Sistine Chapel & Vatican Tour Premium - Skip the Line





Description
Explore the wonders of the Vatican on this skip-the-line private tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica, guided by a licensed expert. With priority access and a guide dedicated solely to you, you'll move through one of the world's most visited sites at your own pace — relaxed, personal, and free from the constraints of a large group. Admire the Gallery of Geographical Maps, a forty-meter Renaissance marvel where cartography becomes art beneath a gilded ceiling. Step into the Raphael Rooms — once the private apartments of Pope Julius II — and take in frescoes like the School of Athens, brought to life with your guide's commentary. In the Sistine Chapel, discover the stories behind Michelangelo's ceiling and Last Judgment — the rivalries, the faith, and the ambition that produced them. Conclude within St. Peter's Basilica, the world's largest church, home to Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's soaring baldachin.
Tour Options
Itinerary
One of the largest museums in the world! Visit the Courtyard of the Pinecone, the Pio-Clementine Museums with Apollo of the Belvedere, Lacoon, Torso, Greek Cross Room, Gallery of Candlesticks, Gallery of Tapestries, Gallery of Geographical Maps, Raphael Rooms.
One of the wonders of Art, the private chapel of the Papal Palace fresco pained by Michelangelo!
The largest church in the world! See Michelangelo's "Pietà", and Bernini's "Baldacchino". Climb to the top of Michelangelo's Dome!
The City State of the Vatican is the smallest independent sovereign country in the world, though in a certain sense it is also the biggest, for it is indeed everywhere. The smallest State in the world houses the biggest art collection in the world! And the biggest church in the world, St. Peter's Basilica, an amazing creation of Renaissance and Baroque architecture. The Basilica soars up 140 meters (420 ft) with its dome into the heavenly skies, and goes deep down into the earth, to the tomb of St. Peter, over which it was built. What is one able to see in one day, given the fact that some have calculated that those who attempted to see everything in the Vatican, would need to stay at least half a year? Well, surely we will see a great number of world renowned masterpieces and historical landmarks. At St. Peter's we will view Bernini's Colonnade; the Altar of Glory; magnificent mosaics; the most ancient bronze statue of St. Peter; the Holy Door; the Canopy which Bernini made with the bronze from the Pantheon; the Confession of St. Peter where his relics are kept; the greatest of Michelangelo's sculptures, the famous Pietà, the only work he ever signed. In the Papal Palaces that house the Vatican Museums, the biggest in the world, we will see paintings by Giotto, Beato Angelico, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, and then the collection of classic Greek and Roman art that includes such artifacts of world-wide fame as the Apollo of Belvedere and Laocoon, and the tapestries designed by Raphael, the maps drawn by a cartographer of the 16th century that are so precise, they could be used even today. We shall walk through the apartments of the Popes, and the great Stanze di Raphael (rooms in the Papal apartments painted by Raphael). The journey through time and art will culminate with one of the world's wonders - the Sistine Chapel - the "Holy of Holies" of the Popes, covered with frescoes painted by the greatest artists of the 15th century, and completed with frescoes by perhaps the greatest of all artists, Michelangelo. After visiting the Sistine Chapel, Goethe wrote that only those who see it, can understand what one man alone is capable of doing. We will see all of this and much more. Our experts will share with you not only their knowledge in History, Art, and Architecture, but will also recount you the story of how a small and poor tomb of a fisherman became the center of Christianity, and for a very long period, the center of the world. We will tell you stories of secrets and intrigues of Pope-Kings, tales of saints and miracles, unusual and rarely known historical facts. We will guide you through an amazing journey of human frailty and wonder, one you will never forget!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A current valid passport or ID is required on the day of the tour.
- Dress code: Shorts, short skirts, and sleeveless shirts, are NOT allowed. Knees and shoulders must be covered
- Note: St Peter's Basilica is closed on Wednesday mornings and may be closed on any given day at the discretion of the Vatican Administration
- We recommend you bring a small bottle of water during the hot summer months.
- Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travelers' full names prior to crossing the border will result in denied entry into the State of the Vatican City.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
Reviews(36)
Great private tour experience! The tour started as scheduled, no wait in long line, 3 hours long. Anna was very professional, friendly, knowledgeable! We would definitely be willing to use their services again! Absolutely worth every penny paid!
An absolutely amazing experience. If we ever go back we will always use this tour company! Very informative and overall great experience
Great guide with lots of knowledge and excitement about the arts.
Maria Laura was our guide and she did amazing! She went at a great pace for our family including all do the highlights and some great information! Seraphim from Anno Domini helped us plan our entire vacation in Rome and made it so easy to plan off of the details. He was always available if I had questions or needed recommendations for anything while in Rome! Highly recommend!
Amazing visit of the Vatican museum and Peter's Basilica with Anno Domini tours. Fantastic et experienced guide. Thank you so much Sev for sharing your passion of History. Best tour ever!
Thank you for your kind words! It was a pleasure to meet you!
Private tour with Sev is the way to go! He was incredibly knowledgeable and professional. He let us set the pace and entertained our many questions.
Thank you so much for your kind review! I am so glad you enjoyed the tour!
What a wonderful experience! A lovely tour guide who was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about history. She shared lots of wonderful information that brought everything to life! She knew the best spots to stand to take in the full effects of this beautiful place. Thank you for sharing all the stories and facts that made my visit one to remember! I would highly recommend, I promise you won’t be disappointed.
What a pleasure it is to hear back from you with such comments. Thank you very much. I am so happy that we were able to create and deliver such a good experience for you. We look forward to seeing you back in Rome in the future!
Sev has a gift. What a wonderful tour. I was a little worried I’d be bored on this tour (art isn’t my passion), but I could not have been more wrong. Sev used story telling and really drew in the tour group while explaining. I heard some other guides and I would have been bored out of my gourd-they were spewing memorized facts. Sev knew his stuff and made it so enjoyable. I cannot recommend enough!
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m so glad you enjoyed it :-)
Amazing experience and Sev was a super guide. Knowledgeable, professional, and kept the tour extremely enjoyable and enthralling. Highly recommended.
I am so glad you enjoyed the experience! Thank you! :-)
Fransesca made the tour very informative. She was also able to respond excellently to the children. You can tell she has a passion for art and she transmits that passion. just great. She was also able to answer any of our questions. we warmly recommend them
We are very glad you enjoyed your tour with Francesca! Thank you very much!



