The Vatican Pinacoteca at a glance
The Pinacoteca is the picture gallery of the Vatican Museums. Luca Beltrami designed the building for Pope Pius XI, and it opened on 27 October 1932. It has 18 rooms. The collection holds 460 paintings.
That number is the size of the collection, not a promise that every painting hangs at the same time. Works go out on loan or into restoration, so a particular picture can be absent on the day you visit. Plan around the rooms below, and treat any single work as a bonus.
Works and rooms to look for
Room numbers are in Roman numerals on the signs.
| Room | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| VIII | Raphael | Coronation of the Virgin |
| VIII | Raphael | The Baglioni predella |
| VIII | Raphael | Madonna of Foligno |
| VIII | Raphael | Transfiguration |
| IX | Leonardo da Vinci | St Jerome |
| IX | Giovanni Bellini | Lamentation over the Dead Christ |
| XII | Caravaggio | Deposition (Entombment of Christ) |
Room VIII holds four works by Raphael. Room IX has Leonardo's St Jerome and, on the same room list, Giovanni Bellini's Lamentation. Caravaggio's Deposition is in Room XII.
Raphael in Room VIII
If you only have time for one room, make it Room VIII. It brings together the Coronation of the Virgin, the Baglioni predella, the Madonna of Foligno and the Transfiguration. If you have just seen the Raphael Rooms, you can compare the painted walls there with the pictures here.
A visit in this order works well: first the Raphael Rooms, then the Pinacoteca if you still have energy, and finally the Sistine Chapel.
Leonardo and Bellini in Room IX
Leonardo's St Jerome hangs in Room IX. The same room list includes Giovanni Bellini's Lamentation over the Dead Christ. Treat both as the reason to stop, and take your time with each.
Caravaggio in Room XII
The Deposition shows Christ being laid on the anointing stone. It is a quiet, close scene, and it rewards a few minutes of standing in front of it.
Tours that include the Pinacoteca
Skip-the-line tickets and guided visits of the Vatican Museums, with live prices and availability. Check each listing for what it covers.
How to fit the Pinacoteca into your visit
It is an extra stop, not a must on the main route.
Treat it as an add-on
The usual route goes from the Pigna Courtyard through the ancient sculpture, the Candelabra and Tapestry galleries, the Gallery of Maps and the Raphael Rooms to the Sistine Chapel. The Pinacoteca and the Egyptian Museum are extra stops on top of that.
Highlights route →Watch the clock
The museums open Monday to Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The last entry is at 6:00 p.m., and halls are cleared 30 minutes before closing. Do not leave the Pinacoteca for the last half hour.
Opening hours →Ticket
The museum ticket covers the museums and the Sistine Chapel on the day. In 2026 it costs €25 online (€20 plus a €5 reservation) and €20 at the ticket office. Reduced tickets cost €10, or €15 online. Children under 7 enter free.
Tickets →House rules
Do not touch the art. Private photos without flash are allowed outside the Sistine Chapel. Food and drink are not allowed in the exhibition halls.
Keep exploring
More from the Vatican Museums.
The Raphael Rooms
Four rooms painted by Raphael and his workshop.
Vatican Museums highlights
Laocoön, the Belvedere Torso and the staircases.
The Sistine Chapel
The ceiling, the Last Judgment and the rules.
Rome has more picture galleries and churches than one visit can hold. For a day in the city, see Rome in one day.
Vatican Pinacoteca: frequently asked questions
What is the Vatican Pinacoteca?
It is the picture gallery of the Vatican Museums. The building by Luca Beltrami opened on 27 October 1932 and has 18 rooms. The collection holds 460 paintings.
Where is Raphael's Transfiguration?
In Room VIII, together with the Coronation of the Virgin, the Baglioni predella and the Madonna of Foligno.
Where can I see Leonardo and Caravaggio?
Leonardo's St Jerome is in Room IX. Caravaggio's Deposition is in Room XII.
Will every painting be on view?
Not necessarily. The collection holds 460 paintings, and loans and restoration can change what hangs on a given day. Check the signs on the day.
Do I need a separate ticket?
The museum ticket covers the museums and the Sistine Chapel on the day of issue. In 2026 it costs €25 online and €20 at the ticket office. Tickets are not refundable.
Should I see the Pinacoteca if I have little time?
If time is short, put the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel first. Add the Pinacoteca if you want to see Raphael, Leonardo and Caravaggio in the same visit.