Vatican Splendors St. Paul, Minnesota, to Feature Rare Art, Pope Relics, and Underground Catacombs

Rare Art Treasures and Artifacts from the Vatican on Exhibition in St. Paul, Minnesota 9/27/08-1/9/09

If you have dreamed of visiting Rome to see the Vatican, but have not yet been able to make your "pilgrimage", there is an exhibit called Vatican Splendorsfrom Saint Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Swiss Guard that is coming to the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul.

According to a Minnesota History Museum press release, the exhibition will feature..."200 rare works of art and historically significant objects, many of which have never left the Vatican, that illustrate the Vatican's impact on history and culture through 2,000 years."

St. Paul is one of only three U.S. cities to host Vatican Splendors. After the exhibition in St. Paul, which runs from Sept. 27, 2008 through Jan. 11, 2009, the collection will be returned to the Vatican, where they cannot be absent for more than one year. The tour commemorates the 500th anniversary of Saint Peter's Basilica.

The official website, Vaticansplendors.com, shows photos of the works and relics to be displayed. Many of the works will be displayed in elaborate, re-created settings, enabling the visitor to believe he or she has been transported to the Vatican. One of the "Galleries" will feature the Tomb of Saint Peter. A reliquary containing fragments of bones of Saint Peter, and other religious artifacts including a gold Votive Plaque found in the tomb, will be displayed within a realistic re-creation of the underground catacombs where the remains of Saint Peter were found.

Also to be displayed are personal items of Michelangelo, tools used in the building of the Sistine Chapel, a Bernini sculpture, and a Buddhist Thanka of embroidered cloth and pearls, given by the Dalai Lama to John Paul II. Not to be missed items will be Papal Rings, jewelry, and a cast of Pope John Paul II's hands that visitors may touch. There will also be a special area showcasing the Papal Swiss Guard uniforms, weapons, and armor.

The event promises to be a fantastic experience and a chance for an up-close view of these rare treasures.