One Day at the Vatican and Catacombs
Vatican Museums - Sistine Chapel - St. Peter`s - Basilica of St. John in Lateran - Scala Santa (Holy Stairs) - Catacombs of S. Sebastian*- Ancient Appian Way - Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella*
The tour will begin with a visit of the main galleries of the Vatican Museums and Galleries (Priority Entrance). Included are Galleries of the Chandeliers, of the Tapestries and the Geographical Maps. The visit of the Museums will culminate with a tour inside the Sistine Chapel. We will view the famous ceiling of Michelangelo, the 9 Scenes of the Book of Genesis and the Last Judgement. After the Museums we will enter the Basilica of St Peter built on the ruins of the old St Peter's under Emperor Constantine. Inside you will view the beautiful Pieta by Michelangelo, the sculptures of Bernini, the Holy Alter and the art of Raphael.
On Wednesday, due to the Papal Audience, the church of St. Peter will be visited only from outside.
After lunch we will visit the Basilica of St. John in Lateran,,the Cathedral of Rome; famous for its baroque and medieval masterpieces. Then we will go to the Holy Stairs, climbed by Jesus Christ. We will then pass through the Porta di San Sebastiano to arrive on the Ancient Appian Way. You will then have a visit of The Chapel of Domine Quo Vadis where St.Peter supposedly met Jesus while fleeing persecution in Rome.
Then a visit underground of the Catacombs of St. Sebastian, the early Christian burial grounds. Then we will have a walk along the Ancient Appian Way to the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, built around 50 B.C.
On the return trip you will enjoy the view of the Caracalla Baths built during the reign of the Emperor Caracalla.
On Sundays the Catacomb and the Ancient Appian Way visits will be substituted with the visit of the Basilica of St. Mary Major. |
