Galleria delle Carte Geografiche

The Galleria delle Carte Geografiche (Gallery of Maps) is an extraordinary gallery located inside the Vatican Palace. It was built in the late 16th century, by Pope Gregory XIII and it is home to some of the world's most brilliant and precious maps, made by renowned Italian cartographers. The walls of the gallery feature a collection of 47 large fresco-maps, painted in celebration of Pope Gregory's visit to Italy, illustrating the geography of the Italian peninsula. Every map is accompanied by text and explanations. You can find maps of the islands, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean, as well as some of the most important European cities, such as Rome, Venice and Florence. The gallery gives insight into the way land and ocean was seen in the past and it's a great place for anyone interested in history and cartography. Guests can also admire the collection of coins, jewellery and sculptures kept inside. The gallery is open from Monday to Saturday, and admission is free.