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Exclusive Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, Underground Catacombs Tour and Tickets
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Overview
An Amazing, Exclusive Private Vip Guided Tour!!!
Personal Vatican Guide and Small group tour at the Catacombs • Hotel or another agreed spot pick up and drop off (centrally located hotels or other spots. Within Aurelian Walls) • Skip-the-line Tickets
See the magnificent highlights of Vatican City with the advantage of the skip-the-line entrance and professional guided tour.
Explore one of the most extraordinary collections of art in the world; pause in the Sistine Chapel; admire Michelangelo's masterpiece. After the Vatican, reach one of the most exciting and visited places in Rome, the Catacombs. You'll descend into a complex network of underground tunnels, where you can admire ancient frescoes, crypts rich in inscriptions, sarcophagi, and tombs. You'll also find the burial of famous people like popes, martyrs, and, according to legends, even some apostles. The catacombs that we'll visit (San Calisto, San Sebastiano, or Santa Domitilla) will change depending on the opening days.
Description
Pass By: Vatican City, Vatican City
The Vatican is the smallest independent state in the world and residence of the spiritual leadership of the Roman Catholic Church.
Its territory is surrounded by the Italian capital city Rome, and priests and nuns of many nationalities make up almost all of the population.
The Vatican City is a tiny fragment when compared with the extensive Papal States of central Italy, which were conquered by the forces of Italian unification in the mid-19th century. The popes then became "prisoners in the Vatican", unwilling to leave the confines of the Apostolic Palace until 1929, when Italy's Fascist government negotiated the Lateran Treaty that created the current mini-state.
The Vatican City itself packs many imposing buildings into its small area. These include St Peter's Basilica, a pilgrimage site. The Vatican Museums and Art Galleries house the priceless art collections of the popes.
Stop At: Vatican Museums, Viale Vaticano, Vatican City 00120
The Papal Museums are located in Viale Vaticano in Rome.
They are situated within the boundaries of Vatican City. These museums collect a large number of artworks. Therefore they are one of the most visited museum complexes in the world.
This immense collection was amassed by popes for centuries. For this reason, the pope’s museums house art treasures from antiquity to contemporary times.
This complex covers a very large area. Visitors can walk from one Vatican palace to another for hours. Artworks are displayed along with more than 7 km galleries.
Vatican Museums are divided into several sections.
the Gregorian Egyptian Museum. The Pio Clementino Museum. It collects statues and artworks Greek and Roman ages. The Octagonal court is part of the Pio Clementino Museum.
The Raphael Rooms are entirely decorated with Raphael’s frescoes.
Sistine Chapel is fully painted with marvellous masterpieces, above all Michelangelo's Last Judgement and the vault as well.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Sistine Chapel, Viale Vaticano, Vatican City 00165
Regarded as Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel (Cappella Sistina) is a jaw-dropping attraction you must see at least once in your lifetime. The Sistine Chapel is one of the greatest treasures of the Vatican City, of Rome and of the world in general. It is known as much for its decoration, as for being the temple in which popes are chosen and crowned.
The construction of the building was carried out between 1473 and 1481 during the mandate of Pope Sixtus IV, to whom it owes its current name. The architect responsible for the construction was Giovanni of Dolci and it is the only work that he is remembered for.
What grabs the attention in the Sistine Chapel is not its architecture, but the frescoes that completely cover the walls and the ceiling. Some of the most important artists who worked in the chapel are Botticelli, Perugino, Luca and Michelangelo. The Creation of Adam is the best-known image from the Sistine Chapel.
Duration: 20 minutes
Pass By: St. Peter's Basilica, Piazza San Pietro, Vatican City 00120
St Peter’s Basilica, located in the Vatican City, is considered one of the Catholic Church’s holiest temples and an important pilgrimage site. St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the holiest temples for Christendom and one of the largest churches in the world. Besides, it is where the Pope presides many liturgies all year round.
The construction of the new basilica began in 1506 when the old basilica had been torn down and was finished in 1626. It was consecrated on 18 November 1626. Several renowned architects designed the temple, highlighting the works of Bramante, Michelangelo and Carlo Maderno.
The basilica was called St Peter’s after one of Jesus’s twelve disciples known as Saint Peter, who became one of the founders of the Catholic Church and was executed in Rome and buried where the Basilica now stands. St Peter’s Basilica can accommodate 20,000 people. It measures 190 m (624 ft) long and the central nave is 46 m (150 ft) tall. The dome stands 136 m (447ft) tall.
