Rome Half Day Tour: Castel Sant'Angelo and St.Peters Basilica
- 3 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 4 languages
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Step into the history and intrigue of Castel Sant'Angelo, originally Hadrian's Mausoleum, a monument that has witnessed the rise of empires and the power of the papacy. From its origins as a grand imperial tomb to its transformation into a fortress and papal residence, every hall, terrace, and rampart tells a story of ambition, strategy, and power. Discover the secrets of its architecture, the legends that echo through its walls, and the stunning views over Rome from its terraces. Conclude your journey by strolling through Borgo Pio along the Vatican Walls to St. Peter's Square, where Bernini's iconic elliptical Colonnade welcomes you to the heart of the Vatican. the tour includes priority entry to the basilica, where you can admire Michelangelo's famous work: the Pietà. A mesmerizing journey of history, art, and grandeur an unforgettable experience in the Eternal City.
Inclusions
What's included
- Visit The Passetto
- Visit to St. Peter's Basilica with priority entrance included
- Visit Bernini’s Colonnade
- Visit Borgo Pio
- Entrance tickets to Castel Sant'Angelo
- 3 hour tour with professional guide
What's not
- Tips
- The tour does not include a guided visit inside the basilica
Itinerary
The visit of Castel Sant'Angelo (Hadrian's Mausoleum) is a truly experience through the centuries to better understand the development of the city of Rome from the imperial time to the present time. The monument was built of the Emperor Hadrian and with the time became at first a fortress and later on a residence for the Popes. It is considered a symbol of Rome’s imperial power and Pope’s power. During the visit we can see the transformation of the building from monumental tomb to a fortress and a residence. We are going to hear and see the secret places and the several stories related to the building that was connected to the Pope’s palaces through a secret corridor called ‘’Passetto di Borgo’’, an escape route to guarantee the safety of the Pope. After visiting the Castle, cross Borgo Pio and along the Vatican Walls we will reach the place where in a relaxing atmosphere you can sip a good glass of Italian wine and taste typical Roman cuisine, not to be missed when visiting Rome!
Rome used to call it, is also known as Passetto di Borgo, or Passetto. It corresponds to that raised and fortified section of the Vatican Walls that from the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, starting from behind the colonnade by Bernini runs along via dei Corridori and via Borgo Sant'Angelo and ends in Castel Sant'Angelo.
In totale il colonnato comprende 284 colonne di ordine dorico, ciascuna alta sedici metri. Le colonne sono disposte su quattro file in modo da creare tre corsie. La corsia centrale è carrabile, mentre le due laterali sono percorribili esclusivamente a piedi.
St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, the heart of Catholicism and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the largest churches in the world (23,000 square meters). Built between 1506 and 1626, it features a majestic Michelangelo dome, a façade by Maderno, and an interior with Bernini's Baldachin, housing masterpieces such as Michelangelo's Pietà.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- In front of the entrance, the guide is waiting with a sign
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 12 travellers
- Operated by
- Welcome Italy
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Provide the correct phone number with international country code
- One day before please call to confirm the time at the meeting point
- check that you provide all the details to the agency
- Without this information we can not guarantee the correct service
How it compares in Rome
- Its from-price is close to the median of the 8352 experiences we list in Rome.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Rome
Rome layers nearly three thousand years of history into one walkable city, from the Colosseum and Forum to Baroque piazzas and Vatican art.
Ancient Rome is still in plain sight. The Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill sit together at the city's heart, the Pantheon still stands with its open oculus, and fragments of temples and aqueducts turn up between apartment blocks. Across the Tiber, Vatican City holds St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling.
Top-ranked sights in Rome: Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel.
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