Skip-the-line access means that there is no queuing, so after you meet you guide outside the entrance you can put your belongings into the Vatican cloakroom and go straight to explore the treasures of the Vatican. On this interactive tour, there are quizzes, scavenger hunts and lots of other games for the whole family to take part in; even some prizes to be won!The kids will love the colossal Greek and Roman statues and the sarcophagi of the Empresses Helena and Constantina, the mother and daughter of Constantine the Great. You explore some of the wonderful galleries and rooms, including the Gallery of the Candelabra and Gallery of Tapestries.  The kids will love the Gallery of Maps – the largest collection of Renaissance Maps in the World. The Sobieski Hall has one of the largest canvases in the Vatican – How was it painted?  Raphael’s Rooms are a riot of color.  Why were they painted and for whom?  The kids will love asking questions of the very knowledgeable guide and getting to know more about this magical place.

Of course, no tour is complete without a visit to the Sistine Chapel, still used today for the conclave to elect a new Pope.  Your guide will tell you all about the Bible stories, including the creation of Adam depicted in the wonderful frescoes that adorn the ceiling and walls. The kids will be amazed at how long it took Michelangelo to paint The Last Judgment. 

It is then time for a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica where you will explore the numerous side chapels with their hidden crypts. You will see Michelangelo’s Pietà and your guide will explain why this is the only work that he signed. You will gain an appreciation of the mastery that went into the creation of Bernini’s altarpiece and learn how Michelangelo triumphed over his contemporaries for the honour to paint St. Peter’s magnificent dome. There is still more to see though below ground level. You guide will lead you below ground to the papal crypt where, over the centuries, many of the Popes have been interred. This special place is a site of pilgrimage for many Catholics.