Rome: St. Peter's Basilica Dome to Underground Grottoes Tour

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Rome: St. Peter's Basilica Dome to Underground Grottoes Tour

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Discover St. Peter's Basilica, from its dome to the underground grottoes, on a guided tour with entry tickets for the dome elevator included.

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Highlights

Climb to the top of the dome to admire views of the Vatican gardens
Benefit from the knowledge of a local guide who is also an art historian
Admire the Basilica's array of impressive marble, ceilings, and mosaics
Explore the underground grottoes and marvel at the ancient frescoes
Be entertained by fascinating stories about the building's long history

Description

Meet your guide and head to St. Peters Square to witness the all-embracing character of its majestic architecture. Understand the game of visual effects as thought by its designer, Bernini, and find the two 'special' spots in the square. After entering the Basilica, discover the beautiful artworks that fill its space. Walk on the colorful marble and be mesmerized by the enormous dimension of the building and the ceilings covered in gold. Here the guide will take you through the main highlights. See the incredible Papal Altar under Bernini's Baldachin, and marvel at Michelangelo's other timeless masterpiece, La Pietà, as you explore the most important church in the Christian world. Visit the Papal Grottoes, the crypt under St. Peter's Basilica. Built 3 meters below the level of the Basilica, they are located just under the great altar in the middle of the central nave. Here, you can see where hundreds of popes and members of royalty have been buried since the 11th century. Then take the elevator up to the dome and enjoy the scene over the marble floors and take a close-up look at the mosaics of the dome, designed by Michelangelo. From the highest point within the Vatican, admire breathtaking views of the city, including the Vatican Gardens below.

Includes

St. Peter's Basilica Tour Dome entry tickets Guide Headsets

Important Information

Your knees and shoulders must be covered to enter All visitors must pass through security. It can take 10 - 120 minutes during high season During bad weather, it might not be possible to climb up the dome. In that case, you can ask for a partial refund St. Peter's Basilica is subject to unforeseen closures due to Vatican affairs. In the event this happens, the activity provider will contact you as soon as possible to reschedule In the rare event the underground is closed, you will spend extra time in the basilica and St. Peter's Square