Private Tour: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica

Highlights

• Official Licensed Guide
• Exclusive St. Peter's Basilica Access
• Vatican Masterpieces

What's included

Itinerary

1. 1

   Vatican Museums

   1h 40min

   Meet our guide in front of the Vatican Museums ready to start the tour inside one of the most famous museums in the world!

2. 2

   Cortile della Pigna

   5min

   The courtyard was originally part of the Cortile del Belvedere, designed by Donato Bramante to connect the palace of Pope Innocent VIII with the Sistine Chapel. When Bramante died, architect Pirro Ligorio finished the project and added the wall and niche to close the courtyard.

3. 3

   Stop 3

   5min

   The Octagonal Court used to be known as the Cortile delle Statue. It was home to the first nucleus of antique classical statues in the pontifical collections when Pope Julius II della Rovere (1503-1513) displayed his own collection of antique sculpture. Among them the world famous Laocoön group.

4. 4

   Galleria Delle Carte Geografiche

   5min

   the longest gallery in the Vatican Museums, hosting the frescoed maps of all the regions of Italy, from south to north, commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII in 1580.

5. 5

   Sistine Chapel

   20min

   The Sistine Chapel takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere. The 15th century decoration of the walls includes: the Stories of Moses and of Christ. It was executed by a team of painters made up initially of Perugino, Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Rosselli. Michelangelo painted the Ceiling, nine central panels showing the Stories of Genesis and the Last Judgement on the altar wall.

6. 6

   La Pieta

   5min

   Michelangelo's masterpiece, made by the great florentine artist when he was just 21 years old, represents the Virgin Mary holding in her arms the body of Jesus

7. 7

   St. Peter's Basilica

   15min

   the biggest Basilica in the world, built above the tomb of the apostle Peter, home of incredible treasures!

Before you go

Location