Group size

Max 16

Language

English

Duration

2 hrs

Start time

8:00 am

Join our morning tour of the St. Peter’s Basilica and visit the Dome, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Popes’ tombs. During this tour you will discover the history of the Basilica and the extraordinary technique used to build it. You will learn in depth the history and behind-the-scenes facts about this extraordinary building.

 

St Peters Basilica and dome tour inset 1

Have a view of the St. Peter's Basilica's Dome glazed by the morning sun

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Visit the St. Peter's Basilica before the crowds

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Get astonished by the view from the top of the St. Peter's Basilica

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Visit Pope's tombs in the underground of the St. Peter's Basilica

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Learn in depth about history and architecture of the St. Peter's Basilica and its square

Tour Overview

We will climb the Dome with the elevator to the highest point reachable. Afterwards, you can climb the stairs (not compulsory) that will bring you to the very top of the Dome from where you will be stunned by the marvelous view of the whole Vatican state and you will be able to admire the whole City of Rome.

After this mesmerizing experience, your guide will lead you through the Basilica and will give you all the important notions of the biggest church in the world. You will also have the chance to visit the underground section with Popes’ Tombs.

You will also discover that besides having created its masterpiece inside the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo was also an architect and a sculptor and you will be able to admire La Pietà, one of his most famous sculptures, inside St. Peter’s Basilica together with the architectonic finest achievement, la Cupola (the Dome).

This tour will give you the chance to learn in depth about this architectural masterpiece by Bernini; St. Peter’s Square.

Tour Itinerary

Meeting Point

Coffee bar "Polesi"

St. Peter’s Square

The square is home to pilgrims and art lovers that gather here from all over the World. It is surrounded on both sides by 284 columns in 4 rows. The semi-circular colonnades symbolize the arms of the church metaphorically embracing the world, according to its architect Bernini. 140 Statues of saints decorate the top of the colonnades.

St. Peter’s Basilica

The original Basilica from the 4th century has always been the spiritual centre of Christianity. The aim of Emperor Constantine, who commissioned the Basilica was to preserve the tomb of the founding father of the Church, St. Peter’s, that is laying underneath the Basilica. From the end of the 15th century many architects and artists were commissioned in order to go beyond the magnificence of the original building. After 120 years, during which Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, Maderno and della Porta have been working on this project, the Basilica was completed.

St. Peter’s Dome – Cupola

This is the tallest dome in the World with its height of 136m and wideness of 42m. The original project was made and partially realized by Michelangelo, and finished by his fellow students after his death. It is possible to climb to the very top of the Basilica, mainly with an elevator and a couple of hundreds of stairs to the highest point. The effort required to get to the upper level is remarkable, but it will give you an astonishing view of the city of Rome and of the whole Vatican.

St. Peter’s Baldachin

Bernini’s Altar or St. Peter’s Baldachin is a magnificent artistic creation of Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The Baldachin had been constructed directly under the St. Peter’s Dome and exactly above St. Peter’s tomb that lays underneath. This is the largest bronze construction of the Baroque period.

St Peters Basilica and dome tour inset 5

Featured Highlight

Michelangelo’s Pietà:

This statue is the only statue that Michelangelo has signed. It was completed when he was just 23 years old and is carved out of one whole piece of Carrara’s marble. It’s artistic uniqueness lies also in the fact that this is a multi-figured sculpture, which was very rare during the Renaissance period. This artwork is the only one that Michelangelo has ever signed. Today this masterpiece is exposed inside the St. Peter’s Basilica, on the left side between the Holy Door and St Sebastian’s Chapel.