Highlights
- Early access to the Vatican Museums
- The Hall of Maps
- The Ancient Sculpture Galleries, including the Laocoon and the Apollo Belvedere
- The Belvedere Courtyard and the Cortile della Pigna
- St. Peter's Basilica
- Visit Sistine Chapel at its least busiest
Preview Description
Enter the Vatican Museums a full hour before the general public and experience the Sistine Chapel at a time later in the morning when it is least busy. Get inspired by the Vatican's masterpiece.
Description
Join our Early Morning Vatican tour and treat yourself to a VIP experience, visiting the Vatican Museums a full hour before they open to the general public. With our early access to the Vatican and skip-the-line tickets, you will be able to enjoy the unparalleled show that Michelangelo has staged for us as never before. Grasp the real secret of his talent, connecting to his art.
Gaze upon the captivating gestures of the figures on the vault of the Sistine Chapel, from the Creation of Adam to the prophets, such as Jonah or Jeremiah, and find out how Michelangelo broke all the artistic rules of his age.
Explore the unrivalled collection of Classic Art in the Vatican Museums, unearthed in the Renaissance, and which inspired Michelangelo and Raphael to create their masterpieces.
Between the two artists there was an incredible rivalry, and they were also working side-by-side; whilst Raphael painstakingly painted his masterpieces in the Raphael Rooms, Michelangelo laboured over the Sistine Chapel. This is just one of the many stories that will leave you speechless on our early Vatican tour.
From the Sistine Chapel, you will skip the line and the security checks, to reach to St. Peter's Basilica. Once inside, you will marvel at Bernini’s Baldachin and Michelangelo’s breath-taking Pietà. Our early access Vatican tour will take you to appreciate other crucial works of the Basilica, retracing the long history of Christianity.
Tour the Sistine Chapel and enjoy it as did popes and princes
Our early morning Vatican tour will offer you the perfect environment to admire the Sistine Chapel and the artworks of the Museums, while you appreciate their beauty and comprehend their meaning. Exploring with a talented guide in a small group, will help you visualize the cultural context in which such works arose. You will learn about the incredible passions of artists and princes, merchants and bankers, in creating a new world of elegant palaces, magnificent domes, and spectacular cities. Visiting the Vatican you will discover the relevance of the Renaissance, this happy season of human history when the flowering of the arts was accompanied by the evolution of science, together laying the foundations for much of our modern world.
As an accredited tour company with the Museums, we buy skip the line tickets for the Vatican for all our visitors, allowing them the most convenient morning visit to Michelangelo's impressive frescoes.
Sistine Chapel: Meet a genius
Whoever sees the Sistine Chapel through the eyes of Michelangelo, whoever reads in it his thoughts and sentiments, encounters a genius. Who he was, how he lived and what he thought, are the main themes of our visit. Our guides will accompany into the great building projects of the Italian Renaissance and together we will relive the environment of the Papal court in Rome in which Michelangelo created his masterpieces. The figures of Jonah, Adam, Eve, Noah and thousands of others on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and in the Last Judgement speak of Michelangelo and of his ideas. You will appreciate what they say, and how and why these frescoes have redefined not only art, but the way in which we look at the world.
Vatican Museums Tour: Stories of art and classic artworks
Some of the the most important works that we will discover, such as timeless Greek masterpieces like the Laocoon, the Belvedere Torso and the Apollo Belvedere, were excavated at the time of Michelangelo and Raphael. They studied and admired them in the same architectural context in which they are preserved today. This is what makes the Vatican Museums so special and unique in the world: their walls incorporate the history of the Renaissance. The artworks the great masters created are the fruit of their careful study. We will walk through the Vatican Museums stopping by the Pinecone courtyard, the Belvedere courtyard, the tapestry galleries and many classic statues retracing their experience. Discovering a meaningful selection of masterpieces with our knowledgeable guide, you will appreciate the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel in their original context.
