The Vatican Museums are a must-see destination for art lovers, history enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to experience the beauty of one of the world’s most important cultural and religious centers. And now, visitors have a chance to see the Museums in a new light.  

Starting from May 6th and until October 28th, the Vatican Museums will be open on Fridays and Saturdays until 10:30 pm (last entry at 8:30 pm). On May 6th, the closing time on Saturdays will be changed to 8 pm (last entry at 6 pm). This is an exceptional opportunity to explore the Museums in the evening and enjoy their beauty in a more intimate setting.  

The Vatican Museums by Night initiative aims to share the grandeur of the Museums with a less crowded and more focused audience. It offers visitors the chance to appreciate the art and architecture without the hustle and bustle of the usual daytime crowds.  

But there is more to the experience than just art. The Museums have partnered with the Italian National Committee for Music (CIDIM) to provide musical performances that are included in the cost of a regular ticket. So, visitors can enjoy the visual and musical beauty of the Vatican Museums at the same time.  

Barbara Jatta, the Director of the Museums, said in a recent interview, “Sharing is not just about welcoming 1000 visitors every day. Sharing also happens through the internet. We have improved our website a lot during the pandemic with virtual tours of many of our galleries. We have a specific catalog of all our exhibited objects so that they can be studied in depth. So, the visit can be prepared. The next big event is the great Jubilee of 2025. We expect more visitors, more pilgrims that we would like to welcome well, not just by opening more galleries for them but also by thinking about how we can communicate and share this incredible heritage that is not just a heritage of art or history. However, it is also strongly a heritage of faith. That is exactly what we would like to do, from today, from the past, and in the future.”  

In addition to the visual and musical experiences, the Vatican Museums by Night initiative also includes a “Happy Hour” that can be reserved online through the official website.