Raphael's Rooms
- Address: Viale Vaticano, Vatican City
- Hours: Open Mon - Sat 9am - 6pm
- Admission: Requires ticket to the Vatican Museums
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Cultural Experience,
Must-Do Experience,
Museum
Raphael's Rooms (Stanze di Raffaello) are four interconnected rooms in the Vatican which have frescoes painted by the renowned Renaissance artist Raphael (1483 - 1520). These late Renaissance frescoes are the second-most famous in the Vatican's collection, only behind the fresco adorning the roof of the Sistine Chapel.
Raphael's themes for his frescoes were religion and politics; he often swapped portraits of the incumbent pope for the faces of important figures. Originally commissioned by Pope Julius II in the early 1500s, the frescoes were patronized by Pope Leo X after Julius died in 1513. When Raphael also died in 1520, artists from his studio finished the paintings.
The 'Segnatura' room was the first to be decorated and contains Raphael's most famous painting, The School of Athens. The other rooms are known as 'Constantine', 'Heliodorus' and 'Fire in the Borgo'.
Latest Reviews
Review by Carol, November 2012
Doing what: Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Walking Tour including Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and St Peter's
Really enjoyed the tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable, but not to 'stiff'. He made it a very pleasant tour. And, of course, the Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and The vatican were FANTASTIC!
Review by jgreg, October 2012
Doing what: Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Walking Tour including Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and St Peter's
Best tour we had in Rome, Fransesca was extremely knowledgable. One thing we liked was the pacing. We weren't rushed through any of the rooms, and she explained a lot f things about the paintings etc but didn't give too much info. It was perfect. Other people we know who toured the Vatican with other companies, found their guides gave way too much information, and also walked right through places like Raphael's rooms. This tour included everything. Like the Colosseum, you are foolish NOT to buy at least a skip the line ticket; the line ups to get in are astoundingly long, even in a low season such as October when we were there.
Review by Donna C, October 2012
Doing what: Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Walking Tour including Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and St Peter's
Our tour guide Sabrina was excellent! She made the Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and St. Peter's come to life with her lively and very knowledgeable commentary
Practical Info
Raphael's Rooms are part of the Vatican Museums. Metro line A stops Ottaviano-S.Pietro-Musei Vaticano or Cipro. Tramway 19 to Piazza del Risorgimento, or various buses. You can also walk from the centre of Rome across Ponte Sant'Angelo and through the Piazza san Pietro for the most breathtaking approach, then head right towards Via Vaticano.
Note that, especially in summer, the entry queues to the Vatican can be very long, stretching around the block. Pre-booking a ticket (see the Tours & Tickets tab) can get around this and save you a lot of time.
