The Rome Sightseeing – St. Peter’s Basilica and Vatican Museums Tour is actually two tours in one: the Morning Tour and the Afternoon Tour. The tours are separate entities and each has a different meeting point. No transportation is provided between the two tours.
Morning Tour (St Peter’s Basilica):
This tour takes you to the most important churches in Rome. Meet your guide (15 minutes before departure) at the bottom of the steps across the street from the entrance of the Vatican Museums. The steps are located right next to Caffè Vaticano on the corner of Viale Vaticano and Via Tunisi. During the tour you will travel in a comfortable air-conditioned coach.
The pilgrimage begins at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore) which boasts exuberant sculptural decorations, stunning 5th century mosaics, enchanting frescoes and the tomb of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Rome’s greatest sculptor.
Leaving Saint Mary Major, you will drive to the Basilica of Saint John Lateran. Here you will have the chance to see the Holy Stairs (Scala Sancta). These 28 white marble steps (protected by overlying wooden steps) are believed to have been the staircase climbed by Jesus during his trial by Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem.
You will enter the imposing Basilica of Saint John Lateran, the Cathedral of Rome and traditional seat of the Pope. This is the oldest of the Basilicas in Rome.
From St. John Lateran, you will be taken to the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing the relics of Saint Paul. Here you will see 5th century mosaics glowing alongside brilliantly colored frescoes.
Last stop will be at St. Peter’s Basilica where your tour ticket enables you to skip the enormous queues that occur here. This massive late Renaissance church is one of the holiest sites in Christendom. In Catholic tradition, it is the burial site of St. Peter, who was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus and first Bishop of Rome. Above the point where St. Peter is said to be buried you will see Saint Peter's baldachin a large Baroque sculpted bronze canopy (or baldachin), designed by Bernini.
As you enter the Basilica, you will find Michelangelo’s masterpiece La Pietà.
The Morning Tour ends at St. Peter’s Basilica. You then have about an hour for lunch before you need to make your way to the meeting point for the Afternoon Tour, which is quite close by.
Afternoon Tour (Vatican Museums):
Meet your guide the bottom of the steps across the street from the entrance of the Vatican Museums. The steps are located right next to Caffè Vaticano on the corner of Viale Vaticano and Via Tunisi.
Your tour gives you privileged VIP access to the celebrated Vatican Museums. Spare a thought for all those waiting in line as you jump to the head of the queue!
The Vatican Museums house more than 9 miles of galleries containing the most extensive collection of art in the world. Chief glory of The Vatican is The Sistine Chapel with its masterpieces by Michelangelo embellishing the ceilings and altar wall. You will see many Michelangelo paintings that you recognize from books and posters, for example The Last Judgment and The Creation of Adam.
You will visit many wings of the museum including the Hall of Maps where 40 maps representing papal properties in the 16th century are frescoed on to the walls.
Another treat awaits at the Gallery of the Candelabra. The room contains classical Roman sculpture from the 3rd century BC to the 3rd century AD and has glorious painted ceilings.
In Raphael’s Rooms you can admire the walls decorated by Raphael and his school, and in the Hall of Tapestries you’ll see beautiful Flemish tapestries made in Brussels from drawings by Raphael’s pupils.
You will explore the including the Ancient Greek and Roman sculpture wing, where you’ll see famous pieces likeApollo Belvedere, and the celebrated Laocoön.
The Afternoon Tour lasts about 4 hours and 30 minutes and ends at St. Peter’s Square. You are responsible for making your own arrangements to return to your accommodation.