From the Sistine Chapel we will reach St. Peter's Basilica without waiting in line
St. Peter's Basilica: The Story of Faith
Visiting St. Peter's Basilica will take you to the heart of the Christian faith, discovering also an incredible collection of relics and religious objects gathered over the course of nearly 2,000 years at the site of St. Peter's tomb, located below the main altar. In the basilica you will have the chance to admire and understand enchanting works of art such as Michelangelo's Pietà, a work whose intimate embrace overflows with such tenderness that it can move even the hardest viewer to tears. The masterpieces of Bernini, the great genius of the Italian Baroque, also dominate St. Peter's, and the spectacular piazza dazzles with astounding optical effects. It is here that the faithful have gathered for centuries to celebrate the great events of Christianity, from the election of new popes to solemn masses. We will bring you here to read a history that will also become our own, a history lived by the protagonists of our fascinating Vatican group tours.
To get the full story of how Christianity replaced the ancient pagan world in the earliest years of the faith, check out our fascinating Underground Rome and Catacombs Tour.
Activity Level
This is a walking tour with steps and staircases, comfortable walking shoes and a bottle of water are strongly recommended.
Wheelchairs and motorised scooters are not permitted on this group tour.
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- The Raphael rooms (Stanze di Raphael) are four rooms which were used as the residence of the popes between 1507 and 1585.
The Raphael Rooms, or "Stanze di Raffaello," are a suite of four interconnected rooms located in the Vatican Museums. Renowned for their stunning frescoes painted by the master artist ... moreRaphael and his workshop, these rooms stand as a testament to the High Renaissance's artistic and cultural achievements. Commissioned by Pope Julius II in the early 16th century, the frescoes in these rooms played a pivotal role in establishing Raphael as one of the preeminent painters of his time, alongside Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.
The Rooms
Room of the Segnatura (Stanza della Segnatura): This is the first room to be completed by Raphael, and it houses some of his most famous works, including "The School of Athens," "The Parnassus," and "The Disputation of the Holy Sacrament." These frescoes embody the ideals of Renaissance humanism, integrating classical philosophy, theology, and poetry. "The School of Athens," in particular, stands out for its portrayal of ancient philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle, depicted in an architectural setting inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica.
Room of Heliodorus (Stanza di Eliodoro): The frescoes in this room, commissioned to convey the power and authority of the Church, depict divine intervention and protection. Key works include "The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple," "The Miracle at Bolsena," and "The Liberation of St. Peter." The dynamic compositions and dramatic use of light and shadow in these frescoes showcase Raphael's mastery in creating vivid, emotionally compelling narratives.
Room of the Fire in the Borgo (Stanza dell'Incendio del Borgo): This room illustrates significant historical and legendary events. The titular fresco, "The Fire in the Borgo," dramatizes the miraculous extinguishing of a fire in the Vatican quarter, symbolizing the protection of the papacy. Other notable works include "The Coronation of Charlemagne" and "The Battle of Ostia," which highlight the Church's triumphs and divine favor throughout history.
Room of Constantine (Stanza di Costantino): Completed after Raphael's death by his students, including Giulio Romano, this room features scenes from the life of Emperor Constantine, the first Christian Roman emperor. The frescoes, such as "The Vision of the Cross" and "The Battle of Constantine against Maxentius," celebrate Constantine's conversion to Christianity and his subsequent victory, which were pivotal in establishing Christianity as the Roman Empire's dominant religion.
Artistic and Cultural Significance
The Raphael Rooms are not only masterpieces of Renaissance art but also serve as an exploration of the interplay between classical antiquity and contemporary Christian themes. Raphael's ability to harmonize these elements reflects the intellectual spirit of the Renaissance, where the revival of ancient knowledge was seamlessly blended with the prevailing religious and cultural context.
Moreover, the rooms highlight Raphael's evolution as an artist. From the harmonious compositions and balanced figures in the Room of the Segnatura to the more dynamic and dramatic scenes in the Room of Heliodorus, visitors can trace his stylistic development. The subsequent completion of the Room of Constantine by his pupils also underscores the enduring influence of Raphael's artistic vision.
Conclusion
The Raphael Rooms in the Vatican Museums remain a vital cultural treasure, drawing visitors from around the world. They offer a unique window into the mind of a Renaissance genius and provide a richly detailed narrative of the period's theological, philosophical, and artistic preoccupations. Through their beauty and historical significance, the Raphael Rooms continue to inspire and captivate art enthusiasts, scholars, and pilgrims alike.
