This tour is designed for clients who have already visited the Vatican Museums and who now want to spend more time in the Sistine Chapel having an in-depth seminar experience on the artworks therein. It is also designed to get around the crowds (as best as one can) by taking advantage of the early entrance time for licensed tour guides.

The itinerary begins with an early meeting time (7:45 am) and an early entrance into the Museums. It is absolutely crucial that all participants on the walk are at the meeting point by 7:45 am, otherwise we will miss our entrance. Once inside the Museums we will head directly to the Sitine Chapel, bypassing most of the Papal palace and Vatican art museum. (Note, for those who desire a broader, more contextual introduction to the Vatican our Arte Vaticana itinerary is the more proper walk.) We will spend a full hour, or more, in the Sistine Chapel going through its full history and a detailed discussion of the art and iconography. In addition to Michelangelo's masterpieces, we will deal with the 15th century works by Botticelli and others along the walls.

After the Chapel, with the remaining 1.5 hours, we will move on to St. Peter's Basilica, the symbolic center of Catholicism. Our docent will navigate this vast space, visiting the major works by Michelangelo (the dome, La Pieta) and Bernini (the canopy), fixing the church and its artworks in a social and historical context. Finally, we will emerge into St. Peter's Piazza, designed by Bernini, and the endsum of Vatican City.