Itinerary
- Vatican Museums: You meet with your guide at the entrance to the Museums and with privileged access by-pass the queues and head inside. You can leave your belongings in the cloakroom and take a comfort break before starting the tour. The visit begins in the rooms that hold ancient Roman and Greek artworks collected from excavations in the city of Rome. When the Popes ruled Central Italy the Vatican had the rights to all finds. Your guide will take you to see the most interesting of these including the Belvedere Apollo, the Torso, the busts of Claudius and Hadrian and the sarcophagi of Helen and Constance, the mother and daughter of Emperor Constantine.Next on the itinerary is a visit to the Room of Animals and the Gallery of Candelabra where you walk over rare Roman mosaics and come face-to-face with the magnificent statues of Diana of Ephesus, the Muses and many Greek philosophers.
- Stanze di Raffaello: You then proceed to the Gallery of Tapestries, the Sobieski Hall and Raphael’s Rooms. The latter were the private apartments of Pope Julius II and were painted by Raphael and his disciples. Here you will see two of the painter’s most famous masterpieces, the Parnassus and The School of Athens.
- Sistine Chapel: The highlight of any tour is of course the famous Sistine Chapel, Italy’s most visited site. Your guide will tell you all about Michelangelo’s frescoes, The Last Judgment, the Creation of Adam and the Genesis as well as details of the Stories of Moses and Jesus painted by Botticelli, Perugino and other famous Renaissance masters. Still in use today, the Sistine Chapel is where the conclave takes place to elect a new Pope. Listen to anecdotes and some well-kept secrets about this amazing place.
- St. Peter's Basilica: It is then time for a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica where you will explore the numerous side chapels with their hidden crypts. You will see Michelangelo’s Pietà and your guide will explain why this is the only work that he signed. You will gain an appreciation of the mastery that went into the creation of Bernini’s altarpiece and learn how Michelangelo triumphed over his contemporaries for the honour to paint St. Peter’s magnificent dome.
- St. Peter's Square: The tour will end in Saint Peter's Square
Includes
- Professional art historian guide
- Guaranteed to skip the long lines
- All activities
- Admission tickets
- Gratuities
- Private transportation
- Hotel pick up and drop off
Details
This is a superb half-day tour to see the Vatican in the company of a top-rated and very knowledgeable guide.
With skip-the-line access you by-pass the waiting lines of tourists and head directly inside to see Ancient Roman and Greek statues, Raphael’s Rooms, the Galleries of Tapestries and Maps, the Sistine Chapel, to name a few.
This is one of the most comprehensive tours of the Vatican highlights and we ensure you won’t miss any of the “must-see” treasures that make this such a special place.
With skip-the-line access you by-pass the waiting lines of tourists and head directly inside to see Ancient Roman and Greek statues, Raphael’s Rooms, the Galleries of Tapestries and Maps, the Sistine Chapel, to name a few.
This is one of the most comprehensive tours of the Vatican highlights and we ensure you won’t miss any of the “must-see” treasures that make this such a special place.
Know Before You Go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
- READ CAREFULLY: Because of the growing popularity of the current pope Francis and his intense activity in organising mass events in the Vatican some areas might get closed last minute without previous notice. This has already happened this year and can happen again during your Vatican tour: the Sistine chapel and/or the Basilica of Saint Peter might not be accessible. In case of such events our tour guide will provide you with a valuable alternative focusing the tour inside the Vatican museums.
- Please note due to the Jubilee, the Basilica might not be accessible as part of the tour. Unfortunately, we know that very last minute.In any case, you can go there after the tour, queueing.
