Ascension: Basilica St.Peter's & Dome Climb

Climb from the terrace to the summit of Michelangelo’s dome and descends into the vaults below. The experience pairs breathtaking panoramic views of Rome from the highest dome in the world with close-up encounters of masterpieces by Michelangelo and Bernini, papal tombs, and the eerie vatacombs beneath the basilica. This guided tour emphasizes art, architecture, and history while offering a rare perspective on Vatican City.

• Guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica and special entry to the top of dome!
• Climb to the summit of Michelangelo’s dome for incredible panoramic views
• Explore the vatacombs and papal crypts beneath the basilica
• Close-up encounters with masterpieces by Michelangelo and Bernini

Experience St. Peter’s Basilica as few ever do. 

Your journey begins in the monumental embrace of St. Peter’s Square, where your expert guide will introduce to you Bernini’s Colonnade. Entering the Basilica as the morning light fully illuminates the interior, you’ll stand before Michelangelo’s Pietà and the towering bronze Baldacchino, gaining professional insight into the genius of the Renaissance and Baroque masters.

We then transition from the grandeur above to the solemnity below, descending into the lower level to explore the "Vatacombs." Here, you’ll walk among the papal crypts and effigies, uncovering the layers of history that form the foundations of the Church. 

The experience then will reach its peak: we’ll take the elevator to the terrace level to admire the intricate roof-level mosaics before the final climb. As you reach the summit of the Dome, you’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking, bird-eye 360° panorama of the Eternal City and the Vatican Gardens, the perfect midday finale before heading off to a well-earned Italian lunch.

Tours depart promptly at the scheduled time, while public transport throughout Italy can be unreliable. Allow plenty of time to get from your accommodation to the meeting point, or contact us to arrange for a private transfer. No refunds will be granted for failure to arrive at the meeting point on time.

Tours depart rain or shine unless otherwise specified.

CROWDING/PARTIAL CLOSINGS: During peak season and on the days surrounding national and/or religious holidays, extreme crowding can be expected at the Vatican, leading to increased wait times to pass through security checks despite our priority access as a tour operator. While this is beyond our control, we do our best to minimize any inconvenience.

St. Peter’s Basilica requires a (usually brief) security check to enter, and this cannot be avoided. While we do our best to inform guests beforehand if there are any planned disruptions to the basilica's opening hours, this is not always possible. In these cases, we are unable to provide refunds or discounts.

Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by at least 1 adult to join a tour or an activity.

View complete terms and conditions at www.italiatours.com/terms.

Not wheelchair accessible Shoulders and knees must be covered for both men and women 
On days immediately surrounding religious holidays at the Vatican, the tour may be modified due to partial closings of normally included areas
If the papal tombs beneath St. Peter's Basilica are closed, the tour of the basilica itself will be extended and no refunds made
Bring a small bottle of water with you for dome climb
Maximum 20 travelers on this tour 
Tour departs rain or shine