Grand Vatican Tour Full-day with Sistine Chapel St Peter Church & Borgia Rooms
Rome, Italy
6 hours (Approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Overview
The artistic masterpieces in the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica are endless, and visiting this vast repository of art and architecture on your own can be daunting. With this guided tour, take a deep dive into this important collection without feeling overwhelmed. Visit the galleries, Raphael Rooms, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica, as well as lesser known gems like the Borgia Apartments.
- Save time with skip-the-line tickets to enter the Vatican Museums
- Avoid art overload with a guided tour concentrating on the highlights
- See the most recognized masterpieces as well as less famous treasures
- Commentary about the art and architecture from an art history guide
What's Included
Guaranteed to skip the long lines
Private tour
Professional art historian guide
Local guide
Local taxes
Gratuities
Hotel pick up and drop off
Departure & Return
What To Expect
Itinerary
With over nine miles of galleries, it is difficult to see everything in the Vatican on a fleeting visit. The Gallery of Maps and the Gallery of Tapestries hold fantastic treasures as does the Gallery of the Candelabra where you can see the sculpture of Lacoon and his sons.
Duration: 2 hours
Admission Ticket Included
Raphael’s Rooms alone are spectacular and worthy of a prolonged visit, and of course you could spend a half day in Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel with its wonderful frescoes and still not see everything this magnificent chapel has to offer.
On this special extended tour however we shall ensure you have time for a more in-depth appreciation of the Vatican and its wonderful artworks. You will see amazing sculptures, some very famous and some virtually unknown. We will ensure you see all of the “must see” sights but also some very special treasures that you we not aware existed.
The Borgia Apartments are one of the gems not on the usual tourist itinerary. In the 15th century the Spanish cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, Pope Alexander VI lived here with his family. There are some stunning family portraits and your guide will let you in on some of the secrets of this infamous family. Your guide will explain some of the religious symbolism behind the portraits themselves and give you an insight into the lives of the Pope and his enigmatic daughter Lucretia and son Cesare.
Duration: 2 hours
Admission Ticket Included
You guide will take you to the see the highlight of any Vatican tour, the Sistine Chapel.
There is no talking inside so your guide will explain what to look for when you see Michelangelo’s breathtaking frescoes that adorn the chapel; the artist spent eight years of his life painting this spectacular ceiling. How did he do it? Ask your guide!
Duration: 30 minutes
Admission Ticket Included
Following the visit to the chapel you proceed to Saint Peter’s Basilica. This is one of the premier religious buildings for those of catholic persuasion and was build over the tomb of Saint Peter himself. It took 120 years to complete and many of the Renaissance artists of the period were involved in some way in the building and decoration of this magnificent edifice. Michelangelo painted his “Pietà” that is displayed inside the church and you can see Bernini’s splendid altarpiece as well as the chair of Saint Peter. There is something wonderful to see everywhere you look!
Duration: 1 hour
Admission Ticket Included
Finally you are taken to Saint Peters Square where your guide will wish you goodbye but not before telling you about Bernini’s statues that surround the square and pointing out other interesting sights.
Duration: 30 minutes
Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- 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
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Learn more about cancellations.
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