This exceptional tour of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel lets you bypass the hours-long waiting lines to these attractions so that you can save time on your Roman holiday admiring the incredible art and architecture that is a hallmark of the Vatican experience. See the world-famous artistic treasures housed in these buildings as well as lesser-known but just as fascinating gems of the art world housed here.
Your professional English guide will be providing you informative commentary as he helps you navigate your way through the key parts of Vatican City, from the Pinecone Courtyard to the Hall of Maps, past the Gallery of Tapestries, and the Gallery of Candelabra until the incredible Raphael Rooms, the public part of the papal apartments. Listen to some fascinating stories about the provenance of the artwork that is held in these places as well as the history from the era in which they were commissioned, giving you insight and knowledge that is hard to gain on your own.
Unsurprisingly, one of the major highlights of this tour is when you arrive at the Sistine Chapel and, though tours are not allowed through the chapel, your guide would have already prepared you through the use of detailed photos as to what to expect once you enter the room. Allow yourself a while to pick out the details your guide would have told you about, like the portrait of Michelangelo’s boneless frame to in express that he would rather be skinned alive than paint the Sistine Chapel again, the fresco that is synonymous with his life's work but also the most arduous labor of love that he had encountered throughout his lifetime.
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The Vatican Museums are one of the most popular tourist destinations and sometimes delays can occur due to increased security measures or unexpectedly large crowds during holidays and festivities. As always, your guide will make sure any delays are minimized and that you get access as quickly as possible.
Please note that in case of unexpected closures of some of the areas inside the Museums, the guide may have to modify the itinerary slightly. For example, if some of the internal connecting areas are closed for safety reasons, Raphael's Rooms may be replaced by the Pio Clementino Museum, where the Laocoon and Apollo Belvedere statues are situated.
Dress Code: The entrance into the Vatican requires a strict dress code. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women.
This tour involves a fair amount of walking and stairs; comfortable shoes are recommended.
Cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Variant-specific cancellation policies may apply.