Pass By: Appia Antica Archaeological Park, Via Appia Antica 250, Rome 00185
The Appian Way Regional Park is the second-largest urban park in Europe, after Losiny Ostrov National Park in Moscow. It is a protected arcaheological area of around 4580 hectares, established by the Italian region of Latium. It falls primarily within the territory of Rome but parts also extend into the neighbouring towns of Ciampino and Marino.
Pass By: Terme di Caracalla, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 52, Rome 00153
The Baths of Caracalla (Italian: Terme di Caracalla) in Rome, Italy, were the city's second-largest Roman public baths, or thermae. The baths were likely built between AD 212 (or 211) and 216/217, during the reigns of emperors Septimius Severus and Caracalla.[2] They were in operation until the 530s and then fell into disuse and ruin.
Both during and since their operation as baths, they served as inspiration for many other notable buildings, ancient and modern, such as the Baths of Diocletian, the Basilica of Maxentius, the original Pennsylvania Station in New York City, Chicago Union Station and the Senate of Canada Building. Artworks recovered from the ruins include famous sculptures such as the Farnese Bull and the Farnese Hercules.
Pass By: Circus Maximus, Via del Circo Massimo, Rome 00186
The Circus Maximus (Latin for "largest circus"; Italian: Circo Massimo) is an ancient Roman chariot-racing stadium and mass entertainment venue in Rome, Italy. In the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills, it was the first and largest stadium in ancient Rome and its later Empire. It measured 621 m (2,037 ft) in length and 118 m (387 ft) in width and could accommodate over 150,000 spectators.[2] In its fully developed form, it became the model for circuses throughout the Roman Empire. The site is now a public park.
Pass By: Isola Tiberina, Rome
The Tiber Island (Italian: Isola Tiberina, Latin: Insula Tiberina) is the only island in the part of the Tiber which runs through Rome. Tiber Island is located in the southern bend of the Tiber.
The island is boat-shaped, approximately 270 metres (890 feet) long and 67 metres (220 feet) wide, and has been connected with bridges to both sides of the river since antiquity. Being a seat of the ancient temple of Asclepius and later a hospital, the island is associated with medicine and healing. The Fatebenefratelli Hospital founded in the 16th century, and the San Bartolomeo all Isola dating from the 10th century are located on the island.
Pass By: Palatine Hill, Piazza Santa Maria Nova, 53, Rome 00186
The Palatine Hill, (/ˈpælətaɪn/; Latin: Collis Palatium or Mons Palatinus; Italian: Palatino [palaˈtiːno]) which is the centremost of the Seven Hills of Rome, is one of the most ancient parts of the city and has been called "the first nucleus of the Roman Empire."[1] The site is now mainly a large open-air museum while the Palatine Museum houses many finds from the excavations here and from other ancient Italian sites.
Imperial palaces were built here, starting with Augustus. Before imperial times the hill was mostly occupied by the houses of the rich.
The hill originally had two summits separated by depression; the highest part was called Palatium and the other Germalus (or Cermalus). Using the Forma Urbis its perimeter enclosed 63 acres (25 ha); while the Regional Catalogues of the 4th century enclose 131 acres (53 ha).[2]
Pass By: Sant'Angelo, Rome
The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as Castel Sant'Angelo (Italian pronunciation: [kaˈstɛl sanˈtandʒelo]; English: Castle of the Holy Angel), is a towering cylindrical building in Parco Adriano, Rome, Italy. It was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The building was later used by the popes as a fortress and castle and is now a museum. The structure was once the tallest building in Rome.
Stop At: Catacombs of Saint Callixtus, Via Appia Antica 110, Rome 00179
THE TOUR INCLUDES THE VISIT OF ONE OF THE 3 MOST IMPORTANT CATACOMBS
The catacombs are subterranean passageways that were used as places of burial for a number of centuries. The burials of Jewish, pagan and early Christian Roman citizens in the catacombs began in the second century and ended in the fifth century.
The catacombs possess a huge number of subterranean passageways that form real labyrinths that are several kilometres long, along which rows of rectangular niches were dugout.
- Catacombs of San Callisto With a network of passageways over 20 kilometres in length, the tombs of San Callisto were the burial place of 16 pontiffs and scores of Christian martyrs.
