Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Tour

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Vatican Museums, Viale Vaticano, 00120 Vatican City Italy

Upon skipping the queue, you'll start to explore the areas where pontiffs of the Vatican Museums since 1503 have collected all the pieces of art throughout the years.

Begin the tour in the Picture Gallery, where you'll see Raffaello’s 'I cartoni degli arazzi,' and 'La Trasfigurazione', Leonardo da Vinci's 'San Girolamo,' Caravaggio's 'La deposizione di Cristo,' Giotto's 'Il trittico Stefaneschi,' just to name some of the most famous ones. You will then go though the spectacular Cortile della Pigna and the Cortile del Belvedere, passing by the Animal’s Gallery, in order to join the Muse's Room with 'Torso del Belvedere,' and to finish this portion of the tour in the famous Circle Room.

You will then pass by the Greek Cross Room in order to admire Saint Helen's and Saint Constance's sarcophagus. You will go through the Sala della Biga and continue throughout several galleries: the Candelabra gallery, the Galleria degli Arazzi, and the Map's Gallery. Furthermore, you'll reach the Pius V's Room and moreover the Sobieskj Room, which is the Immaculate Conceptions' room.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Sistine Chapel, Citta del Vaticano 1, 00120 Vatican City Italy

Finally, you’ll arrive to the famous Sistine Chapel. Notice all the frescoes entirely painted by Michelangelo, which is a quite amazing feat by one man.


Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: St. Peter's Basilica, Piazza di San Pietro, 00120 Vatican City Italy

Next, head to St. Peter's Basilica passing in front of the famous Porta Santa. Saint Peter's was built between 1506 and 1626 - an interminable construction site. By the way, a large amount of travertine (used to build the Colosseum) has become a part of St. Peter's building material. The construction started with Pope Julius II in 1506, who asked Italian artist Bramante to destroy the original Constantine cathedral in order to build a new one with the Greek cross plan. Inside the church you'll admire the renowned Michelangelo's, 'La Pieta' and Bernini's baldacchino - the statue made by Arnolfo di Cambio in honor of Saint Peter. Furthermore, you will see the Vatican's cavern where the Popes' tombs are located.

Finally, head to Piazza San Pietro (St. Peter's Square) with its marvelous Bernini columns - a symbol of embrace between the church and the christian world. You will admire St. Peter's dome, created by Michelangelo, and the balcony where the Pontiff gives the blessings. Here, you will see Sistine Chapel's roof where the white or black smoke escapes during the a Pope's election, and the famous obelisk which stands tall in the center of the square.

The tour will conclude in St. Peter's Square approximately 2.5 hours after your chosen start time.

Duration: 1 hour