Exclusive Private Tour: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & Castel Sant'Angelo

Vatican City. Vatican City is the smallest independent city-state, situated within Rome, Italy. It serves as the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, led by the Pope. Notable landmarks include St. Peter's Basilica and Square, and the Vatican Museums. It is renowned for its cultural and religious significance.

Vatican Museums. Let's get into the history and secrets of the Catholic Church and hear about the rivalry between the Renaissance artists.  Discover the treasures hosted by one of the largest and most-visited museums of the world enriched by a huge number of masterpieces collected through time. Admire the best of the ancient world visiting the Greek and Roman sculpture section. A collection of classical art masterpieces where admire the beauty of several sculpture groups, as for example the statue of Laocoön and His Sons that is one of the most famous ancient sculptures.

Gallery of the Candelabra. Pass along the Chandelier Gallery, a section within the Vatican Museums in Vatican City. Known for its impressive display of ancient Roman sculptures and large candelabra, the gallery offers a rich collection of art and historical artifacts. It is one of the many noteworthy attractions within the Vatican Museums, showcasing classical art in a grand setting.

Gallery of Tapestries. Be astonished by the elegant Tapestry gallery, wallpapered by the finest tapestry worldwide, realized by Raphael's disciples. The Gallery of Tapestries is a prominent section in the Vatican Museums, located within Vatican City. It is renowned for its extensive collection of intricate and finely woven tapestries. These tapestries, primarily dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, depict various scenes and narratives. The gallery provides visitors with a visual feast of detailed craftsmanship and historical storytelling, making it a significant attraction within the Vatican Museums.

Gallery of Maps. Visit the Maps Gallery, a complete exhibition of maps representing Italy as it was seen by a cartographer in 1581. The Gallery of Maps is a captivating section in the Vatican Museums, situated within Vatican City. It is known for its impressive display of topographical maps of Italy, created in the 16th century. The maps showcase detailed artwork and cartography, offering a historical perspective on Italy's regions.

Sistine Chapel. The Sistine Chapel (Cappella Sistina) is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the pope in Vatican City. Originally known as the Cappella Magna ('Great Chapel'), the chapel takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV, who had it built between 1473 and 1481. Since that time, the chapel has served as a place of both religious and functionary papal activity. Today, it is the site of the papal conclave, the process by which a new pope is selected. The fame of the Sistine Chapel lies mainly in the frescoes that decorate the interior, most particularly the Sistine Chapel ceiling and The Last Judgment, both by Michelangelo.During the reign of Sixtus IV, a team of Renaissance painters that included Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio, Domenico Ghirlandao, and Cosimo Rosselli, created a series of frescos depicting the Life of Moses and the Life of Christ, offset by papal portraits above and trompe-loeil drapery below. These paintings were completed in 1482, and on 15 August 1483, Sixtus IV celebrated the first mass in the Sistine Chapel for the Feast of the Assumption, at which ceremony the chapel was consecrated and dedicated to the Virgin Mary.Between 1508 and 1512, under the patronage of Pope Julius II, Michelangelo painted the chapel's ceiling, a project which changed the course of Western art and is regarded as one of the major artistic accomplishments of human civilization. In a different political climate, after the Sack of Rome, he returned and, between 1535 and 1541, painted The Last Judgment for Popes Clement VII and Paul III. The fame of Michelangelo's paintings has drawn multitudes of visitors to the chapel ever since they were revealed five hundred years ago. Admire the major representatives of the Italian art such as Leonardo, Perugino, Beato Angelico, and many more Towards the end of this tour, you will visit the beautiful Sistine Chapel to admire Michelangelo’s masterpiece: The Last Judgement.

Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant'Angelo. An official experienced guide will escort you around the castle, showing the incredible masterpieces hosted there and telling you all about the castle's histories along with its role during the history of Rome. Your tour will start just outside Castel Sant'Angelo, where you will find your guide. From there, you will appreciate and admire the incredible and impressive structure of the Castle and its wonderful setting. Once you get inside, you will be impressed by the several treasures hidden there. During the visit you will see: Emperor Adrian's tomb Popish apartments and bastion Historical prisons Michelangelo's courtyard An amazing panoramic view from the terrace Castel Sant'Angelo bridge and so much more!

St. Angelo Bridge. Ponte Sant'Angelo, originally the Aelian Bridge or Pons Aelius, is a Roman bridge in Rome, Italy, completed in 134 AD by Roman Emperor Hadrian (Publius Aelius Hadrianus), to span the Tiber from the city centre to his newly constructed mausoleum, now the towering Castel Sant'Angelo. The bridge is faced with travertine marble and spans the Tiber with five arches, three of which are Roman; it was approached by means of a ramp from the river. The bridge is now solely pedestrian and provides a scenic view of Castel Sant'Angelo. It links the rioni of Ponte (which was named after the bridge itself), and Borgo, to whom the bridge administratively belongs.