Joy of Rome

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LIVE TOURS
VATICAN TOURS
VATICAN Museums & SISTINE Chapel Tour in depth

LIVE TOURSVATICAN TOURSVATICAN Museums & SISTINE Chapel Tour in depth

VATICAN Museums & SISTINE Chapel in depth

Salta la fila ai Musei Vaticani e scopri i suoi capolavori, la Cappella Sistina, la Pinacoteca, le Stanze di Raffaello. Tour privato di 5 ore con uno storico dell’arte.

Vaticans Museums in depth with Joy of Rome gabriella-clare-marino-Y6a-mUa24CA-unsplash

DA SAPERE

IL TOUR COMPRENDE:

  • Sistine Chapel
  • Pinacoteca (Paintings Gallery)
  • Pinecone Courtyard
  • Galleries of the Candelabra, Tapestries and Maps
  • Pius-Clementine Museums
  • Raphael Rooms
  • Saint Peter’s Basilica

NOTE:
Not suitable for young children.

The VATICAN MUSEUMS are one of those places you can never get enough of:  every time you step in the galleries you discover new things to love! This 5 hour SKIP THE LINE VATICAN CITY WALKING TOUR covers, in depth, all the most significant parts that this small state has to offer … all the great and important beauty!

You will not just visit the main halls and galleries but you will also step off the beaten track to admire some of the Vatican’s smaller, hidden treasures such as the Pinacoteca: the astonishing Paintings Gallery!
Every moment in these Museums will give you the opportunity to see amazing artworks and artifacts, and this is just the first part: the enchanting SISTINE CHAPEL, painted by MICHELANGELO, is waiting for you!

What’s “extra” in this tour compared with the Extended Vatican Museums Tour? First of all the stunning PINACOTECA (Paintings Gallery)!

Thanks to the extra time available in the Vatican Museums In-depth Tour you will visit the collection of paintings of the Popes! There you will admire CARAVAGGIO masterpieces and the only painting by LEONARDO DA VINCI in this collection; you will discover RAPHAEL as “tapestry designer”, GIOTTO and much more.

Second of all: THE BRACCIO NUOVO STRIKES BACK!

After seven yeas of careful restoration the BRACCIO NUOVO GALLERY was reopened in December 2016. You will get to see them as part of the Vatican In-depth Tour!

This imposing gallery hosts magnificent and monumental Roman and Greek statues returned from France after being seized by Napoleon. Pope Pius VII (1800-1823) entrusted the Roman architect Raffaele Sternto to realize the so-called New Wing (BRACCIO NUOVO) of the Chiaramonti Museum.

Inaugurated in February 1822, the building consists of a gallery 68 meters long, covered by a coffered vault with skylights.
In the twenty-eight niches along the walls, it is now possible to admire again masterpieces of antiquity such as the statue of the emperor Augustus from Prima Porta and the gorgeous statue symbolizing the River Nile.
Take some extra time by choosing Vatican Museums In-depth Tour and visit this spectacular gallery where the staging was supervised by the Commission of Fine Arts, chaired by Antonio Canova, Filippo Aurelio Visconti and Antonio D’Este.
This  nineteenth-century “factory”, is considered one of the most important examples of Neoclassical architecture in Rome and now masterworks from antiquity are again shining from the past in this spectacular frame  … and we won’t miss a thing!

On the Vatican Museums In-depth Tour you will be entranced by this magnificent collection, a symbol of the admiration and passion the Popes have had for ancient art.
If you love art and paintings and want to learn more about these outstanding collections, this unique state and the most beautiful church in the world…this is your tour!

Spend 5 hours in Vatican Museums In-depth Tour moving from the Galleries to the Raphael Rooms until you reach the icing on the cake…The wonderful Sistine Chapel!

Will you skip the line for St. Peter’s Basilica in this Tour?

Not at the moment! There was a time when from the Sistine Chapel we could skip the line to get into St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world.  This possibility is temporary off the table due to internal decision after Covid-19. Will you be able to visit the Basilica when in Rome? YES INDEED! It’s a Church, it’s free and you can go when you want, on your own pace, or you can book out tour about it. There you’ll see the Baroque canopy by Bernini and Michelangelo’s Pieta, as well as the highest dome in Rome and the tombs of some of the most important Popes, including John Paul II.
Our 5 star Rome and Vatican Museums guide will also show you St. Peter’s square, where thousands of pilgrims gather together every week for the papal blessing.
Since afternoon services will be held in the Basilica, the tour of the Church will be enriched by the spiritual atmosphere as warm afternoon light glows through the windows, filling the naves.

Where does the Vatican Classic Tour end?

Inside the Sistine Chapel so that you can spend more time inside, exploring for as long as you like (up to closing time if you wish), at your own pace.

IMPORTANT: Please remember that the Sistine Chapel is a church and there may be changes in opening and closing times according to last minute celebrations.
GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Only available as a PRIVATE TOUR
  • Your guide is LICENSED, LOCAL and specialized in ROME and VATICAN HISTORY.
  • Dress code: no shorts – no uncovered knees and shoulders, no backpacks.
  • IMPORTANT: Tickets and headphones (compulsory for 5 or more people, price 2 euro each) are not included in the price.
    Vatican Museums admission tickets price:
    ADULTS: from 30€ 
    CHILDREN up to 18 y.o. or students under 26 y.o.: 22€ st.peter’s fee). 
    After paying the deposit to secure the tour, we will send you the online booking procedure to get your admission tickets or buy tickets on your behalf upon request.

From June to October and extra fee of 15% will be added on last minute requests (3 days before the tour date).

TOURS & PRICES

We run only private tours.

