Secret Vatican Tour with Niccoline Chapel
Access to secret, special areas of the Vatican Museum, to the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica
Private Transportation
Pick up at your hotel
Skip-the-line tickets
Professional Guides
Duration
about 4 hours
Activity level
moderate
Sights Included
– Visit a Masterpiece of the Renaissance
– Enjoy a private tour in a restricted section
– Gallery of the Maps
– Gallery of the Tapestries
– St. Peter’s Square
– Pietà by Michelangelo
Secret Vatican Tour Description
1. The Niccoline Chapel
The Niccoline Chapel, located in the Pope’s Palace near the Loggia by Raphael, was commissioned by Pope Nicholas V (1447-1455).
It is one of the most beautiful parts of the Vatican, but it’s not open to the general public.
Our Secret Vatican Tour will offer you Exclusive Access to this treasure, along with a full Vatican Tour that also includes the Galleries, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica.
The Niccoline Chapel’s decoration is attributed to Fra Angelico, a legendary Renaissance painter.
The frescoes, among the finest in 15th-century Italy, depict scenes from the lives of Saints Stephen and Lawrence, arranged in two tiers around the chapel.
2. The Vatican Museum
There are many incredible museums worldwide, but none compare to the Vatican.
Nowhere else blends art, archaeology, history, and religion in such an extraordinary way.
This museum not only houses a breathtaking collection of artworks but is also an architectural masterpiece in its own right.
Designed by Bramante and other great architects, and adorned by the most talented artists of the time, it stands as a testament to artistic brilliance.
On your Secret Vatican Tour, your expert guide will lead you through the frescoed rooms and galleries, ensuring you enjoy every moment.
As you explore together, they’ll help you uncover hidden gems as well as the museum’s highlights.
- The Pio Clementino Museum
Your Secret Vatican Tour will start in the Museo Pio Clementino, home to one of the world’s most significant collections of Greek and Roman art.
Here, you’ll encounter iconic ancient statues like Laocoön, the Belvedere Torso, and the renowned gilded bronze statue of Hercules.
Classical and Renaissance art are two chapters of the same story.
Your guide will bring this story to life, explaining the discovery of these ancient masterpieces and their profound influence on Renaissance artists such as Raphael and Michelangelo.
- The Galleries
Next, you’ll stroll through the ornately decorated galleries leading to the Sistine Chapel—the Gallery of the Candelabra, the Gallery of the Tapestries, and the Gallery of the Maps.
It might just be the most stunning half-mile you’ve ever walked indoors!
Along the way, you’ll marvel at the frescoes covering every surface, along with intricate stuccoes and gilded decorations.
In the Gallery of the Maps, you’ll get a literal overview of Italy, with the walls beautifully adorned with the oldest maps of the country.
3. The Sistine Chapel
After exploring the Galleries, your Secret Vatican Tour will proceed to the Sistine Chapel.
Upon entering, you’ll immediately grasp why this chapel is renowned worldwide and why its decoration is considered one of humanity’s greatest achievements.
You’ll see two of Michelangelo’s masterpieces: the Sistine Chapel ceiling and The Last Judgment.
Your guide will delve into Michelangelo’s brilliance, his tumultuous personality, and his secrets. Was he really homosexual, and how was that viewed in the 1500s?
As you take in the artworks, your guide will also provide a detailed explanation of the frescoes, including Michelangelo’s stylistic evolution over time.
How long did it take him to complete these masterpieces? Did he truly work on them alone? You’ll discover the answers soon!
Additionally, the Sistine Chapel has been the site of papal elections for centuries and continues to play a crucial role in the history of Catholicism.
4. St. Peter’s Basilica
The final stop on your Secret Vatican Tour with Niccoline Chapel is St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest and most significant Catholic church in the world.
Built by the first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine, St. Peter’s Basilica was constructed on the site where St. Peter the Apostle had been buried nearly 250 years earlier.
Constantine’s basilica served as the church until the early 1500s, when Pope Julius II, known for his strong will and ambition, sought to leave a lasting legacy in the Vatican.
Determined to create something monumental that would endure through the ages, Julius II decided to demolish the old basilica and build a new, grander St. Peter’s Basilica in its place.
Construction began in 1506 and was completed 120 years later.
This immense church will serve as the grand finale of your Vatican tour.
Your guide will help you bypass the lines (a privilege available only with a guide) and enter through one of the massive doors.
Inside, you’ll marvel at the gilded ceilings, the extensive use of marble, and the vast mosaics decorating this extraordinary building.
You’ll also see Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bernini’s Canopy, two renowned masterpieces of Renaissance and Baroque art.
The tour concludes in St. Peter’s Square, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture and the exact site where St. Peter was crucified upside down.
Before departing, your guide will highlight key features of the square, including the Pope’s windows and the numerous statues that adorn the area.
Ready to explore the Vatican?
Why join a large group tour and struggle to hear the guide? Opt for our Secret Vatican Tour instead—explore at your own pace and enjoy our fully customized service!
Please note that the Vatican management might close the Basilica, Sistine Chapel, or other museum areas without prior notice. While such occurrences are rare, we will strive to replace any missed sights with equally fascinating alternatives.
You MUST bring an ID, a passport or a driver’s license to enter the sights.
Your knees and shoulders must be covered to enter the Vatican.
69 € per additional person
by cab or car to the Vatican
if in Rome city center
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or call us at +39 376 165 1457 Tour Location
Italian ArtVentures' Feedbacks
Your guides are so friendly and knowledgeable. They made the history accessible and enriching.
You covered every detail, down to lunch reservations, business class train tickets and wonderful air-conditioned transportation with friendly drivers!
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