Shared Small-group

Tour of the Vatican Museums, St. Peter's Cathedral and the Colosseum

Enter the Roman most famous gems with skip the line access

Highlights

  • Discover the hidden treasures of the Vatican such as the museums, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica
  • Explore the world's largest amphitheatre, the Colosseum
  • Relive Rome's glorious past at the Roman Forum 
  • Skip tedious queues with the skip-the-line option included
  • Enjoy an unforgettable experience in the company of an expert guide

Departure

from MAR to NOV and from DEC 23rd to DEC 31ST: MON to SAT/ from DEC 1st to DEC 22nd: Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat. Always starting at 9:15am

DURATION

APPROX. 8h

period

From March 2024 to January 2025

language

English

Description

Take an incredible journey to the capital of the Catholic world and discover the history, mysteries and masterpieces of the small and powerful city-state located in the very heart of Rome. You will visit the Vatican museums, the famous Sistine Chapel and the magnificent St Peter's Basilica. That's not all! Rome is also the hub of an empire that dominated the West and of which it still preserves incredible works such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. All tickets guarantee priority access and early entrance, this way you have the rare chance to get in before the many daily travellers do.

With this small group tour you will visit some of the most iconic sites of Christianity and the enormous Roman Empire. In the company of a licensed professional guide and a selected group of travellers admire the Capital's iconic monuments in peace and tranquillity. 

 

You will begin your adventure when you meet your authorised and dedicated guide as well as the small group of travellers who will accompany you. The presence of a few people will make the atmosphere more intimate and informal. Thanks to the skip-the-line option already included with your tickets you will have early and priority access to the monuments and the Vatican Museums. You will thus avoid long and tiring queues and gain immediate access to the iconic sites of Christianity. Being the burial place of St. Peter, in fact, the Vatican has always been considered a kind of holy “city within a city”, a second Jerusalem. Over the centuries then, the Catholic Church has collected, catalogued and preserved wonders of all sorts and origins. Today its museums are a treasure trove of countless masterpieces: the astonishing Gallery of Statues, the fascinating Gallery of Tapestries and the Raphael Rooms. Take a leisurely stroll through the different rooms while listening to the detailed and passionate narration of your professional local guide. During your visit you will have the opportunity to get to know the great artists who embellished one of the world's most fascinating sovereign states. Prepare yourself for the side effects of Stendhal syndrome as you enter the Sistine Chapel, a pearl of the Italian Renaissance produced by the mastery of Michelangelo, and lift your head to probably the most famous and admired ceiling in the world. Immerse yourself in the Last Judgement: the seemingly infinite fresco magnificently adorned with the realistic and powerful figures of God, Adam and all the Saints. Don't forget to try to spot the artist's self-portrait among the various figures depicted! In this sacred place, defined by Pope Giovanni Paolo II as the place of action of the Holy Spirit, the conclaves of cardinals have been meeting cyclically for centuries to elect a new pope! 

 

A tour of the Vatican cannot be considered complete without a visit inside St Peter’s Basilica. You can admire the incredible mosaics inside as well as Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's Baldacchino in all their splendour. The enormous Church, crowned by the homonymous square, is the largest of the four papal basilicas in Rome. It is the main seat of Catholic worship and has a millennial history that made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. Let yourself be moved by the immensity of the space, close your eyes and take a deep breath: you are in the most powerful religious heart of history, surrounded by masterpieces.

 

After this immersive tour of the Vatican it will be time to discover the origin and soul of Rome by exploring one of its most famous monuments: the Colosseum. The Flavian Amphitheatre is the largest in the world and also the best preserved. Don't miss the opportunity to take some souvenir photos to share with friends and family once you return from your stay. Our expert guide will introduce you to the thousand-year history of this monument, why it was built, the story of the famous 'Roman Games' that celebrated victories over enemies, overseas conquests and the greatness of emperors, as well as stories of famous fights. Once you have finished the tour you can enjoy a relaxing walk through the Roman Forum, from the Arch of Titus to the Temple of Saturn, Vespasian and Antoninus Pius. A great moment of spectacle and fascination in the places that were the social, political and commercial centre of the Roman Empire. Be amazed by this impressive district full of temples, basilicas and lively public spaces. Immerse yourself in the daily life and habits of the inhabitants of Rome 2000 years ago and the greatest and most powerful empire of all time, learning the story of its rapid rise and ruinous fall. Our tour will end when we climb up to the place where - according to legend - Rome was founded, the Palatine Hill, where Romulus decided to build his palace. You will enjoy a spectacular view of the city and can decide whether to end your tour or freely continue by visiting some of the other archaeological sites available, such as the Domus (houses) of Augustus and Nerone (visits and tickets available on request).

Inclusions

  • Licensed English speaking guide
  • Skip-the-line access tickets to the Vatican Museums
  • Access ticket to St Peter's Basilica
  • Only in English for the highest quality
  • Skip the line entrance to Colosseum, Arena and Roman Forum

Meeting Point

9:15AM: VATICAN MUSEUMS, entrance viale Vaticano, meet your guide on top of the stairs next to Caffè Vaticano, find us holding a white sign with the "Towns of Italy" logo. - SEE ON MAP

3:00PM: COLOSSEUM, meet our tour leader in front of the “Arco di Costantino” looking at the Colosseum from the short side of the arch - SEE ON MAP

Notes

 Please note that the departure time of these two tours is subjected to change, awaiting further information from the Colosseum management. All the bookings made from 15th December 2023 until further notice are considered as not refundable!

We regret to inform you that this tour is not suitable for guests with wheelchairs or reduced mobility.

Entry to the Vatican Museums is based on strictly timed tickets. For this reason, late arrivals cannot be guaranteed access.
All visitors must have a photo ID for the security check.
The Vatican Museums imposes a mandatory dress code: knees and shoulders must be covered otherwise you will not be able to enter.
Due to exceptional religious events, St. Peter's Basilica might be closed without any notice.

Rain Policy

The tour runs rain or shine.

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