Civitavecchia Shore Excursion

This is a special Civitavecchia tour for those who want to focus their sightseeing on the Vatican, including St. Peter's Cathedral, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel.

After meeting your driver guide at the pier in Civitavecchia you drive to Vatican City where you meet your licensed guide. We have VIP tickets reserved for you so you can avoid the long lines and get started with your 4 hour tour of Vatican City.

The Vatican's museum complex houses one of the most impressive collections of art and treasures from antiquity through the present day. Of course the Renaissance treasures of the Raphael rooms and the Sistine Chapel are the highlights of any visit. In the Sistine Chapel you will marvel at the masterpieces by Michelangelo, including his frescoes of the "Creation" on the ceiling (completed in his 30s) and the "Last Judgment" filling the altar wall (completed in his 60's).

After your museum tour, you will walk to St. Peter's Basilica. Gaze in awe at the symmetry of the Piazza San Pietro and the enormity of St. Peter's Basilica, whose massive scale is almost too much to take in. The church, decorated in High Renaissance and Baroque style, is overwhelming with its grandeur of art in gold, marble and mosaics. Your guide will show you Michelangelo's exquisite Pieta which was completed when the young master was just in his 20s. You might also be interested in visiting the Vatican grottoes with the tombs of the popes, both ancient and modern. Behind a wall of glass is what is presumed to be the tomb of St. Peter himself.

After visiting Vatican City you say good bye to your licensed guide. Your driver guide will take you to Piazza Navona, a popular square which is beautifully designed with several baroque masterpieces including Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers. The square is also lined with caf̩s and popular pizzerias. While you are here, there is free time for lunch (meal not included).

After lunch you will have a scenic drive back to the pier in Civitavecchia.


Special Vatican Tour Notes- The Sistine Chapel is not available separately, it is only able to be seen as part of the museum complex visit. The Vatican has a dress code so please come prepared. No bare shoulders, no shorts, no dresses above the knee, and no bare feet or exposed midriffs are allowed.

Mobility: Folding wheelchairs OK, some sites may be inaccessible (advance notice required)