Vatican Highlights with Rome Walking Tour

Vatican With Rome Walking Tour Description

This 5.5-hour tour includes:

• Skip-the-line entry to the Vatican Museums

• Guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica

• Guided walking tour of some of Rome's landmarks

• Stop for gelato (included)

• A small group of up to 16 people

• A fun, local guide

Pio Clementino, Top Galleries, and Sobieski Room

Enjoy a visit to a collection of the most important Roman and Greek artwork at the Pio Clementino Museum. Here you'll learn about three of the world’s most iconic statues: the Apollo Belvedere, Laocoön and His Sons, and the Belvedere Torso. Your next stop is to see Nero’s one-of-a-kind red marble bathtub, made with materials that are unavailable today making it a truly rare object.

Some of the most popular galleries in the Vatican are on your itinerary too: the Gallery of the Candelabra, Gallery of the Tapestries, and Gallery of Maps. See how detailed the topographical maps are, and spot the eyes in the tapestry that seem to follow you!

Then continue to a room filled with paintings depicting the famous Polish victory over the Turks in 1683, before moving on to the most famous place in the Vatican.

The Sistine Chapel

While you stand beneath the frescoes of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, it’s impossible not to appreciate how difficult it must have been for Michelangelo to toil away year after year at this masterpiece. Visiting the Vatican is simply not complete without a visit at the Sistine Chapel, so enjoy some time to take in the stunning frescoes that have captivated millions of people for centuries.

Please note that the Sistine Chapel is a sacred place, so both men and women must cover their knees and shoulders. Otherwise, you may be refused entry to a portion of your Vatican tour. We understand the summers in Rome are hot - a great alternative is to bring a shawl/scarf/sweater with you. That way, you can cover your knees and shoulders when necessary.

St. Peter's Basilica

And of course, a visit to the Vatican isn't complete without seeing the massive icon of a church is where St. Peter's remains are believed to be buried. Stand in awe under St. Peter's dome and the magnificent canopy (Bernini's Baldacchino) and enjoy a guided tour of the basilica's collection of art, relics, mosaics, and sculptures.

Please note that St. Peter's Basilica is closed on Wednesdays for the Papal Audience and can occasionally experience other unexpected closures. If this happens, your guide will make up the time at other areas within the Vatican.

Walking Tour of Rome's Landmarks

Now it's time to head outdoors and explore some of the closest landmarks of Rome. While you won't go all the way to the Colosseum, you'll have a chance to see one of the other imposing landmarks that many tours don't include: Castel Sant'Angelo, which was the original mausoleum of Hadrian.

Then you'll follow your guide to Piazza Navona and learn about the Fountain of Four Rivers and the history of this famous piazza. Next is the famous Pantheon which has the most incredible columns leading into the worlds oldest known dome. It's a favorite structure of most Romans today, not only for its size and construction but also the open oculus in the middle that was essential to its construction.

Your guide will also make sure to take you to a delicious gelato shop to enjoy a refreshing taste of Italy's famous dolce.

A stop at the incomparable Trevi Fountain is also included on your walking tour of Rome. Take in the beautiful marble statues of the world's most famous fountain and toss in a few coins while you're there! Your guide will teach you how to properly make a wish too.

Finally, head to the iconic Spanish Steps and learn about why these steps are so special to Romans, and why there is a fountain that looks like a rowboat there.