Skip the Line: St Peter's Basilica Walking Tour Including Vatican Mosaic Studio
Rome, Italy
Rating: 
Trip Type: Skip-the-Line Tours
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Walk through the heart of Vatican City and the 16th-century Mosaic Studio (Studio del Mosaico). You’ll meet the studio director and artists who work to restore the mosaics of Saint Peter's Basilica after a guided walking tour of the important papal church. With skip-the-line access, you’ll have 2.5 hours to experience the site, including Michelangelo’s Pietà and the tomb of St Peter. Enjoy personal attention from your expert guide on this small-group tour, limited to 20 people.
Special Offer -
Book by dec 15, 2015 to save 10% off our previously offered price!
- Book Now!
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Walk through the heart of Vatican City and the 16th-century Mosaic Studio (Studio del Mosaico). You’ll meet the studio director and artists who work to restore the mosaics of Saint Peter's Basilica after a guided walking tour of the important papal church. With skip-the-line access, you’ll have 2.5 hours to experience the site, including Michelangelo’s Pietà and the tomb of St Peter. Enjoy personal attention from your expert guide on this small-group tour, limited to 20 people.Meet your expert guide in St Peter’s Square in the afternoon (view meeting point under 'View Additional Information') and begin your small-group tour. With fast-track access to St Peter’s Basilica through the Vatican, you don’t have to wait in any long lines!
Follow your guide through the world’s largest Catholic church and discover all the highlights, including Michelangelo’s famous statue, the Pietà. Through your audio headset, listen to your guide describe the basilica’s historical significance and its 16th-century construction on the site where St Peter the Apostle was crucified and buried. Rub the statue of St Peter for a blessing and pass some of the 91 papal tombs while learning about this holy sanctuary.
During your walking tour, marvel at the basilica’s amazing feats of architecture and art, including the mosaics that adorn St Peter's cupola. After approximately one hour, take a short walk through a private section of Vatican City and visit the Mosaic Studio, which is not generally open to the public. The workshop, established in 1578 by Pope Gregorio XIII, stands next to the Fabbrica di San Pietro and Santa Marta, the building where the pope resides.
Meet the workshop director, who will escort your small group around the studio – a unique experience that’s only available with this tour! You’ll be introduced to the master artists working to repair the mosaics used in 32,800 square feet (10,000 square meters) of St Peter’s Basilica. See the techniques used to restore the masterpieces and learn how some mosaics are produced as papal gifts to prime ministers, presidents and royalty during official visits to the Vatican.
At the completion of your tour, exit Vatican City through a gate marked Conciliazione, guarded by the Swiss Guards in St Peter’s Square, where you can continue to explore on your own.
Click on 'View additional info' to download the meeting point map.
Special Offer - Book by dec 15, 2015 to save 10% off our previously offered price!
- Book Now!
Follow your guide through the world’s largest Catholic church and discover all the highlights, including Michelangelo’s famous statue, the Pietà. Through your audio headset, listen to your guide describe the basilica’s historical significance and its 16th-century construction on the site where St Peter the Apostle was crucified and buried. Rub the statue of St Peter for a blessing and pass some of the 91 papal tombs while learning about this holy sanctuary.
During your walking tour, marvel at the basilica’s amazing feats of architecture and art, including the mosaics that adorn St Peter's cupola. After approximately one hour, take a short walk through a private section of Vatican City and visit the Mosaic Studio, which is not generally open to the public. The workshop, established in 1578 by Pope Gregorio XIII, stands next to the Fabbrica di San Pietro and Santa Marta, the building where the pope resides.
Meet the workshop director, who will escort your small group around the studio – a unique experience that’s only available with this tour! You’ll be introduced to the master artists working to repair the mosaics used in 32,800 square feet (10,000 square meters) of St Peter’s Basilica. See the techniques used to restore the masterpieces and learn how some mosaics are produced as papal gifts to prime ministers, presidents and royalty during official visits to the Vatican.
At the completion of your tour, exit Vatican City through a gate marked Conciliazione, guarded by the Swiss Guards in St Peter’s Square, where you can continue to explore on your own.
Click on 'View additional info' to download the meeting point map.
Special Offer - Book by dec 15, 2015 to save 10% off our previously offered price!
- Book Now!
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