UKTV - Museum Secrets Collection (2012) Part 13 The Vatican Museums

Museum Secrets: Collection

On a quest to find the best, and most obscure, museum exhibits and explore the secrets they hold, Museum Secrets uncovers the weird, the astonishing and fascinating wonders of the world. What unexpected device did Catherine the Great use to enhance her sex life? Why did Alexander the Great prefer linen armour to bronze? And how did the falcon hunting of the Habsburg emperors lay the foundations for modern science? Testing out the theories behind the artifacts and visiting the sites they originated from, this series combines pure enthralling history with surprising detective work.

Part 13: The Vatican Museums

At the centre of Rome, within the walls of the Vatican, stand some of the greatest museums in the world, displaying thousands of treasures and artworks from the immense collection of the Catholic Church, to yearly visitors that number over 4 million. When did penises become offensive? And who covered them up? Once, when religious art was young, nudity symbolized purity. But during the Renaissance that changed, and for the first time a naked body was “dirty.” Where did this notion come from? Who started it? And who decided to cover up every penis in the Vatican? The secrets are revealed in the premiere broadcast of Museum Secrets: Inside the Vatican Museums

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