We don't run small groups.

We can accommodate time/day request according to our guides' and entry tickets availability.

Final and detailed price will be provided after receiving your request from the contact form.

Starting price for a private tour (2.5 hrs) during the high season (March/Oct) for 2/4 people is 350 euros + tickets (check under "tickets price").

Starting price can be reduced during low season or increased during holidays or last minute requests.

For group larger than four, price will be provided upon request.

Meeting point

ASK for availability

Keep exploring...

St Peter s dome and columnade Vatican guided Tour Joy of Rome

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Tour
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The Lacoonte in the Vatican Museums

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Tour
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The magnificent St Peter's Basilica and its Square photo by Gabriella Clare Marino Unsplash

the MAGNIFICENT ST. PETER’S BASILICA and its SQUARE

People say about us…

  • star rating  What a wonderful experience led by our tour guide, Marta! Our children ages 7 and 5 really absorbed the stories and enjoyed their scavenger huntlooking for specific objects. ... read more

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    February 5, 2023

    star rating  This was our third tour with Joy of Rome and second with Francesca. She has a gift for bringing the stories behind the artworks to life and sharing her enthusiasm.... read more

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    January 13, 2023

    star rating  Our guide Francesca was fantastic! As an art historian and curator of street art, she really made the subject com alive. I strongly recommend this activity for anyone interested in... read more

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    December 30, 2022
  • star rating  My husband and I booked Joy of Rome two days in a row. Once for the Ancient Rome tour and the other for Vatican + Sistine Chapel.

    First... read more

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    December 18, 2022

    star rating  A must-go for kids - We did 2 tours with Serena on the same day for our family of 4( 6y and 8y old boys) , visiting Colosseum in the morning and Vatican in the... read more

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    December 15, 2022

    star rating  Francesca‘s narrative is always the best. She is our joy of Rome. No one brings Rome to life better.

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    October 18, 2022
  • star rating  This was the highlight of Rome for us. Francesca is amazing! Her knowledge and passion came through the entire day! I loved this experience and would highly recommend... read more

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    October 5, 2022

    star rating  We loved this tour! Their guide was wonderful and the tour at night was magical! We got so much more out of the experience this way and thoroughly enjoyed our... read more

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    October 2, 2022

    star rating  "On the trail of Carravaggio" was a splendid way to experience a quieter corner of Rome led by an excellent guide and to see some beautiful works of art in... read more

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    Serena was a 5 Star guide! She was professional and knowledgeable and tailored her commentary to our needs. Her words... read more

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    September 9, 2022

    star rating  Loved this tour! Maria was AMAZING with my two boys (5.5 and 8 yrs) while touring the Colosseum in August. They are both shy, she was caring and kept them... read more

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    September 4, 2022
  • star rating  Arianna showed my wife, our six year old son and I around the Colessuem. We all loved it. Very engaging, very informative and very friendly. Removed all... read more

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    star rating  We did four tours with Grace and found her to be extremely knowledgeable, speaking at length about the history, culture and traditions of the artifacts we saw. She answered all... read more

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    August 17, 2022

    star rating  Took four tours with Joy of Rome and Francesca and Grace were a true Joy! We did the Vatican, catacombs, pantheon and colosseum. Highly recommend! Thanks so much ladies.

    KRMackey
    August 14, 2022
  • star rating  Francesca was a great guide. She engaged with my 8 yo and had lots of interesting details to share. Definitely a must do tour in Rome.

    experiencejunkie
    July 28, 2022

    star rating  Great tour with not just historical facts but plenty of anecdotes that kept the teenagers attentive the whole time. Massimo was just fantastic. Period.

    attobc
    July 28, 2022

    star rating  My teen daughter and I had a private tour of both the colosseum and the Vatican on 2 separate days.
    Our tour guide was Sarena. This was an... read more

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    July 19, 2022
  • star rating  Great service .. our guide Salvatore was very informative and patient.
    Would highly recommend this company and your .
    Did t feel rushed and got a good idea of the... read more

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    star rating  Francesca was a terrific guide to the Colosseum and ancient Rome, and she kept our boys (aged 11 and 16) engaged and interested, even though it was a rather warm... read more

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    star rating  Our Joy of Rome tour was our favorite tour we did in Rome. Serena was our guide and not only was she informative, but kind and accommodating. She was excited... read more

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    July 9, 2022
  • star rating  Thanks to Francesca, our Colosseum tour was the highlight of our Rome trip. She kept our young boys (6 and 8) engaged and focused. The Colosseum is a huge place... read more

    jtcraze
    June 2, 2022

    star rating  Francesca was extremely knowledgeable. She has great enthusiasm for the art, artists, the gallery and helping us learn. She answered our questions and welcomed them. It deepened... read more

    KAQComo
    May 29, 2022

    star rating  We had a private Vatican Tour on a Friday night with Serena. It was incredible! Serena was so engaging and knowledgeable. Her enthusiasm was contagious. ... read more

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    May 20, 2022
  • star rating  Joy of Rome is a sheer delight! We went on 4 tours with them and all were supremely fantastic! The wonderful Serena took us on The Highlights of Rome walking... read more

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    star rating  Arianna opened our eyes to marvels that we would have never known without her guiding us through this extraordinary museum. We loved her enthusiasm, knowledge and great ability to... read more

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  • star rating  the thing i liked the most about the tour was that Grace our tour guide was an expert in the field and showed how professional she was by her excellent... read more

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    star rating  We were looking for an engaging, informative tour of the Colosseum for our kids (and us!) and Serena was the perfect solution. She brought the experience to life through storytelling... read more

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    February 4, 2022