Private Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel & Basilca Fast Access

As this is a private tour group there is the opportunity to visit some of the smaller museum rooms not on the usual tourist trail.  You can go at your own pace and take your time to enjoy the magnificent artwork.  Tours begin at either 9.00 a.m. or 2 pm  - you will meet your guide at the entrance to the Vatican museums and with skip-the-line entry go straight to the Belvedere Courtyard followed by the Pio-Clementino Museum to see the magnificent collection of ancient Roman and Greek Statues.    The tour continues with visits to the Gallery of Tapestries and then on to the largest and most important display of Renaissance maps in the world housed in  the Geographic Gallery.  The largest canvas painting in the Vatican is housed in the Sobiesky Room; learn all about this from the guide as well as details of the beautiful frescoes that adorn the Immaculate Conception Rooms.

In Raphael’s Rooms you will gain an insight into the artist’s  greatest works, the Parnassus and the School of Athens that were painted for Pope Julius II.

Of course, the tour highlight is the Sistine Chapel where you can see Michelangelo’s magnificent frescoes, as well as those of Botticelli and other famous artists.  Your guide will regale you with the history of the chapel as well as recounting interesting facts and anecdotes, including details of the conclave that is held to elect the new Pope.

It is then time for a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica where you will explore the numerous side chapels with their hidden crypts. You will see Michelangelo’s Pietà and your guide will explain why this is the only work that he signed. You will gain an appreciation of the mastery that went into the creation of Bernini’s altarpiece and learn how Michelangelo triumphed over his contemporaries for the honour to paint St. Peter’s magnificent dome.

The tour will end in Saint Peter's Square