St. Peter’s Basilica Tour with Dome Climb and Papal Crypts

When in Rome, climbing the iconic dome of St. Peter’s basilica is an absolute must, and this is how our in-depth St. Peter’s tour will begin. On our itinerary you’ll get the lowdown on this miracle of Renaissance design: discover how an aged Michelangelo was inspired by the Pantheon to conjure the world’s tallest dome to crown the massive new centrepiece of the Catholic faith in the 16th century, and get a unique up close and personal look at the dome as we make the thrilling climb upwards.

Our route to the top will unfold in two stages. First, we’ll be ascending the interior of the dome via elevator, where amazing views down into the basilica below will give you a completely new perspective on the stunning church. This is a perfect opportunity to admire the mosaics that decorate the dome, which are difficult to make out in detail from the floor of the church far below. Then we’ll be heading higher, up above the roof line right up to the very top of the cupola. It’s a breathless climb to make it all the way, but the jaw-dropping panorama over the city from the summit will make it all worthwhile!

Please note that the climb up to the top of the cupola is 320 steps, and the way up can be quite narrow. If you feel the climb will be too physically demanding or you are not a fan of small spaces, not to worry. You can spend additional time admiring the stunning interior of the dome with its incredible decorations instead, or pause for refreshment at the cafe located at this level of the church before continuing your tour.

The story of St. Peter’s extends all the way back to the earliest decades of the Christian faith. On our tour you’ll learn the story of Christ’s most trusted disciple, and how his crucifixion on the Vatican hill during a Nero-instigated persecution in 64 AD would help to make the future site of St. Peter’s Basilica a pilgrimage destination for centuries to come. We’ll trace the history of St. Peter’s Basilica from the original Constantinian basilica built way back in the 4th century to the extraordinary 16th-century church that still stands today. Learn how Pope Julius II – the man responsible for the Sistine Chapel ceiling – spared no expense in commissioning the massive basilica, and how a host of important artists and architects from Bramante to Michelangelo and Bernini all had a hand in bringing the elaborate plan to fruition over the course of 150 years.

On our visit inside St. Peter’s we’ll come face-to-face with some of the greatest artistic masterpieces ever created. Gaze on Michelangelo’s incredibly moving Pieta, the sculpture that set the 24 year-old artist on the road to artistic immortality, and learn the story of Bernini’s soaring bronze baldachin guarding the tomb of St. Peter himself. We’ll also be taking a look at Bernini’s stunning statue of saint Longinus, as well as the same artist’s creepy tomb of Pope Alexander VII. Discover too how the toes of St. Peter’s right foot have been worn away by the touch of generations of pilgrims in Arnolfo di Cambio’s portrait of the apostle.