PRIVATE Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica

The courtyard was originally part of the Cortile del Belvedere, designed by Donato Bramante to connect the palace of Pope Innocent VIII with the Sistine Chapel. When Bramante died, architect Pirro Ligorio finished the project and added the wall and niche to close the courtyard.

5 min

The Octagonal Court used to be known as the Cortile delle Statue. It was home to the first nucleus of antique classical statues in the pontifical collections when Pope Julius II della Rovere (1503-1513) displayed his own collection of antique sculpture. Among them the world famous Laocoön group.

5 min

the longest gallery in the Vatican Museums, hosting the frescoed maps of all the regions of Italy, from south to north, commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII in 1580.

5 min

The Sistine Chapel takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere. The 15th century decoration of the walls includes: the Stories of Moses and of Christ. It was executed by a team of painters made up initially of Perugino, Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Rosselli.

Michelangelo painted the Ceiling, nine central panels showing the Stories of Genesis and the Last Judgement on the altar wall.

20 min

Michelangelo's masterpiece, made by the great florentine artist when he was just 21 years old, represents the Virgin Mary holding in her arms the body of Jesus

5 min

the biggest Basilica in the world, built above the tomb of the apostle Peter, home of incredible treasures!

15 min