Skip-The-Line Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel & Appian Catacombs Small Group Tour
Rome, Italy
5 hours (Approx.)
Offered in: English
Overview
Visit the Vatican Museums on a skip-the-line tour that includes the usual sights—such as the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica—plus the Vatican Necropolis, which is not included on most Vatican tours. You'll head underneath the basilica to see a part of the Vatican that most visitors never do, where it's believed the remains of Peter lie. Booking this tour allows you to avoid the stress of navigating the large and crowded museums on your own.
- Explore the Vatican Museums with a guide so you won't miss the top artworks
- Gain insight into the art and history that you might otherwise miss
- Priority entry means you won't waste time standing in the ticket queue
- An exclusive tour of the Necropolis provides a more in-depth Vatican experience
What's Included
All taxes, fees and handling charges
Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel Small group tour
Appian Catacombs Small group guided tour
Professional art historian guides
Guaranteed to skip the long lines to all monuments
Food and drinks
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Departure & Return
What To Expect
Itinerary
The Vatican City’s famous museums, contain one of the largest and most spectacular art display in the world, including the ancient Roman and Greek statuary collection of the Renaissance Popes, Belvedere courtyard, Muse’s rooms, Circular room with Hercules, Greek cross room with Constantine’s sarcophagus, the Gallery of Maps overlooking the Vatican Gardens and Raphael’s rooms.
Duration: 2 hours
Admission Ticket Included
And finally Michelangelo’s breathtaking Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel. You will journey through the history and the secret enveloping the Catholic Church and hear the stories of rivalries of the Renaissance artists.
Duration: 20 minutes
Admission Ticket Included
Continuing on through the St.Peter's Basilica you’ll marvel at the masterpieces of the Baroque genius Bernini (his Canopy is the largest bronze object in the world) and at the awe-inspiring Pietà Michelangelo's masterpiece.
Admission Ticket Free
Starting, with a small group, from our travel agency, near the Colosseum, you will be comfortably transported on an air-conditioned vehicle, in one of the most interesting and visited places in Rome, the "catacombs" on the Via Appia Antica. Definitely an exclusive tour, accompanied by an expert guide, for those who want to appreciate the true story and the mystery, an experience guaranteed to excite young and old.
With this tour, lasting about two hours, we will guide you through time to discover a subterranean and parallel world in which for centuries Jews and Christians have looked after and venerated their dead.
Walk along the majestic Aurelian Walls and come to the archaeological area of the Via Appia Antica, immersed in the green Roman countryside, you will descend into the ancient world of the Catacombs, a complex network of underground tunnels among the longest in the world, which occupies an area of about fifteen hectares, consisting of about 60 kilometres of tunnels on several levels. The catacombs that we will visit (San Calisto, San Sebastiano or Santa Domitilla), for your tour will change depending on the day, but from where we go, you will have the opportunity to see ancient frescoes, crypts rich in inscriptions carved in the walls, niches with still remains of skeletons, small mausoleums, sarcophagi, tombs and small chapels that still today, after about 2000 years, are still used to celebrate religious rites.
Here you will find the burial of famous people like popes, martyrs and, according to legends, even some apostles.
After the tour, back in the sunlight, your driver will take you back to the original starting point in Via Della Polveriera
Duration: 2 hours
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
- A current valid ID is required on the day of travel
- The tour reservations have strict timing. To join the tour you are required to be at the meeting point for check-in at least 15 minutes prior to your tour departure time.
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- If you arrive late for the meeting time, it will not be possible to join the group or reschedule, unless you pay for the activity again. As per "No Show" rules you will not be entitled to a refund.
- Pets are not allowed inside the venue
- On Wednesday, due to the weekly Papal Audience, and on religious ceremony there is a possibility that St Peter's Basilica will be unavailable during which the access to St Peter's Basilica is closed.
- We can’t be held responsible in case of sudden closure of the Saint Peter’s Basilica or any other room inside the Vatican Museums without notice, as this is a decision of the Vatican Administration itself and we have no control over it.
- The catacombs can only be visited in groups.
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- The tour of the catacombs takes about 40 minutes. The temperature in the catacombs is about 16 ° C / 60 ° F with a high humidity: please dress accordingly.
- Those with serious mobility issues are warned of the walking difficulties in the catacombs: 50 irregular steps to descend, as many to climb; no chance to sit on the way; no lift (elevator)
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.Learn more about cancellations.
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