The Vatican is built on the site of an ancient Roman chariot race track. With the intensity of the crowds and the speed of which you have to wiz through the very extensive museum, a casual observer might  think things haven't changed a lot.

However this feeling is caused by the vast crowds of visitors wanting to see the centre of a very unique institution... that has been going about its business, in its own sweet way, for the past 2000 years.

It is all very impressive.

Some interesting chunks of information come your way on a tour such as this. The first bit of over the top thinking... everything you see that looks like gold...is gold.

The next is that in St Peter's Basilica they do not stop flash photography, which can normally damage oil paintings. The reason is they are copies made out of glass mosaic ....and  do not fade. At a normal viewing distance, in the relatively low light you would never know.

To miss a long queue we did not start the museum tour until 2pm, so felt a bit rushed in the end.

Just off the beaten track was a new section started off by Pope John Paul ll of modern art. I recognised the Picasso sculpture and a great painting by Graham Sutherland. Some good stuff, others I could leave alone.... but what a great idea to have 19th & 20th centaury work.

Regrettably closing time and the Sistine chapel called so this was an unfinished visit.

Vatican Museum web site :  http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/MV_Home.html

The Vatican Web Site: http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm