Discover the figures, the technique and the meaning of the frescoes created in 4 years of Michelangelo's timeless passion on our Sistine Chapel tour. Find out more about Julius II, the pope who commissioned his works. Wander through Raphael's rooms as you let our expert guide reveal the mysteries and insights of the depicted characters. Discover how the church's admiration for art has led to such a vast collection of treasures in the Vatican Museums recovered from underground after years of neglect.
** 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. If the Raphael Rooms are an absolute must for you to see, we suggest you book one of our longer group tours: the Early Vatican Tour or the VIP Vatican Tour where the Raphael Rooms will be covered.**
Inclusions & Exclusions
✔ Escorted entrance to St. Peter's Basilica
✔ Headsets (for groups of 6 or more)
✔ All fees and/or taxes
✔ Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Skip-The-Line Tickets
✔ Small Group Size
✔ Expert English-Speaking Guide
✖ Gratuities (optional)
✖ Transportation to and from the meeting and end points
Departure & Return
Departure:
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You will meet your guide at the flower stand on the corner of Via Giulio Cesare and Via Leone IV. They will have a Through Eternity sign or flag.
Itinerary
1
Vatican Museums
With more than five miles of corridors, this vast complex of museums chronicles the history and accomplishments of mankind over the last 2000 years, featuring classic masterpieces such as Rodin's "Thinker" and the Sistine Chapel.
Duration: 2.1666666666667 hours
2
Cortile della Pigna
The Vatican bronze pinecone is a colossal and ancient bronze sculpture also known as the Pinion and is located in one of the courtyards at the Vatican, in the Cortile della Pigna. It was found in the Middle Ages at the Baths of Agrippa where it originates, until late in the antiquity, today you can find it in the complex of the Vatican Museums now for many centuries.
Duration: 10 minutes
3
Sphere within a Sphere
Also known as “Sfera con Sfera,” is a series of sculptures created by sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro. The sculpture depicts an enormous metal sphere with a cracked surface, revealing an intricate interior with another cracked sphere inside.
4
Stanze di Raffaello
The four rooms known as the Stanze of Raphael formed part of the apartment situated on the second floor of the Pontifical Palace that was chosen by Julius II della Rovere (pontiff from 1503 to 1513) as his own residence and used also by his successors. The pictorial decoration was executed by Raphael and his school between 1508 and 1524.
Duration: 10 minutes
5
Sistine Chapel
Probably the most famous chapel in the world because of its incredible artwork, notably "The Last Judgment," Michelangelo's stunning fresco covering 10,000 square feet of the ceiling and wall.
Duration: 30 minutes
6
St. Peter's Square
Enjoy the outstanding view of the Basilica from St. Peter's Square
7
Obelisco Vaticano
The Vatican Obelisk is the only ancient Egyptian obelisk in Rome to have remained standing since Roman times
8
Fontane di Piazza San Pietro
The two fountains in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, created by Carlo Maderno (1612–1614) and Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1667–1677) to ornament the square in front of St. Peter's Basilica. The older fountain, by Maderno, is on the north side of the square.
Additional info
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Please note that the Vatican Museums provide free entrance for visitors who are (according to the requirements stated by the Vatican City) at least 74% disabled by presenting the appropriate certification and, if one needs assistance by another person, that person also receives a free entrance. Please inform us when you are booking if you fit into these requirements and we will remove the pricing of the entry tickets from the price of the tour.
• As this is a walking tour with steps and staircases, comfortable walking shoes and a bottle of water are strongly recommended.
• Please advise during the booking process if any clients have mobility concerns so that we can best accommodate you.
• At the end of your tour, you are required to return the headset provided to you to your guide. In the event that you do not return the headset, you will be subject to a fine of €100 for lost property.
