The Pinecone Courtyard at the Vatican

One of the first parts of the Vatican Museums that are seen when the visit begins is the Pinecone Courtyard. It is a large open space of 300 square meters adjacent to the corridors and halls of the museum.

Visiting the long courtyard you can admire various works of art both ancient and modern.

Why is it called Pigna Courtyard?

Its name is due to the huge bronze cone in the courtyard. The work, four meters high and two and a half wide, dates back to the second century and has a meaning of immortality and rebirth.
It is located on top of a double ramp staircase designed by Michelangelo.

The other important sculpture in the courtyard is the "Sphere with sphere" by Arnaldo Pomodoro. Also in bronze, it is circular and much more recent since it was built between 1979 and 1980 and donated to the Vatican Museums in 1990.

The circular sphere of Pomodoro has a mechanism inside that with the wind rotates slowly.