Rome Trip Overview
Be picked up by a private Chauffeur to reach St. Peter’s Basilica. Visit the Vatican at the quietest time before the crowds descend. Meet your guide and enjoy an intimate, exclusive tour. By an elevator, head up to the first level of the dome to the viewing balcony and have breakfast. Climb the spiral staircase to the top of the dome (320 steps), from the highest point within Rome, admire breathtaking views of the city. Come down from the Dome to enter the Basilica to admire the Pietà of Michelangelo and all the masterpieces adorning the Basilica before descending to the underground crypts & ST. PETER’S TOMB.
Additional Info
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Starts: Rome, Italy
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Rome Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Rome, Lazio, Italy
Be picked up by a private Chauffeur to reach St. Peter’s Basilica. Visit the Vatican at the quietest time before the crowds descend. Meet your guide and enjoy an intimate, exclusive tour. By an elevator, head up to the first level of the dome to the viewing balcony and have breakfast. Climb the spiral staircase to the top of the dome (320 steps), from the highest point within Rome, admire breathtaking views of the city. Come down from the Dome to enter the Basilica to admire the Pietà of Michelangelo and all the masterpieces adorning the Basilica before descending to the underground crypts & ST. PETER’S TOMB.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: St. Peter’s Square, Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Vatican City Italy
Meet your tour guide and learn about St. Peter’s Square. This square, surrounded by a majestic quadruple colonnade displays the largest church of the Christian world: St. Peter’s Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro). It is also the heart of Vatican City, the smallest state in the world, which was in antiquity occupied by Nero’s circus and gardens, where many Christians, including St. Peter, were martyred. In the centre of this 320 meter-wide piazza stands an Egyptian obelisk brought to Rome by Caligula in 37 AD. In 1656 Bernini began building the quadruple colonnade of 284 columns in 88 rows, which according to the artist symbolize the “gathering of Christendom.” From two points in the square which are marked on the ground by a stone, the four concentric rings of columns visually merge into one. The balustrade supported by the columns is decorated with 140 statues of saints. The huge door of the basilica is framed by statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Cupola di San Pietro, Piazza san Pietro, 00120 Vatican City Italy
EARLY MORNING TOUR WITH ITALIAN BREAKFAST INCLUDED ON THE ROOF of St Peter’s Basilica JUST BELOW THE DOME. The dome was designed by Michelangelo who worked on the basilica’s construction beginning in 1547. There are two levels to the climb: the first part takes you to the interior of the dome which offers magnificent views of the basilica below as well as a chance to see the mosaics up close. Visitors can either walk the 320 steps or take the elevator, and this part of the visit also includes a trip out onto the roof, behind the statues of Jesus and the Apostles. The second part of the visit is optional and is for the slightly more adventurous visitor. It involves climbing a total of 320 steps which become progressively narrower and more winding, ending in a tight, corkscrew staircase. If you suffer from claustrophobia, this is not for you. However once on top of the Dome, you will have a bird’s-eye view of Vatican City as well as a breathtaking panorama of Rome, spread out 150m below.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: St. Peter’s Basilica, Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Vatican City Italy
After the Dome and enter St. Peter’s Basilica. Churches don’t get bigger than St. Peter’s Basilica, in every sense of the word. Not only is it physically colossal, but it’s also the home of the Catholic Church. Enter the historic walls of Vatican City, the residence of the Pope, to discover the focal point of a historical and spiritual pilgrimage. One of the apostles and the first Pope, St. Peter was crucified in Rome in 64 AD. There’s strong evidence suggesting that his body is buried beneath the Basilica’s main altar. If you love architecture, St. Peter’s is a stunning example of the style. And even if the spiritual side isn’t for you, it’s hard not to be moved by such a magnificent building. As St. Peter’s isn’t the official seat of the Bishop of Rome, it’s not actually a cathedral and remains a not-so-humble church Started in 306 AD, St. Peter’s took over 1,300 years to reach its complete stage in 1626.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Vatican Grottoes, Piazza San Pietro, Vatican City Italy
ENTER THE VATICAN GROTTOES – The Vatican Grottoes is the vast underground graveyard below St. Peter’s Basilica. A grotto is basically a cave of artificial or natural origin that is used by people, usually for burial purposes. The Vatican Grottoes is the vast underground graveyard below St. Peter’s Basilica. A grotto is basically a cave of artificial or natural origin that is used by people, usually for burial purposes. This is the place that houses the tombs of several popes and saints. In fact, the Vatican Grottoes is the burial place of 91 popes and some other church dignitaries such as cardinals dating back to the 10th century and onwards. In addition, the grottoes also include some tombs of secular monarchs such as the tomb of Queen Charlotte of Cyprus, the tomb of the Stuarts, and the tomb of Queen Christina of Sweden. The grottoes are located above the necropolis where you can find the holy tomb of St Peter the fisherman, the first bishop of Rome (Pope).
Duration: 20 minutes
