Highlights
- Visit the Sistine Chapel an hour before it is open to the general public.
- Visit with a guide the most important galleries of the Vatican Museums
- Enter St. Peter's Basilica through a special entrance in the Sistine Chapel
Description
The Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums are two unmissable landmarks in Rome, and for this reason, the number of tourists visiting every day is very big, hence the long lines and even longer waiting times to get in. But if you book this tour you won't have to worry about that one bit! The guided tour will start at 7:30, with doors opening shortly after, at 8:00, an hour before general admission opens at 9 am, and you will get directly inside the Sistine Chapel. As the Chapel is a place of worship, talking inside it is forbidden. Your guide will explain everything you need to know about Michelangelo's inimitable work of art before entering, and they will also give you a map for reference once inside, in order to admire the frescoes even more. Afterward, you will visit the immense Vatican Museums, where you will be guided through some of the most important galleries, such as the Borgia Apartments, Gallery of the Candelabra, Gallery of the Tapestries, and the Gallery of the Maps. You will also visit Raphael's Room, where you will be able to admire some of the most painting made by one of the most important artists of the Italian Renaissance. Finally, the last stop of the guided tour is St. Peter's Basilica, which you will enter through a special door in the Sistine Chapel. Once inside the huge church, you will have a chance to discover masterpieces made by renowned renaissance artists, like Michelangelo's Pietà, and Bernini's Baldacchino. The itinerary of the tour will change on Wednesday, due to the weekly Papal Audience. The visit to St. Peter's Basilica will be substituted with a visit to the Pio-Clementino Museum, home to three of the most iconic historical statues. * As of June 23rd, 2021, the Vatican has closed the "licensed guide entrance" to St Peter’s Basilica for all tour companies and tour guides. Therefore a guided visit to the Basilica won’t be possible due to the distance between sites. Not to worry! Your awesome guide will give you a detailed introduction to the church and will explain how to visit on your own at the conclusion of the tour. Hopefully, this changes very soon!The best experience at the best price
Included
- Early access to the Vatican Museums
- Professional English-speaking guide
- Headsets for groups of 6 or more
- Maximum group size of 14
Excluded
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- St. Peter's Basilica until Further Notice Due to Covid Restrictions
Starting Point
Please Arrive 10 Minutes Early. Between Hotel Alimandi and Caffé Vaticano, at the top of the big staircase (Viale Vaticano, 100). A representative will be there holding a sign with ''The Tour Guy'' on it.