If you’re visiting the Vatican Museums over Christmas and New Year don’t miss AStrum 2009, and exhibition about astronomy and instruments used throughout the centuries to look deep into the sky.

Things have changed since the 17th Century when Galileo was tried by the Inquisition that found him “vehemently suspect of heresy”. But he was right. The world isn’t flat.

The exhibition will display an important selection of rare instruments for astronomic observation and its particularly interesting to see how these have evolved and become sophisticated over time.

All items are property of the National Institute of Astrophysics but there are also instruments belonging to the Vatican State.

Visitors will also be able to admire works of art that relate to the subject matter depicting, for example, celestial and earth globes.

Opening hours

The Entrance Ticket to the Vatican Museums enables the visit of the exhibition.

• Opening hours of the Vatican Museums.
• Open Monday to Sunday: the Ticket Office is open from 9 am to 4 pm.
• The Museums close at 6 pm. Closed: Sunday; 8, 25, 26 December 2009; 1, 6 January 2010.
• Free Entrance the last Sunday of every month from 9 am to 12.30 am. The Museum close at 2 pm.

Vatican apartments

Apartment Franca

1 bedroom apartment very close to the Vatican Museums.
Sleeps 4 people | 1 bedroom/s | From €120 per night.
Area: Vatican

Apartment Gracchi

A 1 bedroom apartment near the Vatican, Castel Sant'Angelo and Piazza del Popolo
Sleeps 5 people | 1 bedroom/s | From €100 per night.
Area: Vatican

Apartment Berna

A 3 bedroom apartment close to Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini.
Sleeps 8 people | 3 bedroom/s | From €160 per night.
Area: Vatican

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