The Vatican is easily the most history laden religious city in the world. Not even Jerusalem can come close to what the city has in terms of religious history. The holy city is an enclave within the capital of Italy, Rome and thus combines the history of the church and that of the Roman Empire. Within all this history, some facilities outrank all the others - The Vatican Museums. Here is a small sample of some interesting facts about the museums.

1. The Vatican Museums were founded by Pope Julius II in the 16th century.

2. There are a total of 54 museums, with the last ones being the Sistine Chapel with its ceiling decorated by Michelangelo and the Stanze della Segnatura decorated by Raphael.

3. It is said that the Vatican Museums contain the world's largest collection of art with 9 miles of pieces, which could wrap four and half times around the Vatican walls.

4. The Vatican museuems are a series of 1400 rooms, chapels, and galleries and they constitute former wings of the Vatican Palace.

5. Michelangelo was a maverick with details. The tree from which Eve plucks the fruits of the forbidden fruits in the Sistine Chapel is not an Apple Tree - the leaves on the tree indicates that it is a fig tree.

6. St. Peters Basillica is part of the Vatican Museums and is famed to be the biggest catholic church in the world. Actually, the measurements of the cathedrals around the world are listed within the basillica to ensure that they all can fit within the confines of st. Peters.

7. The Vatican Museums are opened every day at 9am and close at 4pm every day except Sundays. Note that the mandatory exit time is 6.00PM.

8. Since Vatican does not have taxation revenues, it generates 90 percent of its revenues from Museum admission fees, stamp and souvenir sales, and contributions from faithfuls.

9. Part of the Musuems is the Passetto di Borgo that connects the pontiff's official residence to Castel Sant’Angelo. The underground passage saved the life of Pope Clement VII in 1527 when the soldiers of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V rampaged through the Vatican city and murdered priests and nuns.

10. Among the most popular museums include; Vatican Historical Museum, Museo Gregoriano Egiziano, Museo Gregoriano Etrusco, Museo Chiaramonti and Museo Pio-Clementino.

Hopefully, with your limited time you will be able to explore through at least a half of what the museums has to offer. Trust me; you will see Christianity in a new light if you visit these museums.