Every year the Vatican Museums open their doors for extended hours for a limited period. This tour makes takes you inside the Vatican Museums at night, when they’re much quieter than regular visiting hours.
You'll start the tour with the elaborate halls and galleries of the Museum while your Vatican expert will bring the Church’s fascinating history to life—from St. Peter’s martyrdom to the modern Vatican City. Since your group is a maximum of just 15 people, you’ll have plenty of time to get all of your questions answered. You’ll also explore some of the finest ancient sculptures and Renaissance art in the world, including Raphael’s School of Athens, the Hellenistic Laocoön, and the beautiful Apollo Belvedere.
The pièce-de-resistance of your experience, of course, is the Sistine Chapel, the private chapel of the Pope. In the evening light—and without the tourist hordes—get a sense of the kind of intimate atmosphere the Pope himself would have enjoyed here. As you admire Michelangelo’s famous frescoes, your Vatican expert reveals their stories, secrets and what makes them so special.
Sites visited:
- Sistine Chapel (twice)
- Raphael Rooms
- Belvedere Courtyard with Apollo Belvedere & Laocoön & His Sons
- Pinecone Courtyard
- Gallery of the Candelabra
- Gallery of the Maps
- Gallery of the Tapestries