Vatican Museums Tour
There’s so much to see in the Vatican Museums, it’s easy to get lost or miss an important masterpiece!
On this skip the line Vatican museums and Sistine chapel tour, you’ll have your very own local art historian and expert Vatican guide to make sure you don’t miss a thing.
Covering masterpieces of Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque art and the important sculptures of ancient Rome. Helping you to make sense of the sheer volume of paintings, mosaics, statues and artefacts in these expansive rooms, your tour guide will explain each item’s place in the rich tapestry of Vatican City history. Not only are they beautiful to look at, each masterpiece has its own story to tell – your Vatican tour guide will tell you the story behind the paintings, the meanings behind them and why they’re so renowned across the globe.
Sistine Chapel Tour
The highlight of your Vatican private tour is the Sistine Chapel, which is undoubtedly the most famous chapel in the world. You’ll learn about the paintings of Michelangelo (yes, he spent 8 years of his life painting here!) and his predecessors, who covered every inch of these walls and ceilings. You’ll hear about the history of the period, including the difficulties encountered between the patron, Pope Julius II and Michelangelo.
Raphael Rooms
These were four rooms of the Papal palace, painted by Michelangelo’s contemporary and greatest rival, Raphael Sanzio. Art lovers cannot afford to miss this short detour from the museums to stand in front of entire walls frescoed by the hands of this Renaissance genius!
St Peter’s Basilica & Square
St. Peter’s is the most renowned work of Renaissance architecture and the largest church in the world. Standing beneath Michelangelo’s great dome, you cannot help but feel somewhat humbled by the expansive surroundings.
Built over St. Peter’s tomb, the basilica took more than 120 years to complete and is one of the most important sites in Christianity. Your local, expert tour guide will explain to you the fascinating history of its conception, location on the Vatican Hill, design, architecture and symbolism.
The Vatican Grottoes contain the relics and tombs of many former Popes, including the late John Paul II. Your guide will accompany you into this area, beneath the Basilica floor, where you can view the tombs and pay your respects.
The Basilica features several chapels and contains numerous statues and mosaic works of importance. Your guide will point out the most important, and leave you with time to look around by yourself. The Pietà , one of Michelangelo’s most well-known religious sculptures, is among the highlights of this part of your visit.