Type: Attraction, Cultural, Historic, Museum
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- The construction of Cortile del Belvedere was the initiative of Pope Julius II and Bramante who wanted to connect an ancient pontifical palace on the right side of St. Peter’s
Cortile del Belvedere The construction of Cortile del Belvedere was the initiative of Pope Julius II and Bramante who wanted to connect an ancient pontifical palace on the right side ... moreof St. Peter’s, and the palace which was built for Innocent VIII by Pollaiolo on the little hill known as del Belvedere. Pope Julius was a great collector of statues when he was still a cardinal. After he was elected as pope he carried all his collection to the Vatican. The Belvedere was one of the places that contained the pope’s several sculpture collections and started making the place more attractive and popular.
As a result of the demand to connect the two palaces, Bramante designed two long corridors which created a big courtyard. Pope Julius II was a great fan of architectural works and wanted to build something impressive which would enhance the grandeur of both palaces. Just as expected, Bramante designed a spectacular court yard which connected the Vatican Palace and the Villa Belvedere. He designed a series of terraces which were connected by stairs and had narrow wings on its sides.
Bramante was very innovative when designing the Cortile del Belvedere. The courtyard contained six narrow terraces which were crisscrossed by a central staircase that led to the wide middle terrace. The long wings on the sides of the terraces of Cortile del Belvedere are what now house the Vatican Museums and the Vatican Library.
The Cortile del Belvedere provided an easy and comfortable means of passing from a garden terrace to the palace court. Bramante originally designed the uppermost terrace as a garden ground but as a result of the small size of the house, he came up with another idea. He made another decorative erection of a garden structure within the colossal semicircular niche, with a loggia on top of it. This provided a spectacular view over the landscape and the entire city.
The Cortile del Belvedere courtyard was used for several occasions due to its spectacular design and atmosphere. In 1565, Pope Pius IV held here a festival event in honour of the wedding of his nephew.
The construction of Cortile del Belvedere led to several developments of outstanding structures in the Vatican City. As a matter of fact, the courtyard led to the establishment of the Vatican Library, Gallery of inscriptions, the Museum of Christian Art, the Gallery of Urban VIII, the Sistine Hall, the Pauline Rooms, and the Gallery of Maps, among others. These are some of the structures rich in the Roman Catholic Church history continue to attract many visitors from all over the world. Until today, Cortile del Belvedere still remains one of the greatest architectural works in the Vatican. The courtyard provides a spectacular view of the entire Vatican City and it houses numerous sculptures and collections.
Type: Attraction, Historic
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Named after Pope Sixtus IV, the Sistine Chapel is perhaps the most famous chapel in the world. It is renowned both for its function as the Papal Conclave and for its incredible artwork.... more
The ceiling and western wall of the Sistine Chapel are adorned with some of the most astonishing paintings in the world created by the famous artist – Michelangelo Buonarroti.
Michelangelo was commissioned to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in 1508 and he completed his work in 1512. The middle section depicts nine stories from the Book of Genesis, including the renowned ‘Creation of Adam’ where the hand of God is seen reaching to Adam to instill him with life.
In 1535 Michelangelo was commissioned once again to paint the western wall over the altar. He completed this spectacular painting of the‘Last Judgment’ in 1541. The painting depicts the end-of-days and second coming of Christ when according to Christian faith all souls will be judged by Jesus,the Saints and God and sent to heaven or hell.
Despite being one of the most celebrated works of art in history, Michelangelo was originally hesitant to paint the ceiling of the chapel for he considered himself as more of a sculptor than a painter.
The original ‘Last Judgment’ painting included fully nude human figures, but these were later covered by another artist due to the demands of some Papal members who claimed that the nudity was obscene and improper.
The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was painted by Michelangelo who depicted nine stories from the book of Genesis including the famous 'Creation of Adam'.
