Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Entrance with Audio Guide

Overview

Highlights

• In-person host greeting
• Audio guide app setup
• Independent exploration

What's included

Itinerary

1. 1

   Vatican Museums

   1h 30min

   Once through security, step inside one of the world's most magnificent and expansive art collections, where you have total freedom to navigate the Papal collections at your own pace with your digital audio guide providing rich context and historical insights. As you move through the museums, your self-guided route takes you through iconic halls and courtyards, starting with the vast outdoor Courtyard of the Pinecone featuring an ancient Roman bronze pinecone and Arnaldo Pomodoro’s modern bronze sphere sculpture. From there, wander past intricate Roman marble sculptures in the Gallery of Candelabra and massive 16th-century Flemish tapestries, before walking down the breathtaking 120-meter Gallery of Maps with its 40 detailed topographical fresco maps of Italy commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII in 1580. Finally, marvel at Raphael’s Rooms, where four grand reception rooms showcase famous High Renaissance frescoes, including Raphael's undisputed masterpiece, The School of Athens.

2. 2

   Sistine Chapel

   1h

   Conclude your journey inside the sacred silence of the Sistine Chapel, the Pope’s private chapel and the active location for Papal conclaves. Take a seat along the marble walls or stand in quiet contemplation as you gaze up at Michelangelo’s world-altering Renaissance frescoes. Your digital audio guide prepares you before entering, explaining the intricate biblical storytelling behind The Creation of Adam across the ceiling vault and the dramatic imagery of The Last Judgment painted across the main altar wall. As one of the greatest artistic achievements in human history, this sacred sanctuary offers an unforgettable grand finale to your Vatican visit, allowing you to absorb every masterpiece in silence and entirely at your own pace.

Before you go

Location