Duration: 2 Hours (approx.)
(OK the title doesn’t exactly rhyme but hear us out.)
One of the most astonishing things you can see on your visit to Rome is St Peter’s Basilica, the starting point of western Christianity and the beating heart of the Catholic church. Even if you aren’t religious you need to see this place: it’s arguably one of the most important buildings ever constructed. And there’s no better way to see it than with an expert guide.
Under a vast dome designed by Michelangelo, the basilica took 120 years to build – and even though it was completed four centuries ago, it is still the most immense church ever constructed in the history of the world (inside there are brass plates on the floor that conveniently show you how the world’s great cathedrals would fit inside it!). But it’s not just enormous: it’s one of the most perfectly proportioned buildings ever created, and has even been endorsed by Feng Shui masters.
It’s also home to Michelangelo’s greatest sculpture, La Pietà, as well as the mummies of various popes, untold treasures of the papacy, and sculptures and mosaics that defy imagination in their brilliance.
Michelangelo’s dome is still to-date the tallest point in Rome, and on this tour you will get the privileged experience of climbing it! With our special access tickets to the Basilica your guide will escort you to the elevator so you can see how magnificent Rome looks from the very top of St Peters.
Prepare to be dazzled by the intricate levels of detail and real gold displayed all over the interior of the Basilica, as well as the sheer scale of its creation. You will learn about its construction, interior, and importance in Christianity. And of course you will not to miss the important pieces inside by likes of Michelangelo, Bernini, and Raphael.
The experience finishes by visiting the grotto underneath the church, and visiting the tomb of the actual Saint Peter, apostle of Christ.
It’s difficult to express how amazing this place is, but once you’ve experienced it you will understand – not just for its artistic, religious, and architectural merits, but for the place it occupies in human history. Unmissable.
When we recommend specific tours, we use our considerable expertise about visiting Rome to select nothing but the absolute best tours and providers for you.
We do not work with companies such as Viator, GetYourGuide, or TripAdvisor, as they all charge a huge commission to independent operators, severely denting livelihoods in a sector that has already suffered significantly during the pandemic.
Instead, we go direct: all of the tour operators that we promote in our Tours section are personally known to and endorsed by us, based on our years working in the Rome travel business. By booking tours with these providers, more of the fee goes to the people who deserve it, and much less to the middlemen.
The small print: Rome Vacation Tips endorses our tour providers, but any transaction carried out between you the client and a tour operator is a relationship between you and the specific operator. Any issues or queries about a specific tour should be addressed directly to the operator with whom you booked using the contact details they have provided.
Photo credit: AFP
Because of ticket supply problems following the end of Covid restrictions, it is strongly advised that you buy tickets and tours in advance to visit attractions in Rome.
Buy your tickets now to avoid disappointment.
