Rome: 3-Hour Tour of Castel Sant'Angelo and St Peter's Basilica
3 h
About this activity
Built as a mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian, Castel Sant'Angelo was converted into a papal fortress in the 6th century and named after an angelic vision that Pope Gregory the Great had in 590. Nowadays, it houses the Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant'Angelo and its eclectic collection of paintings, sculpture, military memorabilia and medieval firearms. A fascinating fact is that the castle hosts a fortified corridor called the Passetto di Borgo that Pope Nicholas III built to connect the castle to St. Peter's Basilica. Most famously, Pope Clemente VI holed up here during the 1527 sack of Rome.
Your tour also includes the site that the American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson described as "an ornament of the Earth... the sublime of the beautiful." He was of course talking about St. Peter's Basilica, Italy's largest, richest and most spectacular basilica. Built atop an earlier 4th century church, it was completed in 1626 after 120 years of construction.
Its lavish interior contains many spectacular works of art, including three of Italy's most celebrated masterpieces: Michelangelo's Pieta , his soaring dome and Bernini's 29 meter high baldachin over the papal altar. Inside the basilica, you'll follow your guide with an audio guide, which will help you to enjoy your visit in a more quiet and deep way. A truly enriching and unmissable experience.
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Your tour also includes the site that the American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson described as "an ornament of the Earth... the sublime of the beautiful." He was of course talking about St. Peter's Basilica, Italy's largest, richest and most spectacular basilica. Built atop an earlier 4th century church, it was completed in 1626 after 120 years of construction.
Its lavish interior contains many spectacular works of art, including three of Italy's most celebrated masterpieces: Michelangelo's Pieta , his soaring dome and Bernini's 29 meter high baldachin over the papal altar. Inside the basilica, you'll follow your guide with an audio guide, which will help you to enjoy your visit in a more quiet and deep way. A truly enriching and unmissable experience.
Included
- Skip-the-line to Castel Sant'Angelo
- Audio guide tool for St. Peter's Basilica
- Expert guide throughout the whole tour
- Entry/Admission - Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant'Angelo
- Entry/Admission - St. Peter's Basilica
Not included
- Food and drinks
Additional
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 2 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
- Please keep in mind that when visiting the basilica, you need to wear appropriate clothes. This simply means that you should have your shoulders and knees covered and wear shoes
- The tour will take place even when it's raining. In the event of an exceptionally heavy rain, the tour may be cancelled and you will be given a full refund
Features
Tourism
90%
Cultural
85%
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