Vatican City

Highlights of the Tour:

• The tour starts from Vatican Museums: we enter the Pinefruit Courtyard, crossing the collection of greek and roman sculptures, admiring the famous staute of Apollus, the Laocoon and the Belvedere Torso, the statues of animals, the Coffins of St. Helen and St. Constance,  the Galleries of Tapestries and the frescoed Maps of all Italy painted in 1585. The Rooms painted by Raphael and his pupils, ending with the amazing Michelangelo’s Sixtine Chapel.  Michelangelo worked to fresco the vault of the Sistine Chapel from 1508 to 1512. Michelangelo expanded the project beyond the presentation of the twelve apostles originally commissioned by the pope Giulio 2^nd  to more than 300 figures. In this way, Michelangelo was able to give creativity to what is defined as the greatest masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance.

  Afterward the tour will lead you inside the highest temple of Christendom: St. Peter’s Basilica. More than a simple church the Basilica, originally build by Emperor Constantine over the tomb of the very first pope, the apostle Peter, was designed by the best Italian architects. Its building took more than 150 years, and under a centain point of view is still a “work in progress”.

  As soon as you eneter the basilica, you can admire the beautiful marble floors, and ceilings. The Pietà by Michelangelo, the Jubilee Gate,  Bernini’s main altar, the staircase enlightened by eternal lamps leading to the tomb of Saint Peter designed by Carlo Maderno, the tombs of the Popes made by Bernini, Della Porta, Canova, Thorwaldsen and many others, Michelangelo’s amazing dome and more masterpieces will overhelm you. Ending with a view of  the Vatican Grottos,burial places of most of the popes from Peter to John Paul II,  and an external view of the  papal apartment, will give you the complete picture of the headquarter of Roman Catholic Church.

Included in the Tour:

The basic tour lasts three hours from the time you meet your guide; the in-depth tour lasts four hours.

Price per hour for a minimum of a 3-hours-long tour

Not included:

• entrance tickets, headsets if party is more than 5 people, trasnportation, meals, gratuities.