EVENING ENCHANTMENT

At 6:00 PM, as the last crowds leave, slip into the Vatican Museums for an exclusive private viewing of one of the world’s most treasured art collections. This VIP reservation guarantees special evening access allowing you to admire some of the greatest works of art ever created after doors have closed to the general public. You will be given the opportunity of a lifetime to relish the dazzling array of wonders on display as they were meant to be seen – in comfort and privacy. Indeed this 500-year-old collection was originally a secluded space for private contemplation where the leaders of what was once one of the West’s most powerful states came to feast their eyes on their cherished possessions. Your guide will accompany you right to the heart of Christianity and explain why the smallest country of all is the only one to be entirely designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The origins of the Vatican Museums date back to 1506 when art lover Pope Julius II first began arranging his acquisitions of classical sculptures in the Octagonal Courtyard. This extraordinary – though originally modest – assembly of works was enriched and extended throughout the centuries by successive pontiffs and evolved into the 7-kilometre-long treasure trove you see today. Nowhere else in the world is it possible to find such an outstanding collection of art pieces belonging to so many different eras, traditions and artistic styles. Egyptian steles, Etruscan bronzes, Roman statues, Renaissance fresco paintings, Flemish tapestries are reverently safeguarded within the hallowed walls of the papal state.

Your guide will lead you back down the centuries, along a carefully crafted route through the museum’s corridors and halls – impossible to cover all 2,000 of them! – and introduce you to the masterpieces no visitor should miss. Highlights along your trail include the Gallery of Maps, featuring 16th century forerunners of today’s atlases; the Room of Animals, filled with masterfully carved marble creatures; the Sala delle Muse, housing an ancient Greek sculpture which would subsequently inspire generations of artists; Raphael’s Rooms, four beautifully decorated chambers once belonging to Pope Julius II’s private apartments.

Nestled among these marvels lies the glorious Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo spent eight years of his life in this sacred room, painting what would become the most famous images in the whole of Western art. As you stand alone at the very core of the Roman Catholic world gazing up at the marvellous frescoes of the Creation of Adam and the Last Judgement your guide will help you decipher the secret messages left here by the Renaissance master in the 16th century. The peace and silence of the evening will contribute to making this experience a truly magic and unforgettable one.