Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

The “Vatican Museums” tour begins with entry into one of the most prestigious museum complexes in the world, located within Vatican City. Your expert guide will welcome you and provide an overview of the origins and evolution of the Vatican Museums, established in 1506 and expanded over the centuries with collections of inestimable value.

Among the vestiges of ancient Rome on display, the route includes a visit to the famous sculptural group of Laocoön, one of the masterpieces of ancient sculpture. Here, you can admire the dramatic depiction of the Trojan priest and his sons, gripped in the coils of sea serpents sent by the gods. The guide will illustrate the details of the sculpture, exploring the symbolic meaning of the work and its influences on ancient and Renaissance art.

Continuing on, you will visit the Gallery of Maps, decorated with an extraordinary series of ancient maps documenting the geography of Italy and surrounding regions. This long corridor is a fine example of cartographic art and Renaissance decoration.

The tour culminates in the Sistine Chapel, famous worldwide for its frescoes by Michelangelo, including the celebrated “Creation of Adam.” The guide will explain the history and meaning of these masterpieces and provide details on the painting methods used, as well as the symbolic and cultural importance of this masterpiece.