Experience the very best of Rome in one unforgettable day as you journey through the artistic treasures of Vatican City and the timeless wonders of Ancient Rome, enjoying an exclusive adventure that perfectly combines history, art, culture, and comfort while discovering the Eternal City’s most iconic landmarks.
Tour Overview
Begin your day discovering two of Rome’s most iconic sites with a private transfer from your accommodation to the Vatican Museums, where your private guide will be waiting to accompany you through the highlights that have made the Vatican Museums world-famous.
Starting from the Pio Clementino Museum, you will stroll through the Gallery of the Candelabra, the Gallery of Tapestries, and the breathtaking Gallery of Maps before entering the Raphael Rooms to admire some of the most celebrated Renaissance frescoes, including the magnificent School of Athens. Your journey through Vatican City will then lead you to the Sistine Chapel, where you can lose yourself in Michelangelo’s extraordinary masterpieces.
Your private Vatican experience will conclude inside St. Peter’s Basilica, where your guide will reveal the treasures of the largest church in the world, including Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s majestic Baldachin.
In the afternoon, a private transfer will escort you to the Colosseum Archaeological Park to begin your journey through the heart of Ancient Rome. Step inside the Colosseum as your guide shares fascinating stories and anecdotes about gladiatorial games inside the world’s most famous amphitheater.
End your day walking through the remarkable ruins of the Roman Forum while discovering what daily life once looked like in the center of the ancient Roman Empire.
Please note: Inside the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica, guests are kindly requested to wear appropriate clothing with shoulders and knees covered, as these are sacred sites.
Please also ensure to carry a valid passport, ID card, or a copy of it on the day of the tour, as identification is mandatory for Colosseum and Roman Forum entry.
To secure the reservations, guests are kindly requested to provide their full names and dates of birth.
Depending on availability, the order of the two tours may be reversed.
To enjoy the two experiences on separate days you can contact us at info@citylightstours.com
Tour itinerary
Hotel Pick-Up & Transfer
Begin your morning with a hotel pick-up and private transfer for a seamless, stress-free arrival.
Pio Clementino Museum
This section of the Vatican Museums was founded by Pope Clement XIV and later amplified by his successor Pius VI. The collection includes acquisitions of countless statues from other collectors, rich Italian families and antiques stores, and it was aimed to preserve and to display the Greek-Roman works.
Upper Galleries
The Galleries that are part of this itinerary are the Gallery of Candelabra, the Gallery of Maps and the Gallery of Tapestries. The statues and the marble floors, with precious decorations and mosaics and frescoes on the ceilings, are what makes the Gallery of Candelabra one of the most beautiful sections of the Vatican Museums. The Gallery of Tapestries, that will follow, will bring you closer to the expression of the genius work of Raphael. The Tapestries, which were made originally for the Sistine Chapel, were designed by Raphael and embroidered by tapestry masters in Belgium. The Gallery of Maps is 120 meters long and hosts the maps of all the Italian regions and was created between 1581 and 1583. Every region’s map is connected to the fresco, painted on the “golden” ceiling, that represents miraculous events that occurred in the region.
Raphael Rooms
The four Raphael Rooms formerly were used as Pope Julius’ II apartment. They Pope was known as an art lover to Raphael, who wasn’t very well known among the artists of those times and who was only 25 years old. Among other important works that Raphael leaves in this section, there are the School of Athens and the Fire in Borgo.
Sistine Chapel
Within the worldwide known Sistine Chapel with the two masterpieces by Michelangelo: the Creation and the Last Judgement. You will discover the extraordinary technique Michelangelo used to paint the magnificent vault and how and why he had decided, thirty years later, to paint the Last Judgement.
St Peter's Basilica
St. Peter’s Basilica stands as one of the largest and most significant churches globally. Once you step inside, you’re greeted by breathtaking Renaissance artwork, featuring masterpieces like Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bernini’s magnificent Baldachin.
Colosseum
One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Flavian Amphitheatre or Colosseum, is still standing in the heart of the Ancient Rome ruins, destination to millions of visitors every year. Its name, Colosseum, comes from a colossal statue that has been positioned on Piazza del Colosseo. The history of this magnificent building is full of spectacular gladiator games and animal hunts which were the main entertainment of the Romans in ancient times.
Roman Forum
The Roman Forum was the political, religious, and social center of Ancient Rome for centuries. Surrounded by temples, basilicas, and public buildings, this extraordinary archaeological area was once the heart of daily Roman life, where emperors, senators, and citizens gathered. Walking through the Forum today offers a fascinating journey into the history, power, and grandeur of Rome's power.
Arch of Titus
This arch that was erected in 81 AD inside the Roman Forum and commemorates the victories of Vespasian and his brother Titus in the city of Jerusalem during the War in Judaea. The arch, much smaller than the arch of Constantine, is ornamented with marble reliefs and tells the story of the victory of the Jerusalem temple sacking.
House of the Vestal Virgins
Once home to the priestesses responsible for guarding the sacred fire of Ancient Rome. Located in the heart of the Roman Forum, this peaceful residence offers a fascinating glimpse into the religious life, traditions, and privileges of one of the most respected female roles in Roman society.
The Senate
Officially the seat of the Roman Senate and initiated by Julius Caesar in 44 BC, the Sent House was damaged in at least one fire and rebuilt numerous times, and now stands as it did in the early 4th century AD. In the 1930s restorations were completed by Mussolini.