Vatican Tour

General information

Destination
Rome, Italy

Program details

The Vatican is probably the most magnificent monument to art and religion in the world. But it can also be completely overwhelming. The crowds, the size, and the sheer amount of amazing art and architecture packed into its 9+ miles of hallways is enough to stymie even the most dedicated of art and history lovers. That’s where this tour comes in. This Private Vatican Tour is designed to take you past the crowded hallways and canned guide spiels and allow you to experience the best of the Vatican with your own private, expert, English-Speaking guide. You won’t only see some of the most beautiful art and architecture ever created, you will learn its secrets and understand the context, history, and story behind each piece.




If you love art, history, or religion this Private Vatican tour is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the beauty of the Vatican with an expert, English-speaking guide. Like the grand tourist of years past, you will enjoy the private services of this encyclopedic guide whose experience and insight will take you way beyond the normal mass-market tourist experience and open up the Vatican in a way you never thought imaginable.





You’ll start by skipping the always-long entrance lines and diving right into the Vatican Museums’ collections. From the Raphael Rooms to the Belvedere Courtyard, you’ll jump from masterpiece to masterpiece, with your expert guide giving you in depth insight into each one. The works you see will include: the School of Athens, Laocoön, Apoxyomenos, the Apollo Belvedere, and many more.





The piece de resistance, is of course, the Sistine Chapel, which took Michelangelo eight years to complete and was worth every second. You won’t just see the Chapel, you’ll learn the entire, improbable story of how it came to be, as well as some of the juicy lore behind who is actually depicted in some of the frescoes.





Finally, you’ll head to the masterpiece of Renaissance architecture, St. Peter’s Basilica to learn how it took Italy’s best minds some 120 years to complete. As you explore its vast interior you’ll get to see Michelangelo's heart-wrenching Pietá and Bernini’s unbelievably ornate Baldacchino.





The key to your experience will be your expert, passionate guide whose encyclopedic knowledge of both the history of the Vatican and the art in its collections will give you an experience that far surpasses the usual walk through the Vatican. Without a group to contend with, you can go at your own pace, ask all the questions you want, and fully immerse yourself in the experience. Part indulgence, part masterclass, this private Vatican tour is the highlight of any trip to Italy.



Meeting/pick-up point: At the green bar (called l'Ottagono) in Piazza del Risorgimento. We meet just outside the green bar in the middle of Piazza del Risorgimento Square. This is the only bar/cafè located on the square. The bar is on the side of the square towards via Crescensio - close to Tram stop number 19. The closest Metro/Underground stop is Ottaviano.

Duration: 210mn

Languages: English.

Others: "As with all museums, particular galleries of the Vatican museums can sometimes be closed without prior notice and pieces removed for restoration or loan. In the case of a gallery being closed, your guide will take you to another section of the museums instead.
Please note that guests may only carry small handbags inside the Vatican Museums. Larger backpacks etc must be left at the cloakroom. It is the responsibility of the guest to return to the Vatican Museums entrance to collect these after the tour.