St. Peter’s Basilica Express Tour with Papal Crypts

St. Peter’s Basilica Express Tour with Papal Crypts Description

Your 1-hour small group tour includes:

• Fun, engaging guide

• Skip the line to St. Peter’s Basilica

• Enter through the Holy Door (Jubilee year only)

• A close look at Michelangelo’s Pietà

• The towering grandeur of Bernini’s Baldachin

• A stop at the Bronze Statue of St. Peter

• A visit to the Papal Crypts

• The freedom to explore inside St. Peter’s Basilica after the tour ends

• A maximum group size of 25

Meet your guide near St. Peter’s Square

Begin your journey just steps from Vatican City, where your guide will introduce the deep history of St. Peter’s Basilica before leading you inside. Learn how this grand church was built over St. Peter’s burial site and how it became the center of Christianity. Your guide will set the stage for an exploration that starts underground in the Papal Crypts before moving into the grandeur of the Basilica above.

Papal Crypts

Descend beneath St. Peter’s Basilica into the Papal Crypts, where centuries of popes have been laid to rest. Walk through this sacred space, discovering intricately carved tombs, medieval inscriptions, and chapels that have stood for centuries. Learn about the connection between these burial chambers and the Basilica above and hear stories of the most influential popes who shaped Vatican history.

Bernini’s Baldachin

Walk toward the High Altar and stand beneath Bernini’s Baldachin, the immense bronze canopy that soars above St. Peter’s Tomb. Discover the bold symbolism behind its twisted Solomonic columns, inspired by the Temple of Jerusalem, and learn how Bernini designed this masterpiece to visually link Heaven and Earth in one of the most sacred spaces in Christianity.

Walk Through the Holy Door

Step through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, a sacred entrance that is only opened during Jubilee Years. Unlike most visitors who only see it from the outside, you’ll actually walk through this centuries-old threshold, traditionally symbolizing spiritual renewal and grace. Your guide will explain its deep significance and the rituals associated with this rare and meaningful experience.

Michelangelo’s Pietà

As you continue inside, find yourself face-to-face with Michelangelo’s Pietà, one of the most breathtaking sculptures in the world. Carved from a single block of Carrara marble, this Renaissance masterpiece captures the sorrow of Mary cradling Christ. Hear the incredible story behind its creation, the controversy over Michelangelo’s signature, and how it was painstakingly restored after an attack. 

Bronze Statue of St. Peter

Pause before the Bronze Statue of St. Peter, a revered pilgrimage site where visitors have rubbed his right foot smooth over the centuries. Hear the story behind this 13th-century sculpture, which depicts the saint giving a blessing while holding the keys to Heaven. Your guide will explain why this act of devotion remains an important ritual for visitors and how the statue plays a role in Vatican ceremonies.

St. Peter’s Chair and the Apse Mosaics

At the far end of the Basilica, gaze up at St. Peter’s Chair, a monumental relic encased in gilded bronze and framed by Bernini’s golden rays and sculpted angels. While the wooden throne inside is attributed to St. Peter, it also represents the authority of the papacy. Your guide will highlight the stunning mosaics surrounding the chair, depicting key figures of the early Church and reinforcing the Basilica’s deep connection to Christian history.

Altar of the Confession

Standing at the Altar of the Confession, you are directly above what is believed to be the tomb of St. Peter, the very foundation of the Basilica’s existence. Learn why this site, reserved for the most significant papal ceremonies, is one of the most sacred places in Christianity. Your guide will explain the significance of the 99 golden lamps that burn in honor of St. Peter and why millions of pilgrims travel here each year to pay their respects.

End your Journey

Your guided tour concludes inside the Basilica, allowing you to take in its vast beauty at your own pace. Spend extra time admiring its sculptures, lighting a candle in quiet reflection, or simply absorbing the atmosphere of one of the most awe-inspiring churches in the world. Whether you choose to stay a little longer or step back into St. Peter’s Square, you leave with a deeper understanding of the Basilica’s unparalleled significance.