The artwork in the Vatican Museums is extensive and beautiful. But for the majority of tourists, little is as well known as the Sistine Chapel. The museum obviously recognizes this, and the most of the museum seems organized into a slow path towards the famous destination. The extra artwork, gorgeous in its own right, is more like added ambiance to the herd of sheep-people. Arrows point towards the chapel, and hordes of people push and shove to get through. The pathway takes everyone through numerous different galleries, of which everyone takes quick pictures of but never looks. Occasionally, small rooms veer off of the main path, showcasing extra artwork. For those brave enough to shove through the crowd, the rooms are rewarding, with beautiful sculptures and a slight bit of breathing room. It is easy to feel claustrophobic and lost in the Vatican Museums, even when following a straight path. If you are not squished between people (who have just stopped to take photographs, not caring that there are many people stuck behind them), you are a little too close to ancient artwork. Occasionally, people reach out and touch the sculptures, and I am amazed that there is not better security. I suppose it is hard for even the guards to walk through such a tightly packed crowd.
I’m honestly not sure what the Vatican Museum designer’s had in mind. Had there been 90% less people, I could see how the set-up would be nice, allowing everyone to see the main attractions. However, with a route set up and thousands of people pushing to get through it, it is hard to take the time to actually look at the art. Even if a straight run to the Sistine Chapel was not your original intention, it quickly becomes your plan of action. Being in the hordes of tourists and tours, you never feel sure of what you are doing. You are an outsider, with no time to get familiar with any of the work that you pass. The layout of the Vatican Museums is organized, but being on the path itself feels chaotic at best.
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