Vatican Museums & St Peter's Basilica
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Port
Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$299.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 8¼ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
Don't miss this perfect introduction to the sovereign State of the Vatican.
Explore the richest storehouse of art in the entire world at the Vatican Museums. As you walk through one room after another in the Vatican, you will be awed by the size and scope of the incredible collections displayed in the Tapestry and Geographical Maps Galleries, and the Candelabra Gallery.
Reach the Sistine Chapel, perhaps the most famous church in the world, which holds a priceless collection of masterpieces by Botticelli, Signorelli, Perugino, and, of course, Genesis and The Last Judgment by Michelangelo Buonarroti, who spent four grueling years painting 10,000 square feet of the chapel's ceiling. Enter the vast expanse of St Peter's Square, which can hold more than 300,000 people.
Pass through the embracing arms of Bernini's colonnade and enjoy outside views of St Peter's Basilica, Christendom's largest church.
A delicious Italian lunch will be served at a traditional restaurant.
En route back to the pier, you will enjoy a brief panoramic drive through the city, which will take you by some of the most fascinating sights in town: the very elegant Via Veneto's fashionable sidewalk cafés, expensive shops, luxurious hotels; the Colosseum -- arguably the most Roman of Imperial Monuments; Circus Maximus, where chariot races took place during the Roman Empire days and immortalized in the movie Ben Hur; and Palatine Hill, with the Residence of Roman Emperors. Driving along the old Ostiense Way, cross the ancient borders of the city and pass through the Aurelian Walls. You'll pass St Paul's Gate and the Pyramid of Caius Cestius and end your tour at the pier in Civitavecchia.
Notes:
Tour requires extensive walking. Not advisable for guests using a wheelchair or for those with mobility limitations. Wear comfortable walking shoes. The visit to the Vatican Museums is not a private visit. Modest attire is required for visiting churches or cathedrals; knees, shoulders and midriffs must be covered; shorts and capri pants are not allowed. Use of an audio headset (included) will enhance your tour experience. Each guest is responsible for returning the headset after the tour. Missing headsets incur a €50 fee. You must pass through security screening at the Vatican Museum. Large bags or umbrellas, bottled water, video cameras, knives or scissors must be checked. Large backpacks or bags cannot be taken inside the Vatican Museums. Flash photography is not allowed. Photography and video are not allowed in the Sistine Chapel. You will encounter lines and delays -- your patience is appreciated. Tour requires extensive walking (more than a mile). Terrain includes even and uneven surfaces, cobblestones, and more than 250 steps at the Vatican Museums. Inside the Vatican Museums, the wheelchair-accessible route differs from the route taken by the group, meaning that guests using a wheelchair will miss some of the guide's commentary. Tour does not operate on Sundays or religious holidays. Ongoing restoration and/or maintenance work may be underway at any venue during your visit.