VATICAN

A private Vatican tour is the best way to get the most out of these museums. As a major tourist destination, the Vatican Museums can be pretty challenging. They were not conceived for the large amount of visitors they get every day. As a result the galleries can be extremely crowded. A private tour is undoubtely a better choice, to focus on the highlights and have an enjoyable experience, customized to your interests.

The Lacoon is one of the most famous ancient sculptures, ever since it was excavated in Rome in 1506. On the way to the Sistine Chapel we will admire precious Renaissance tapestries and breathtaking frescoes such as the ones in the Gallery of Maps. Those large scale depictions of regions of Italy are incredibly detailed. The colors are incredibly vibrant: the water in rich ultramarine and the lettering in gold.

We’ll visit Raphael’s Rooms: the private apartments of the pope Julius II, with frescoes by Raphael. His School of Athens is an icon of Renaissance art.

The Sistine Chapel, still used for the election of the pope, is a mystical space. No matter where you look. Let your gaze wander over Michelangelo’s ceiling and the famous Creation of Adam. Or the dramatic details of the Last Judgment on the altar, so awe inspiring. On the side walls a team of exceptional artists like Botticelli, Perugino or Ghirlandaio painted memorable scenes from the Old and New Testament.

St.Peter’s Basilica, one of the holiest sites of Christianity, is the largest church in the world, located on the burial of the apostle. An ambitious project which lasted more than 2 centuries. A remarkable result of multiple designs by architects like Michelangelo and Bernini.

The first chapel to the right houses Michelangelo’s first true masterpiece, the Pietà. Serene and tender in spite of the drama it depicts. The most ‘perfect’ block of marble ever sculpted!