Guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Papal Tombs

This guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica gives you access to the interior of the church. During the tour you will have the help of an expert guide from the Vatican with whom you will be able to visit every corner of the temple for approximately one hour.

St. Peter's Basilica is considered the heart of the Catholic Church. Its size means that there is a risk that you could miss some of its most important points without help, something that will not happen with the help of your guide. The explanations will give you a much more complete view of this monument.

Before entering the Basilica, it is worth stopping to admire St. Peter's Square, where it is located. There you can see Bernini's colonnade, an Egyptian obelisk that Caligula brought to Rome and some fountains. The square also offers a wonderful view of both the façade of the basilica and the dome.

Once inside, your guide will explain the history of the main attractions. Among the most interesting are:

• Sculptures: St. Peter's Basilica houses some of the most famous sculptures in Rome. Among them, the famous Michelangelo's Pietà, the statue of St. Peter and Bernini's Baldachin.
• St. Peter's Chair: this wooden throne was supposedly used by the first pope, St. Peter.
• Tombs of the Popes: the guided tour includes entrance to the tombs of the popes located under the basilica, one of the most fascinating visits you can make here. The tomb of St. Peter is supposed to be located there.
• Treasure Museum: this part of the basilica exhibits various objects of a religious nature, some of them of great historical and artistic interest.
• St. Peter's Dome: located above the High Altar, the ascent to this dome is not included in the guided tour.