Join Gianni Crea, the senior key keeper of the Vatican Museums, and his team of key keepers as they prepare the museum for visitors.
We start our journey at 5:30 am when Gianni opens door number one to awaken the museum. He coordinates the work of other key keepers and ensures that each door has its lock and key. Did you know that there are exactly 2,797 keys and 10 key keepers?
We walk through the museum’s halls and galleries, covering a distance of about 7.5 kilometers. Imagine walking 4.5 miles every morning through the resplendent halls, viewing the world’s greatest art masterpieces. Our route runs through the 16th century Gallery of Maps, where we view 40 panels of painted topographical maps of Italy.
We make a quick stop at the Raphael Rooms, formerly the private apartments of Pope Julius II, and admire the frescoes painted by the famous Florentine artist, Fra Angelico. Then we arrive at the Nicoline Chapel, a private chapel of the Pope, which is rarely open to the public. We admire the frescoes painted by the famous Florentine artist, Fra Angelico.
Our journey continues to the most awaited part of the tour – the Sistine Chapel. Gianni carries a sealed envelope containing the key to the chapel, a privilege he has had for the past 16 years. The chapel’s ceiling frescoes, created by Michelangelo and his team, tell the story of creation and the Last Judgment, while the walls are adorned with stories from the Old and New Testaments. These frescoes are considered the most impressive artistic accomplishments of human civilization.
After completing his duties, Gianni relaxes and enjoys the beautiful view of the Roman morning from the ladder of Bramante, the scala delle Bramante. This is one of the most beautiful spots of the Vatican Museums, where we can view the entire panorama of Rome.
Every year, the Vatican Museums provide access to more than 70,000 works of art for 6 million visitors from all over the world. We hope you enjoyed this exclusive tour of the Vatican Museums with us. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to our channel for more exciting content!
