Passetto di Borgo

Enjoy admission tickets to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Admire world-famous artworks on a guided tour and embark on a journey through time and space. Access each site directly with your guide and forget about the hassle of waiting in line. The groups are made up by a maximum of 30 people and are all accompanied by certified Vatican tour guides, who will take the guests through the priceless artistic treasures enshrined in the seven different museums that make up the very heart of the Vatican Museum complex. In a relaxed and informal atmosphere, the guide will tell stories and curiosities that will help to understand the historical, artistic and cultural context that has molded the masterpieces hosted in the Hall of the Muses, in the Pio-Clementine Museum, in the Gallery of Maps, in the Gallery of Tapestries, in the Raphael Rooms and in the magnificent Courtyard of the Pinecone that opens in the heart of Vatican City. The tour of the Vatican Museums will culminate with the visit to the Sistine Chapel; since it is forbidden to speak aloud inside, the guide will deliver explanations and directions outside, using the special panels provided by the Museums. Once inside, you can admire the paintings that truly represent the highest peak of Italian Renaissance art, from the precious frescoes by Botticelli, Perugino, Pinturicchio, Ghirlandaio, Luca Signorelli and Piero di Cosimo, to the extraordinary vault cycle and the Last Judgement by Michelangelo. At the end of this incredible experience, the guide will briefly tell about the history of the Vatican, and will accompany you to the entrance of St Peter's Basilica using the direct access from the Sistine Chapel.

Join an express guided walking tour of the Castel Sant'Angelo’s terrace with skip-the-line tickets. Cruise past the long lines and enter the castle with your guide. Experience the magnificent terrace with one of the best views of Rome. After the tour, explore the rest of the castle at your own pace. The terrace view opens 360 degrees towards the city center from the grounds of the castle and beyond the River Tiber. Admire the St. Angelo Bridge, one of the most scenic masterpieces of Roman Baroque design, adorned with 10 angel statues symbolizing love and passion. See the many iconic sights surrounding the castle such as the Palace of Justice, Villa Borghese, Quirinal Palace, Pantheon, Capitoline Hill, Aventine Hill, and Janiculum. Look towards St. Peter's Basilica to spot the Passetto di Borgo, a passageway connecting Castel Sant'Angelo to Vatican City. After this experience, you are free to visit the remaining levels of the castle at your own pace. Admire the other parts of the castle that was founded by the Roman emperor Hadrian and built to be his monumental tomb. Throughout the years, the building has also been used as the private residence of the pope, a treasury of the state, a prison, and a place of public executions.

Embark on a journey into the heart of Vatican City, where history, art and architecture intertwine in perfect harmony. Admire the landmarks that have shaped the Vatican's legacy, starting with the historic Castel Sant'Angelo Fortress, a monumental structure that has spanned centuries of history. Originally built as the mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian, it later became a formidable papal fortress. Next, observe the ‘Passetto di Borgo’, the elevated passageway that connected the castle to the Vatican, a safe route used in times of need. Continue your walk along Via della Conciliazione, one of Rome's most iconic streets, which will lead you directly to St Peter's Square, in the heart of Vatican City. Here your guide will reveal the history of this monumental space, while you will be immersed in the majestic beauty of St Peter's Basilica, a masterpiece of architecture and art. Finally, don't miss the opportunity to admire the Arch of Constantine, an imposing testimony of ancient Rome that celebrates imperial victories and stands as a symbol of greatness and power.

Begin your journey along the Via dei Coronari, a picturesque cobblestone street that transports you to the heart of Renaissance Rome. This historic thoroughfare, named after the sellers of rosaries ("coronari") who catered to pilgrims traveling to St. Peter’s Basilica, has retained its old-world charm. Flanked by elegant palazzi and quaint shops, Via dei Coronari offers a glimpse into Rome’s vibrant past as a bustling hub for traders, artisans, and pilgrims. As you reach the banks of the Tiber River, the majestic Ponte Sant’Angelo welcomes you with its breathtaking beauty and rich history. Originally commissioned by Emperor Hadrian in 134 AD to connect the city to his mausoleum, this bridge has transformed into a masterpiece of Baroque art, adorned with ten stunning angel sculptures designed by Bernini and his students. Each angel, holding an instrument of Christ’s Passion, adds a spiritual resonance to the bridge, making it a visual and symbolic pathway to Castel Sant’Angelo. A visit to the disruptive architecture of Castel Sant’Angelo, a giant sitting on the banks of the Tiber, is a must for Rome enthusiasts. Continuously inhabited for almost 2,000 years, this monumental structure reveals the many transformations it has undergone throughout history. Delve into its depths to explore the burial chamber of the Mausoleum, originally built by Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD to house his ashes at the very heart of the structure. For centuries, this sacred space was sealed away, preserving its mystery. Ascend to the upper levels to uncover how the popes of the Middle Ages transformed the mausoleum into a formidable fortress, linking it to the Vatican Palaces through the elevated corridor known as the Passetto di Borgo, a secretive escape route in times of danger. Discover the refined Renaissance-era rooms, some adorned with intricate frescoes, designed by the leading architects of the period for the papal residents. At the same time, delve into the darker history of Castel Sant’Angelo as a place of torture and execution, from its grim prisons to the infamous Shooting Court, where gruesome punishments were carried out. Your journey culminates at the Terrace of the Angel, where the iconic bronze statue of the archangel Michael stands as a guardian over the city. From this vantage point, soak in unparalleled views of the Vatican and the sprawling cityscape of Rome—a breathtaking finale to an unforgettable exploration of this timeless monument.