Ancient Rome in the Vatican

The last decades of the first century BC coincided with the period of the deepest crisis of Rome: civil wars, coups and the decline of moral values threatened not only the decline, but also the split of the state into small provinces.

Octavian Augustus, the nephew of Julius Caesar and one of Rome’s greatest rulers, and one might say the spiritual father of the Roman Empire, will find a way out of a seemingly critical situation by creating a brilliant strategy to raise the military spirit, spiritual values and exalt the greatness of Rome and bring it to life through art.

Sculpture and architecture, filled with deep symbolism, turn into a powerful tool of political influence, gave a magnificent response to the crisis of the late republican period and laid the foundation for a successful system that allowed the Empire to stand for another 5 centuries.

The merit of the Popes is that they were able to preserve the ideas of the Grand Emperor, immortalized in the marble sculptures that today adorn the halls of the Vatican Museums.

We will visit the Chiaromonti Museum (a collection of ancient risk sculptures collected by the sculptor Antonio Canova at the behest of Pope Pius VII), the Pio Clementino Museum, where Apollo of Belvedere, Laocoon and Torse of Belvedere, the Hall of Beasts, the Rotunda Hall and the Hall of the Greek Cross and the Gallery of the Candelabres are exhibited.

Our route will end with a visit to the Sistine Chapel, a masterpiece of painting created by the sculptor.

If desired, a visit to St. Peter's Cathedral can be added to the tour.