Early Morning Vatican Tour in Rome

Discover the museums of the Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel with an early-morning tour of the city's incredible art and history. By visiting the Vatican Museums early, you'll give yourself a one-hour head start on the rest of the crowds! A guide will lead you through the Pio Clementio Museum, Gallery of the Candelabra, Gallery of Tapestries, and Gallery of the Geographical Maps. Learn about the art that has fascinated countless generations and influenced the origins of western civilizations.

Continue through the museums to the Raphael Rooms, where you can admire the frescoes before entering the incredible Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. The Sistine Chapel contains one of the greatest and most famous frescoes in history. Michelangelo’s masterpiece tells several stories, and your guide will help you experience the allure of Renaissance art by divulging secret details and untold facts throughout the tour. 

Your guide will leave you with some free time inside St. Peter’s Basilica to walk around and view the Papal Tombs or climb to the top of the dome for amazing views. Don’t miss Michelangelo’s dramatic statue of the Pietà in St. Peter's Basilica, a depiction of the Virgin Mary holding her dying child in her arms. Conclude your Vatican tour by walking around Bernini’s celebrated Piazza San Pietro.

You can extend your tour with a fresco and mosaic-making class! Learn the beautiful craft of mosaics and create a work of art to take home with you. Let the professionals of fresco making teach you about the mastery and the masters of the Renaissance.

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Early Morning Vatican Tour in Rome
Early Morning Vatican Tour in Rome
St. Peter's Square and the Vatican
Early Morning Vatican Tour in Rome
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Itineraries with Early Morning Vatican Tour in Rome

Murano canal
Map of Rome, Florence, Verona, & Venice - 12 Days
Rome, Florence, Verona, & Venice - 12 Days

Your trip starts with tours through Rome's historical core, Vatican City, and the Roman Forum, with walks through the Colosseum and to the top of Palatine Hill. Head to Florence to experience its historic squares, cathedrals, and museums. End your trip in Verona, visiting the infamous romantic of Shakespeare's love story and the floating city of Venice.

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Map of Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre, & Venice - 8 Days
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Start your trip in Rome and visit the legendary Colosseum. Admire the Sistine Chapel and stroll through the streets of its buzzing nightlife. See Michelangelo's 'David' sculpture in Florence, meander through piazzas and across the famed Ponte Vecchio bridge before exploring the colorful, seaside villages of Cinque Terre. Finish off in Venice, shopping for carnival masks and handblown art.

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Map of Rome, Orvieto, & Florence - 6 Days
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This route takes you through the highlights of Italy while exploring more of each region. Start in Rome, visiting the Vatican and Colosseum before making your way up to the lesser-known Umbria region for a stopover in Orvieto. Enjoy your time away from the big city and delight in the local life. Finish up to the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence. This city's incredible plazas and cathedrals never disappoint.

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Map of Rome, Perugia, & Florence - 8 Days
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From the Sistine Chapel in Rome to Michelangelo's 'David' in Florence, this trip is perfect for travelers who want to see Italy's top sights at a relaxed pace, while getting a glimpse at a more off-the-beaten-path region as well. Start in Rome for trendy wine bars, nighttime foodie crawls, and a visit tour of Vatican City, end in Florence to explore the medieval cathedral and plazas. Nestled between the two big cities is the lesser-visited and equally stunning region of Umbria, where you'll stop to admire the landscapes to round out your trip.