in demand all these years later.

You won’t just see frescoes, paintings and ceilings during your time in the museums however. You will also see statues and busts; indeed there are separate galleries dedicated to each of these. Are you ready to be overwhelmed by the power of the Vatican Museums?