- Catacombs of San Sebastiano: These 12 kilometre long catacombs owe their name to San Sebastiano, a soldier who became a martyr for converting to Christianity.
- Catacombs of Domitilla: Discovered in 1593, these catacombs, which are more than 15 kilometres in length, owe their name to the granddaughter of Vespasian.
Duration: 1 hour
Schedule
- Reservations are REQUIRED for all bookings
- Book Your Package On-Line and Receive Your Confirmation
- Departure point: Detailed check-in instructions - including the address and parking information if applicable - will be included in your final confirmation email.
- Duration: 5 hours (Approx.)
What's Included
- Small group tour of the Catacombs
- Transfers in a sanitized vehicle
- Pickup and Drop off from/To your Hotel or another agreed spot (Within Aurelian Walls)
- Catacombs skip the line Tickets
- Assistance from the office
- All Fees and Taxes
- Vatican Museum and Sisitne Chapel Skip the line Tickets
- Professional Guide
- Private tour of the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Saint Peter Basilica's visit
- Guided service during transfers
What To Bring
- Confirmation Voucher (printed or mobile)
- Any required or suggested items listed on your confirmation email.
- A Smile!
Hotel Pickup
Hotel pick-up is offered for this tour. Note: if you are booking within 24 hours of the tour/activity departure time, we cannot guarantee hotel pick-up. Once your purchase is complete, we will send you complete contact information (phone number, email address, etc.) for our local operator to organize pick-up arrangements.
Additional Info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Customers have a mandatory meeting time stated 20 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time for the Vatican Museum and 15 minutes before the starting time for the Catacombs tour, due to managing and organizational reasons.If you arrive late to the stated meeting time, it will not be possible to join the group or reschedule, unless you pay for the activity again. As per "No Show" rules you will not be entitled to a refund.
- A dress code is required to enter places of worship and Vatican Museum. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
- To get inside the monuments it is used group ticket and not individual one. It cannot be asked just the ticket entrance.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- The activity can suffer 20/30 min variation due to organizational resons
- Please be advised capacity regulations and security may delay the tour departure This could also influence the smooth running of the tour especially on national holidays and events
- Cancellations, changes or issues due to weather, security and events held by the monument are beyond our control and are directly decided by their administration team. These issues will be reviewed by us and dealt with on an individual basis but are the responsibility of the monument.
- You must have a valid photo ID to enter the monuments (student's ID, Driver License, Passport or State ID all work.) You will be asked to also provide your name, last name and date of birth (at the beginning of the tour, if not provided beforehand.) Security may prevent you from entering the site if the information provided is not accurate and/or don't match the one on your ID.
- Child discount is applied only with a valid ID card
- Note: tour will not operate on religious holidays
- The driver is not a guide. Language service is not provided for transfers.
- Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair.
- All visitors must pass through the monument/attraction security check please allow at least 20 minutes to clear security.
- Please be aware that large bags/backpacks/suitcases are not permitted in the monument/ attraction. Only very small bags are allowed. Please do not bring these items with you on the day of your tour as there are no cloakrooms at the monument.
- For security reasons all visitors and their luggage shall be screened. To facilitate the security checks please insert any object (including mobile phone) in the bag/backpack or in the tray to be included in the X-ray
- Transpostation to the Catacombs will be lead by a professional dirver (not a guide)
- The catacomb temperature is about 60°F and the moisture content is high; please dress appropriately
- No one can visit the catacombs on their own, nor stray from their group along the route, nor cross the gates that delimit the paths open to the public
- It is forbidden to touch the exhibits along the visit path
- It is forbidden to remove any object and/or material
- No photos allowed
- Food and drink are not allowed
- The order
- For the safety of all guests, the tour operator reserves the right to refuse service to passengers who are intoxicated or show signs of intoxication. If, as a result, your tour is canceled, you will not be entitled to a refund.
- Pets are not allowed
- Covid-19 vaccination certificated neeed
- The order in which the sites will be visited can change
- Not recommended for people with walking difficulties or walker users
- We kindly inform you that any kind of disability (visual impairment, hearing impairment,... ) or anything that might prevent you to regularly join the tour, MUST BE communicate in advance to our staff.
Reviews
Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 4 traveler reviews collected by City Baloon Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
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Non-refundable
This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.