3 h

About this activity

You will meet with your guide outside the Vatican Museum and with skip-the-line entry you begin your tour away from the bustling tourist crowds and busy galleries. This is truly an alternative experience of the Vatican Museums where you can immerse yourself in the history of the Catholic Church and the lives of the Popes.

On the tour you have the opportunity to discover some of the lesser-known parts of the museums like the Gallery of Paintings where you will see wonderful masterpieces by Raphael, Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Tiziano and many more! Then it is on to the Carriage Pavilion where the many vehicles used over the centuries by the various Popes are displayed. There is the Grand Gala Berlin made in Rome in 1826 for Pope Leo XII, the Fiat Campagnola, the car in which Pope John Paul II was standing when an assassination attempt was made in 1981 in St. Peter’s Square. There are also three Popemobiles on show (Land Rover, Toyota and Mercedes 230 GE) and the Renault 4 donated by Pope Francis in 2013.

There will be a visit to the courtyard of the Pine Cone (cortile della Pigna) followed by a visit to the recently re-opened New Wing with its exceptional collection of ancient statues. This Gallery was originally opened in 1822 to display works of art previously confiscated by Napoleon and subsequently return from France following his defeat. Of particular interest is the statue of The Emperor August of Primaporta and a mysterious statue of the River Nile.

At this point on the tour your guide will give you a detailed overview of the Sistine Chapel (talking inside is strictly forbidden). You will then be free to enjoy the rest of the museums and once you enter the Sistine Chapel you will have some background knowledge of the works displayed so that you can more fully appreciate its beauty and artistry.

We are sure you will love this tour and the Vatican City State!

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Included

Guaranteed to skip the long lines
Private tour
Local guide
Professional art historian guide
Local taxes
Entry/Admission - Vatican Museums
Entry/Admission - Stanze di Raffaello
Entry/Admission - Sistine Chapel
Entry/Admission - St. Peter's Basilica
Entry/Admission - St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro)
Guaranteed to skip the lines

Not included

Gratuities
Private transportation
Hotel pick up and drop off

Additional

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

Features

Tourism

95%

Cultural

80%

Original

40%

Adrenaline

15%

Collections This experience is part of these collections