The first three stories are:
1. The Separation of Light from Darkness: Genesis 1:1-5;
2. The Creation of the sun, moon and planets: Genesis 1:11-19;
3. The Separation of Land from Sea: Genesis 1,9-10)
Following these paintings of the Sistine Chapel ceiling in the Vatican are the mid-section patintings:
1. The Creation of Adam & Eve (Genesis 1:26- 2:25), with the figures of man and woman in their nakedness.
2. The Banishment from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:22-24).
The last three frescoes of Michelangelo include:
1. The Sacrifice of Noah: (Genesis 8:15-20)
2. The Flood (Genesis 6:5-8,20)
3. The Drunkenness of Noah (Genesis 9:20-27)
* All these show the fall and rebirth of humanity
The ceiling and western wall of the Sistine Chapel are adorned with some of the most celebrated paintings in the world created by the famous artist – Michelangelo Buonarroti. Michelangelo was commissioned to paint the ceiling in 1508 and he completed his work in 1512.
Despite being one of the most adored works of art in history, Michelangelo was originally hesitant to paint the ceiling of the chapel for he saw himself as more of a sculptor than a painter. The original ‘Last Judgment’ painting included fully nude human figures, but these were later covered by another artist due to the demands of some Papal members who claimed that the nudity was obscene and improper.
The middle section of the ceiling depicts 9 stories fromthe Book of Genesis, including the iconic ‘Creation of Adam’ where the hand ofGod is seen reaching to Adam to give him life. In 1535 Michelangelo was commissioned once again to paint thewestern wall over the altar.
Michelangelo completed this spectacular painting of the‘Last Judgment’ in 1541. The painting depicts the end-of-days and second comingof Christ when according to Christian faith all souls will be judged by Jesus,the Saints and God and sent to heaven or hell.
Type: Attraction, Cultural, Historic, Museum
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The Notorious Roman Emperor Caligula(37-41AD) built a circus at the area of the current Vatican. St Peter the apostle was buried in anecropolis to the north of the circus. ... more
Traditionally it issaid that The See of Rome was founded by Saint Peter who firstheld the position of the Bishop of Rome (Pope).Between the years 324 and 326 AD, theEmperor Constantine built a basilica on top of St. Peter's grave. It was replacedby the present St. Peter's Basilica between the 16th and 17th centuries. And was designed and decorated by Renaissance andbaroque geniuses such as Raphael, Bramante, Bernini Michelangelo, and Maderna. St.Peter's basilica is the largest religious building in the world.
St. Peter's Basilica, Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano or Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Italian, is a Church located in Vatican City that dates back to the Renaissance age. Michelangelo, Bernini and Bramante were the main architects of the magnificent basilica and it is one of the most famous architectural works of the Renaissance era. The building of the current church (replaced the old 4th century Church over St. Peter's tomb) began on 18 April 1506 and was completed on 18 November 1626.
According to Roman Catholic tradition St. Peter's Basilica is the burial site of Saint Peter, one Christs' 12 apostles. Additionally in Roman Catholic tradition, St. Peter was also the first Bishop of Rome and thus was the first in the papal (pope) lineage.
Saint Peter's Basilica is located within the Vatican and thus it serves the Popes for ceremonies. Throughout the year a number of services are conducted by the pope and they attract audiences of 20,000 to over 90,000 people who come to the Vatican Basilica (St. Peter's) or St. Peter's Square. In addition to serving the papcy, St. Peter's is one of the four churches of Rome that hold the rank of Major Basilica.
Saint Peter's tomb is located directly below the altar of the St. Peter's Basilica and soem hitorical evidence supports this. Many Popes have been buried at St. Peter's for this reason and this is also why there has been a church at this location in Rome since the times of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great (4th century)
The basilica has great architectural structures that tooks everal years to design and build. One of the major contributors to the amazing structure of St. Peter’s Basilica is the Master Michelangelo. The following are some ofthe spectacular architectural features of the basilica: the Bramante’s dome, Maderno’s façade, St Peter’s statues, narthex and portals, and Maderno’ nave. St. Peter also has a lovely Piazza, fountains, altars, towers. It also known for the statues in the piers of the dome ( among them are the statues of Saint Helena, St.Longinus, St. Andrew and St. Veronica).
The specifications of the St. Peter’s basilica are approximately: length: 730 feet (220 m); width: 500 feet (150 m); maximum height: 452 feet (138 m); outer dome diameter: 137.7 feet (42 m); inner dome diameter: 136.1 feet (41.5 m). These dimensions are indeed an indication of how huge the basilica is. With its spectacular furnishes, architecture, tombs and collections of art, St. Peter’s Basilica is and will always be one of the largest churches in the world and oneof the holiest Catholic sites.
