Overview:

The Gallery of Maps is a spectacular gallery located in the Vatican-City of Rome. The gallery, which was commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII in 1580, consists of 40 huge fresco maps, each measuring 4 x 8 meters, showing the provinces of Italy from the time of Ancient Rome. The maps are beautifully painted in vivid colors and each map is surrounded by grotesque figures in fresco style. The walls and ceilings of the gallery are decorated with biblical scenes and motifs. The gallery is still open to visitors and offers a unique view of Italian geography during the time of the Roman Empire. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Vatican-City
Prominent Features:

1. The Citadel of the Vatican City: This detailed map shows the topography of the area. It displays the fortifications, the courtyard, and the gardens of the Citadel. 2. The Sistine Chapel: This map shows the grand chapel, along with all of its important relics, frescos, and sculptures. 3. Piazza San Pietro: This map shows the iconic St. Peter's Square surrounded by several of Vatican City's historic buildings. 4. Vatican Gardens: This map features a detailed layout of the gardens, as well as their numerous sculptures, monuments, and fountains. 5. Vatican Museums: This map showcases the grandiose galleries, which contain an astonishing array of artifacts and artwork ranging from Ancient Roman times to the present day. 6. The Vatican Necropolis: This map details the underground complex, including the tombs of the early Popes, the Sistine Chapel Grottos, and even a chapel! 7. Vatican City Metro: This detailed map depicts the various Subway lines that will take you to some of the most iconic sites of Vatican City. This national monument of Vatican-City portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

The Gallery of Maps in the Vatican City is located in the Belvedere Courtyard, and is part of the Vatican Museums. It houses a spectacular collection of forty granite and marble maps, dating back to late 1580s and early 1590s. The maps were created Eraclio Mandelli to honor Pope Gregory XIII, although some of the tiles were rebuilt and restored in 1641 by another artist, Pietro della Valle. Each of the maps is significant to represent the Papal States, a region of central and northern Italy held by the Pope from the 6th century until the nation of Italy was established in 1870. The maps captivatingly depict the Italian peninsula by showing roads, rivers, cities, castles, and topographical features of the region. All the maps are geographically accurate and varied in color, and were created as a gift from the Pope to the city of Rome. Every maps includes beautiful ornate panels with inscriptions, depicting the Pope Gregory’s exhortation to the people of Rome. The Gallery of Maps is a popular tourist attraction in Vatican City, receive an ever-growing number of visitors. It fascinates millions of visitors each year with its stunning beauty and historic context. The maps also serve as a reminder of the humble beginnings of the Vatican City as it existed before it was enclosed as a sovereign nation within the city of Rome. You must visit one of these historical places in Vatican-City on your Vatican-City tour

Interesting facts:

1. The Gallery of Maps was commissioned around 1580 by Pope Gregory XIII and is located in the Vatican Museums in Vatican City, Rome. 2. The Gallery is composed of 40 immense frescoed topographical maps of Italy, painted between 1580 and 1582. 3. Each of the maps is painted on a single large piece of top-quality, specially-prepared thin gypsum layout. 4. The maps measure approximately 11.5 feet by 13 feet, making a total length of over 500 feet of map. 5. The maps also feature a wealth of topographical and historical detail, depicting lakes, towns, villages, castles and surrounding territories with remarkable accuracy and detail. 6. The description of the maps was originally written in 1580 by Luigi Sabatelli, a professor at the University of Bologna who had been commissioned by Pope Gregory to curate the gallery. 7. It is often said that the Gallery of Maps was the first ever collection of topographic maps in Europe. 8. The maps are still in pristine condition and were recently restored and preserved in the 1980s. 9. The restoration has uncovered a wealth of allegorical figures, animals and buildings that were not visible on the initial installation. 10. The Gallery is considered to be the precursor to modern cartography and mapping techniques. Visit one of the famous monuments of Vatican-City with your friends and family.