Rome St. Peter's Basilica Dome Climb & Vatican Grottoes Audio Guide Tour (Elevator Option)

Meet your host and
head to St. Peter's Dome

Meet your host near St. Peter's Square for a short briefing, then join the Vatican security line. An illustrated timeline lets you compare the earlier basilica, the first Renaissance design and today's building side by side. Your host helps you with the dome entry process.

Climb to the dome's inner gallery and terrace

After security, start with the dome. Admire the mosaics up close from the inner gallery and look down into the basilica while hearing how Michelangelo changed the design he inherited and how Giacomo della Porta completed the dome after his death.

From the upper terrace, look down on St. Peter's Square and spot Castel Sant'Angelo, the Vittoriano and the Pantheon among the city's rooftops.

See the Pietà and the Baldachin with the audio guide

Once down from the dome, explore the basilica freely. Hear the story of Michelangelo's early work in front of the Pietà, and see at the Papal Altar and Bernini's Baldachin how the Renaissance design evolved into the Baroque. The digital audio guide uses an illustrated timeline to clearly show which parts Bramante, Michelangelo, Maderno, della Porta and Bernini each took over, changed or completed.

Descend to the Vatican Grottoes beneath the basilica

Finally, head to the Vatican Grottoes beneath the basilica and learn how today's church connects to the earlier basilica and the traditional burial place of St. Peter.

※ At busy times, the wait for dome entry can be about 1–2 hours and the security check can take 30–45 minutes.