Type: Attraction, Historic, Museum
The Gallery of Maps is called the Galleria delle carte geografiche in Italian. Situated in the Vatican on the west side of the Belvedere Courtyard, the gallery contains a series of ... morepainted topographical maps of Italy. These maps were based on drawings by Ignazio Danti a Dominican Italian friar, mathematician, astronomer, cosmographer and geographer which was born as Pellegrino Rainaldi Danti in Perugia in 1536.
The galley was commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII in 1580 . Pope Gregory XIII ordered it made as well as many other works of art. The Pope commissioned these works of art in order to decorate the Vatican. The completion of the work on the gallery took Danti three years (1580–1583). Today the gallery consists of 40 panels which go along the 120 m gallery.
The panels map the entirety of the Italian peninsula including Sardinia and Corsica. The maps are in fact frescoes. Each fresco features a different region. Special detail was given to the region's most prominent city. With the Apennines serving as the dividing line, one side features the area surrounded by the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas and the other shows the area near the Adriatic Sea.
The maps are both beautiful and informative as they reveal the way that the renaissance Italians saw themselves and their surroundings in pre- national Italy. Italy was not one nation in the time of the renaissance when the maps were made. The maps also provide insight to the art of cartography ( making of maps) of these times.The gallery is a fascinating place to visit whether you take a special interest in maps or not.
In the gallery of maps the vaulted ceiling is also decorated. These decorations were done by a group of Mannerist artists including Girolamo Muziano and Cesare Nebbia.
Type: Attraction, Historic, Museum
- The Huge statue known as the Pigna (pine) or the Fontana Della Pigna depicts a giant Pine Cone
The Huge statue known as the Pigna (pine) or the Fontana Della Pigna depicts a giant Pine Cone. It is located in St. Peter's, in an area called the court of the Pigna.The Court of ... morethe Pigna is the northern part of the grand renaissance Belvedere Courtyard that stretches between the Papal Palaces to the "palazzetto" which belonged to Innocent VII's . The courtyard was segmented into three parts after the construction of Sixtus V's Library and the Braccio Nuovo of Pius VII. The present courtyard derived its name form the beautiful pine cone statue set into the "nicchone", borders on the south side with the Braccio Nuovo, and on the east it borders with the Chiaromonti Gallery. To its north you can find Innocent VIII's Palazzetto and on the west the galleries of the Apostolic Library are located.
The pine cone was cast out of bronze in the 1st or 2nd century by the sculptor Publius Cincius Salvius. He was identified as its creator because his name was written on the base of the huge pine. The Statue's height is almost 4 meters and on both sides of the pine cone there are bronze peacocks which are copies of the ones in Hadrian's tomb.
Before it was moved to its current location, known as the Court of the Pigna, the statue of the Pine was situated in the Campus Martius. This area is still known today as "Pigna" after this statue. At its previous location it was used as a fountain with the water pouring from holes pierced in the scales of the cone. At the 8th century it was transferred to the entrance hall of the medieval basilica of St. Peter. It was placed decoratively in the middle of the fountain covered by ornate baldachin. We know this because the statue was identified in Renaissance drawings of the hall. Eventually, during the construction of the current basilica, in 1608, the giant pine cone fountain was moved and situated in its current location.
This statue is a beautiful and ancient one and it's definitely worth stopping by and admiring it as it has been part of Rome's landscape for almost 2000 years!
Type: Attraction, Historic
| Adult | Group Tour | $ 15648 | Ages 18 + | | Student | $ 14554 | Ages 18 to 24 | | Child | $ 14554 | Ages 6 to 17 | | Infant | $ 0 | Ages 5 and under |
| Weekly on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, until Tue, Dec 31 2024 | 7:30 AM |
Check In Details
You will meet your guide at flower stand on the corner of Via Giulio Cesare and Via Leone IV. Your guide will have a Through Eternity sign or flag.
Cancellation Policy
Standard Policy
- Cancellations made 2 days before will be fully refunded except for a service fee of 3%.
- Cancellations made at a later date will not be refunded.
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