Vatican Museums

On the occasion of International Museum Day, promoted by ICOM and celebrated every year on 18 May to highlight the cultural and social role of museums, the Castel Gandolfo Museum Complex is taking part in the 2026 edition, dedicated to the theme “Museums uniting a divided world”. The initiative aims to emphasise the role of museums as places of encounter, dialogue and mutual respect.

To mark this occasion, on Sunday 17 and Monday 18 May, the Papal Palace will exceptionally open certain rooms not usually accessible to visitors. In addition to the usual museum tour, it will be possible to visit three rooms of the private apartments dedicated to leisure and conviviality, where the popes’ free time was intertwined with moments of relaxation: the Billiard Room, the Television Room and the Music Room.

A unique experience to get to know the most intimate dimension of the pontiffs, among furnishings and artefacts steeped in history, and to rediscover the museum as a living space for sharing, thanks to the extraordinary opening – included in the admission ticket – of rooms of particular significance.