Skip-the-line All Inclusive Private Vatican Sistine Chapel Tour
Description
Discover the wonders that the Vatican City has to offer on this three hour private tour, led by an expert guide. As pre-booked tickets are included on this tour, you won’t have to spend time queuing before visiting the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St Peter's Basilica and more. Your guide will discuss the history of these iconic locations and give you insights into some of the masterpieces in the Vatican’s collections.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your guide will meet you at the entrance to the museums and with pre-booked tickets you’ll avoid the queues and the tour will begin immediately; visiting the Belvedere Courtyard, the Pio-Clementino Museum and the large collection of Ancient Roman and Greek statues. You will then enter the Gallery of Tapestries followed by the Gallery of Maps; a priceless collection of Renaissance maps, and one of the most important in the world.. In the Sobiesky Room you will see one of the largest paintings in the Vatican collection, as well as view some stunning frescoes in the room of the Immaculate Conception. A must see on any Vatican tour is Raphael’s Rooms. Raphael decorated these rooms for Pope Julius II, and they contain some of the artist’s greatest works, the Parnassus and The School of Athens.
As talking is forbidden in the Sistine Chapel, before you enter your guide will discuss the masterpieces you will see inside, including the renowned frescoes by Michelangelo, Botticelli and others on the walls and ceiling. Your guide will also share anecdotes about the chapel, which is used today for the papal election – Conclave.
t 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. There is still more to see though below ground level. You guide will lead you below ground to the papal crypt where, over the centuries, many of the Popes have been interred. This special place is a site of pilgrimage for many Catholics.
Here you can see the exterior of the papal palace as well as glimpse the colorful Swiss Guards.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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
- 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, queuing.
- 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 you Vatican tour. In case of such events our tour guide will provide you with a valuable alternative focusing the tour inside the Vatican museums.
Reviews(5)
Francesco was an AMAZING tour guide! He was so knowledgeable and we learned so much! Highly recommend!
Thomas was an AMAZING guide! He was so knowledgeable and provided us so much historical background. This was the best tour we have ever been on!
The guide was extremely good Fernando he was awesome. He pointed out everything took his time with us. He was fantastic. We really appreciated it.
Wonderful experience. Giorgio was a great tour guide. Very knowledgeable. Set a pace comfortable for our group who was jet lagged. Helpful to our 79 year old mother.
Umberto was amazing and so thoughtful and accommodating to us. We are aged 78 and 80 which presents challenges that were no problem for Umberto. He was so knowledgeable on every aspect of the Sistine Chapel and museums. He had a wonderful sense of humor and even helped get a cab for us at the end He went above and beyond what we had expected. If we get to Rome again, we will want to tour with Umberto again!!
