Private Vatican Tour - Museums, Sistine & St. Peter's

Extended Description

We start our tour at the Vatican Museums, part of the papal palaces. As well as delving into the Vatican’s history, from the martyrdom of St. Peter to the formation of the modern nation of Vatican City (complete with sovereign government, postal system, flag, and, of course, the Swiss Guard), we’ll explore the major works that the museums have to offer. From some of the best ancient sculptures in the world to Raphael’s School of Athens, the Vatican boasts not only some of the most pivotal works of the Renaissance, but of the classical Roman and Greek eras, too—including the stunning Hellenistic Laocoön, the renowned classical Apoxyomenos, and the world-famous Apollo Belvedere. The pièce-de-resistance, of course, is the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo spent eight years of his life on his now-famous frescoes. By the time we arrive at the chapel, you’ll know not only the story behind the paintings, but what they mean and why they’re so renowned—key aspects of fully appreciating Michelangelo’s masterpiece.

We’ll then head to St. Peter’s Basilica, allowing you to skip the line that often stretches around the piazza at the height of the season. Built over St. Peter’s tomb, the basilica is one of the world’s most important Christian sites. It’s also one of the world’s most striking architectural spaces, taking the best minds of the Renaissance more than 120 years to complete. And its history, from the area’s origin as a blood-soaked site of Christian executions to the destruction of Constantine the Great’s millennium-old church, is just as jaw-dropping. Inside, we’ll explore Michelangelo’s Pietà, Bernini’s baldachino, and the chair of St. Peter, among other treasures.