Tour of St Peter's Basilica with Dome Climb and Grottoes
About this activity
- Your booking is confirmed immediately
- This option includes FREE cancellation—book now, risk-free!
Experience Highlights
What’s included
- Professional art-historian guide
- Guided tour of St. Peter Dome and St. Peter's Basilica
- Entry fees to the top of the Dome (by stairs)
- The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are not part of this tour
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Step by Step
Start your tour in St. Peters Square and perceive the all-embracing character of its majestic architecture. Understand the game of visual effects as were thought by its designer, Bernini, and find the two "special" spots in the square.
Then head towards the Basilica to be amazed by its magnificence. See why it took 150 years to rebuild and marvel at the golden ceilings and the impressive mosaics all around you.
Let your art-historian guide lead you through renowned masterpieces of Renaissance and Neoclassic art. Be impressed by the harmonious 30-meters-high canopy and appreciate the expressive power and delicate beauty of Michelangelo's "Pietà".
Descend into the underground grottoes and visit St. Peter's tomb. Touch the ancient walls of the original 4th-century basilica and admire the beautiful frescoes.
Then climb your way up to the top of the Dome (by stairs). Enjoy a bird's-eye view over the marble floors and take an exclusive and close-up look at the mosaics of the dome.
Climb even higher to find yourself at the top balcony and be amazed by the spectacular panorama over Rome and beyond. Spot the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Castel Sant'Angelo, and other iconic monuments from the height of 136 meters. Enjoy a breathtaking view of St. Peters Square and the Vatican gardens.
All the visited areas are part of the Vatican city.