Vatican’s Open Secret
An open secret among the various Rome guides we use is the unique opportunity to view the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel EARLY in the morning. When entering the Vatican at 7:00 a.m., you are richly rewarded walking through the galleries and the amazing Sistine Chapel with few other tourists. Constructed between 1473 and 1481 under Pope Sixtus IV, the Sistine Chapel serves as the Pope’s official residence and is one of the most renowned artistic and religious spaces in the world.
Among the most extraordinary features of the Sistine Chapel are its vaulted ceiling and altar wall, adorned with murals by Michelangelo! The ceiling is divided into nine central panels that depict stories from the Book of Genesis, including the Creation of Adam, recognizable by the image of God reaching out to touch Adam’s hand.
The meticulous detail and beauty within this space is truly unbelievable, and we feel having the extra time and space in the morning to explore without crowds is a MUST.
Hidden Treasures
This early morning tour allows for you to pay a special visit to the Sistine Chapel, which you will head straight to, to reflect on the iconic imagery away from the noisy crowds that don’t enter the museum until 9:00 a.m. You have the opportunity to enjoy Michelangelo’s stunning frescos and the Last Judgment in peace, hours before the crowds come flooding in! An expert guide will take you past Renaissance masterpieces from Botticelli, Perugino, Pinturicchio, and Ghirlandaio, before your tour ends at St. Peter’s Basilica, bypassing the long lines to admire Michelangelo’s Pietà, a stunning marble sculpture that embodies the profound beauty and emotion of his work.
Please Note:
-The Vatican requires visitors to cover upper arms and legs to below the knees.
-For early entrance, only a limited number of people are permitted inside the Vatican between 7:45 and 8:00 AM
-The Vatican opens its doors to other small groups of visitors after 8:00, before opening to the general public at 9:00 AM