Private Guided Tours of the Vatican

Explore Vatican City, Sistine Chapel, Gardens and Museums

One of the largest museums in the world is located on the territory of the smallest state in the world, the Vatican state. A visit to the Vatican is a sacred duty for anyone in Rome.

The Vatican is a unique place in terms of religion and art history. At least 5.5 million tourists from different countries visit the Vatican Museums every year. These are people of different religions, but there are also people who do not practice any religion, and the Vatican’s priceless masterpieces of art unite all visitors without exception with the idea of ​​knowing the beauty.

What to expect during the tour

The Vatican Museums have almost 30 different sections, most of which are included in our tour. My own developed program of excursions to the Vatican gives you the opportunity to get acquainted with the most important “treasures” of the papal collection, which will undoubtedly leave an unforgettable trace of the beautiful and eternal in your soul.

What will be the itinerary of our tour

Our guided tour of the Vatican begins at the Pavilion of the Carriages, where we’ll see the first papal automobiles, including the Fiat off-road vehicle on which Pope John Paul II was seriously injured during an assassination attempt.

As we continue our private tour of the Vatican, we’ll pass through the Pine Cone Courtyard, where I’ll share stories about the former papal summer residence, known as the Belvedere Palace, and point out the famous bronze sphere by Arnaldo Pomodoro. Few people know that this area of Vatican City, near the Tower of the Winds, is where the Gregorian Calendar was developed.

Next, we’ll visit the Courtyard of the Statues in the Pio-Clementine Museum, which marks the beginning of the papal collection. Pope Julius II della Rovere placed the first statues here in 1506, laying the foundation for what would become the Vatican Museums: the Belvedere Apollo, Laocoön and His Sons, and the Belvedere Torso. Our guided tour of the Vatican Museums will reveal more of these historic treasures.

Proceeding to the highlight of our tour of the Vatican City, we will pass through the Gallery of Candelabra, the Gallery of Tapestries, and the Gallery of Maps. Entering through the apartments of Pope Pius V, we reach the most significant part of the Vatican Museums—the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo’s “divine” frescoes are immortalized. This part of our tours of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican will include a deep dive into its artistic and religious importance, as well as its role in papal elections.

From the Sistine Chapel, with a guide, you can skip the lines and enter the world’s largest basilica, St. Peter’s Basilica. Built on the site of the martyrdom and burial of Jesus Christ’s apostle Peter, St. Peter’s Basilica took over 120 years to complete, with many notable architects, including Donato Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. On this private tour of the Vatican, I will provide detailed insights into these iconic figures.

To complete our journey, we can explore the beautiful Vatican Gardens. These tours of the Vatican Gardens offer a peaceful escape and a deeper look into the hidden beauty of Vatican City.