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Skip the long lines to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with a guide. Explore the Pio-Clementino Museum, the Hall of Maps, the Tapestry Gallery, and the Raphael Rooms.

Highlights

• Marvel at the Sistine Chapel, home to Michelangelo's iconic frescoes
• Enter the World of the Renaissance in the Raphael Rooms
• Skip the lines and see the best of the Vatican Museums with an expert guide
• Visit the Pio-Clementino museum and admire some of the world’s most iconic sculptures

Description

Say goodbye to the hassle of long queues as you breeze past the crowds waiting in line to enter the Vatican Museums courtesy of priority access. Our experienced guides are all experts in art and history, and know everything there is to know about the Vatican and its treasures. They’ll escort you through the labyrinthine corridors and halls of this incredible museum, making sure that you don’t miss a thing on your Vatican adventure. We think that Wednesday morning is one of the best times to visit the Vatican Museums: as many of the visitors to the Vatican will be in St. Peter's Square to attend the weekly Papal audience, you'll have a quieter, less crowded experience in the Museums. After skipping the lines and entering the Museums, head to the Pio-Clementino museum to admire some of the world’s most iconic sculptures. Renaissance popes were avid collectors of classical sculptures, and some of the most important works of ancient sculpture have been on show in the Vatican Museums for over 500 years. On the tour, encounter a series of amazing ancient marbles that have had a massive influence on developing ideals of naturalism and proportion in the Renaissance. The core of this collection is in the so-called Octagonal Courtyard. Here you’ll get to see the Laocoon, an ancient masterpiece of psychological drama, as well as the Apollo Belvedere and Belvedere Torso, paragons of ancient beauty that inspired Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel. Other highlights of this part of your tour include the Round Room and the Candelabra Gallery. Built in 1578 by order of Pope Gregory XIII, the 120-meter-long Hall of Maps displays colossal maps depicting 16th-century Italy. Each map meticulously details Italian regions with vibrant colors, highlighting cities like Venice, Florence, and Rome. Walking through this part of the Vatican Museums is one of our favorite parts of the tour, as it allows us to trace Italy's coasts while encountering historical vignettes. Explore a different facet of early-modern art in the Tapestry Gallery. Renaissance tapestries, valued for their lavish materials and intricate craftsmanship, await. Your Vatican visit will continue in the Raphael Rooms. Housed within the refined confines of a suite of rooms that were originally the private apartments of the Pope himself. Undoubtedly the highlight of your route through the Vatican Museums is the awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo's masterpieces grace every surface. As explanations aren’t allowed in the Sistine Chapel itself, your guide will give a detailed account of the Sistine Chapel before you enter and provide you with a handout that you can use for reference when inside.

Includes

Priority access to the Vatican Museums Expert guide in art and history Access to the Sistine Chapel and Raphael Rooms Exclusive insights into the Vatican's treasures Due to the Jubilee, some monuments may be under restoration. Please pay attention to any messages we may send regarding potential changes.

Important Information

• As this is a walking tour with steps and uneven surfaces, comfortable walking shoes and a bottle of water are strongly recommended. Please advise if any travelers have mobility concerns so that we can best accommodate you. Disclaimer: For reservations made less than 72 hours in advance, access to the Basilica cannot be guaranteed due to ticketing restrictions. The Basilica of St. Peter's may be subject to unscheduled closings and late openings for religious ceremonies. We do not provide refunds for last-minute closures of St. Peter's Basilica. Your guide will still give you an introduction to the Basilica should you wish to return on your own time during your visit to Rome. Please note that the Raphael Rooms are part of this 3-hour itinerary but on days due to crowding, timing and direction flows of crowd traffic dictated by the Vatican Museum staff on the day, we may not be able to make this stop within the designated time frame.

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund