The Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Early morning tour will give you the chance to access the Vatican Museums before they open to the general public. In the high season, with 35,000 visitors a day, you will be able to access the Museums one hour earlier, avoiding the heat of the day.
Tour Overview
Your group will be provided with headsets and your licensed, professional English speaking guide will introduce your group to this magnificent art collection.
Your guide will passionately lead you through several sections of the Vatican Museums. This tour option includes the Gallery of Candelabra, the Gallery of Maps, the Gallery of Tapestries, Raphael Rooms, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica (Basilica not included on Wednesdays).
Throughout your tour you will aleo be able to admire the Pinecone Courtyard of the Vatican Museums where you will stop for a short break.
Please be aware that by entering the Vatican Museums, you will be accessing another country, therefore you will have to pass through the metal detectors. The security check might take 20-30 mins at the entrance of the Vatican Museums.
Enjoy the beauty of the masterpieces displayed in one of the World's biggest art collections before the crowds.
Meeting point
Coffee bar "Paolo"
Pio Clementino Museum
This museum is historically one of the first sections that has been founded as a collection of classical art, especially statues. The Octagonal Courtyard is the heart of this museums’ section and hosts the spectacular Laocoön statue, one of the most famous ancient statues.
Gallery of Candelabra
Its six sections host marvellous decorations together with classical statues. The floor has been decorated by marble excavated from the ruins found during the exploration of the river Tiber.
Gallery of Maps
This gallery is a 120 meters long corridor that hosts the collection of maps painted at the end of 1500 and depicting all of the Italian regions.
Gallery of Tapestries
With its three-dimensional paintings on the ceiling and collection of tapestries made of wool, silk, silver and gold, this is a unique art collection. The drawings for tapestries were originally made by Raphael and his pupils with the aim to be displayed inside the Sistine Chapel.
Raphael Rooms
The Raphael Rooms consist of four rooms, mainly painted by Raphael. Here you can find one of the Renaissance period’s greatest paintings, Raphael’s School of Athens.
Sistine Chapel
This is the reason why many tourists visit the Vatican Museums. Michelangelo has left most of his artistic legacy in the Vatican, and inside the Sistine Chapel are the two most known masterpieces: The Last Judgement and paintings on ceiling with The Creation.
St Peter’s Basilica
Thanks to its religious importance and to its artistic legacy of many artists who have been working here, it is undoubtedly the most important church in the world.