The modern double helix staircase, also in the Pio-Clementine Museum, and commonly referred to as the “Bramante Staircase”, was designed by Giuseppe Momo in 1932 and was inspired by the original Bramante Staircase. This staircase, like the original, is a double helix, having two staircases allowing people to ascend without meeting people descending in the Vatican Museums in Vatican City. The original stair case built in 1505 was designed by Donato Bramante. May 25, 2017

The globe, a modern piece of art, in the Pinecone courtyard in the Vatican City. The actual pine cone niche, which this courtyard is named after, is covered because it’s being restored. May 25, 2017

The large head sculpture of Emperor Ceasar Augustus in the Cortile della Pigna of the Vatican Museums in Vatican City, Italy. May 25, 2017

May 25, 2017

The Vatican Museum courtyard in Vatican City, Italy. May 25, 2017

The Gallery of the Tapestries of the Vatican Museums in Vatican City in Italy, are based on designs by the school of Raphael. The large tapestries, which are made from the most precious materials like gold thread, silk and wool, took in some cases, nine years to make. This tapestry represents the life of Jesus Christ. May 25, 2017

The Resurrection of Christ in the Tapestries Gallery of the Vatican Museum, Italy. May 25, 2017

Another part of the Vatican Museums in Vatican City, is the Gallery of Maps which were based on drawings by geographer Ignacio Dante and painted between 1580 and 1585. May 25, 2017

The ceiling of the Gallery of Maps of the Vatican Museums, is quite a masterpiece in and of itself. May 25, 2017

Detailed map of Italy, Sicily and Corsica in the Gallery of Maps of the Vatican Museums. May 25, 2017

Above the exit door to the Gallery of Maps at the Vatican Museums in Vatican City, Italy. May 25, 2017

Room of the Immaculate Conception in the Vatican Museums in Vatican City, Italy. May 25, 2017

The beautiful and graphic marble in-laid floor of the Room of the Immaculate Conception in the Vatican Museums in Vatican City, Italy. May 25, 2017

The Belvedere Courtyard of the Vatican Museums in Vatican City, Italy. May 25, 2017

It’s called “The School of Athens” fresco by Raphael and it’s one of my most favorite paintings in the Vatican Museums…aside from Michelangelo’s paintings in the Sistine Chapel. May 25, 2017

An elder Plato (Leonardo da Vinci) walks alongside Aristotle (Pope Julius II) in the center of The School of Athens (Italian: Scuola di Atene) is one of the most famous frescoes by the Italian Renaissance artist Raphael. It was painted between 1509 and 1511 as a part of Raphael’s commission to decorate the rooms now known as the Stanze di Raffaello, in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican.

A close-up of Raphael’s “The School of Athens,” features a number of individuals representing philosophy but the image of the man seated to the right wearing books is said to be a young Michelangelo. May 25, 2017