3 h

Skip The Line

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About this activity

Highlights of the Vatican

Explore the

Gallery of the Candelabra,

Gallery of the Tapestries and our personal favorite, the

Gallery of the Maps. Based on painted topographical maps of Italy by Dominican Italian friar Ignazio Danti, the Gallery of Maps is both beautiful and informative. The painted frescoes reveal how Renaissance Italians saw themselves and their surroundings.

Raphael - The School of Athens

Raphael encompassed the ideals of a Renaissance man and designed and frescoed multiple rooms connected to the Vatican Museums. Among other masterpieces, see one of Raphael’s most famous works of art,

The School of Athens.

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel

Only when you are inside, is it clear why it is one of the Sistine Chapel is one of the most celebrated works of art in Western civilization. Since the chapel is inside the museums, entrance is included in your Vatican tour. Now that the chapel is restored, every detail and color used in the treasured work of art is visible. Since the

Sistine Chapel is a place of worship*, speaking inside is not allowed. Since our guide cannot explain the frescoes while you are inside, we provide you with a map/handout for reference before you enter.
*To enter the Sistine Chapel, both men and women must cover their knees and shoulders. Otherwise, you may be refused entry to this portion of your Vatican tour. We understand the summers in Rome are hot - a great alternative is to bring a shawl/scarf/sweater with you. That way, you can cover your knees and shoulders when necessary.

Reserved Entrance St. Peter’s Basilica

The last stop on this Vatican tour is St. Peter’s Basilica. The massive church is filled with artwork from some of the most celebrated artists in history. Enter through a special door and skip the lines to get the most opulent church in the world. Once inside, admire masterpieces that include the

La Pieta,

Il Baldacchino,

La Pieta, the statue of St. Peter and much more.

Important: Remember that you cannot return to the Vatican Museums from St. Peter’s Basilica. If you want more time inside the museums, forgo the Basilica. Inform your guide at the beginning of the tour. Also, if you would like to stay in St. Peter's Basilica longer, don’t leave with your guide to take photos in the piazza. Re-entry on your own is not recommended due to the long security line. The guide will not explain much of anything from the piazza so we recommend you stay and explore on your own after the tour is over.

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Included

Professional and passionate local guide
Guaranteed to skip the long lines
Small-group tour size to guarantee a great experience
Headsets to hear the guide clearly
Entry/Admission - Sistine Chapel
Entry/Admission - Vatican Museums
Entry/Admission - St. Peter's Basilica
Guaranteed to skip the lines

Not included

Gratuities
Hotel pickup 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
The museums are wheelchair accessible, however you will be required to take a special wheelchair friendly itinerary, and therefore not be able to follow this tour
The Vatican generally quiets down again in the late afternoon, but there is a chance the museums may still be crowded while you are inside
You are advised to be ready at the meeting point up to 15 minutes ahead of the start time to ensure a prompt start. After leaving the meeting point, your guide will bring you inside the Vatican Museums. Since we have a strict entrance time, in case of delays and late arrivals, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to add you to the group. Depending on the size of your group, headphones may be used for some tours. In that case, headphones will be provided. However you may use your own earbuds if you wish
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 18 travelers

Features

Tourism

90%

Cultural

75%

Reviews

5.0

1

n

nfl1991

5 | 2018-10-01

Great tour! Was very impressed by our guide and all we saw and learned about the beautiful Vatican museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's. It's terrible, but I cannot remember our guides name. I liked the way she started the tour by explaining the Sistine Chapel prior to entering the chapel. The entire tour was amazing!

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