Vatican and St Peter Basilica Guided Tour With Dome
Description
Delve into the rich world of history, faith, and art on this guided tour of the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica. Begin at Via Del Mascherino 88, where your expert guide will lead you through the majestic St. Peter’s Square and unveil the secrets of Nero’s Circus and the ancient necropolis beneath. Explore the Vatican Grottoes, home to the tombs of Popes, including Saint Peter, and marvel at masterpieces like Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bernini’s bronze canopy. After your tour, linger at the Basilica or ascend to the dome for panoramic views of the Eternal City. - Guided exploration of Vatican's art and history - Visit St. Peter’s Square and the Vatican Grottoes - Admire masterpieces by Michelangelo and Bernini - Optional dome climb for breathtaking views of Rome
Tour Options
Itinerary
Join us for a guided journey through time, faith, and art as we unveil the extraordinary stories behind the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica. Stroll through the iconic St. Peter’s Square as your guide brings to life the history of Nero’s Circus and the ancient necropolis that still rests below. Did you know that Saint Peter, one of Jesus’s apostles, was crucified and buried right beneath the very basilica that now bears his name? Marvel at Michelangelo’s Pietà, a masterpiece carved when he was just 24 years old. Stand beneath Bernini’s towering bronze canopy, crafted from 64 tons of metal repurposed from the Pantheon. Discover the intricate mosaics that adorn the interior and learn about their rich symbolism and painstaking craftsmanship. Your tour concludes near the entrance of the Basilica, giving you the opportunity to linger, revisit the highlights, or continue your experience.
After passing through a brief police security check, your journey continues into the Vatican Grottoes, home to the tombs of numerous Popes—including Saint Peter himself. From there, you will ascend into the majestic interior of the basilica, where breathtaking works of art await.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(12)
This was the perfect tour for those traveling with kids. Our guide, Alexandra, was incredibly informative and easy to understand. Her enthusiasm was contagious and she helped our family to get the most out of the experience. The tour length was perfect and I would recommend to others who want a taste of the Vatican without the day long commitment.
The Vatican is beautiful and our guide Sam was very passionate about what he was showing us. Great tour!
Very good tour with a lot of fun details about the basilica you won't learn from anywhere else. Recommend
Great Tour for Total Price with a fantastic tour guide! Alexandra was awesome and Belissima 🤩!!! She was Kind ❤️and Knowledgeable 🧠 . I watched her display strength 💪 and leadership 🇮🇹 with the locals in making our tour a success! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Need to be fit and strong for that Million Steps to the Dome! Not for the weak heart ♥️ and lungs 🫁. Bring a portable E-Fan 🪭 like we did on summer days! You have been warned! ⚠️ Need seeing to check off your bucket list and with a guide like Alexandra made it worthwhile!
We've been on many tours in Italy, and calling this a "tour" is very generous. Our guide mostly talked at us, in a whisper, and rushed through the few stops she made. At one point she even told us she'd gotten upset with her husband for not knowing they could marry at St. Peter's Basilica but couldn't do anything about it now (like renew vows) because he was dead. No one knew if she was joking or serious, it was a very strange situation that made everyone uncomfortable.
Great experience and your. Our guide Palo, was absolutely amazing. I would love to have time to just sit and talk with him.
Such an amazing tour guide!! She was so kind, had so much information, we were able to by pass the line and she helped guide us through the busy crowd. You won’t regret booking this tour!!
Very informative and impressive. The guide was knowledgeable kind and relatable. The basilica itself is very beautiful beyond words. Though the line was long but the wait time was worth while. Climbing to the top of the dome and view of the whole city was impressive. The tour started in time and Karen was very attentive to the needs of the group
Anna’s depth of knowledge, sense of humour & passion for what she does was felt deeply. We truly feel honoured to have met her & had her guide us through the Vatican & St Peter’s Basilica.
Our tour guide, Alexandria, was fantastic. She was very knowledgeable about the history and didn’t waste too much time on the dates, dimensions, etc. but made it more about the experience. 10/10 would recommend.
