Private Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel Guided Tour

Excellent, simply brilliant. A last-minute Booking (on the plane on the way to Rome) turned up zero availability for the Vatican and we started to worry we wouldn’t be able to go. After nearly purchasing something else, we opted to go with Doooing Experience for a Private Tour of the Musei Vaticani and the Sistine Chapel. Fantastic communication by email from Paolo overnight, who answered our queries and provided further information about another tour they do at my request (no hard sale). We then met Paolo on arrival as one of the coordinators the next morning, before meeting Karolina, our guide. Karolina’s breadth of knowledge and experience was apparent from the off. She gave useful and pertinent information at the right time in a clear way, which truly demonstrated her background in art history, contemporary art and latterly archaeology. Starting with the wooden model of the Stato della Città del Vaticano, we made our way around the various Greco-Romano exhibitions. Stopping outside to take in the views of the Basilica di San Pietro (which we would later get into, without queuing due to Karolina’s knowledge), we really started to get a handle on the historical and contemporary Vatican City. After passing through the Pine Courtyard, we took in several Galleries, stopping to admire and learn more about various statues, antiquities and pieces of art. Karolina found our personal interest areas and concentrated her explanations on them - which we found to be engaging and again relevant to what we wanted to hear. After eventually seeing works of Rafael, we entered the Sistine Chapel, where Karolina moved off to let us enjoy the works of Michaelangelo, Boticelli and other greats of the past, whose works adorn the walls and ceiling - we then rejoined at the other side of the room where Karolina passed us through a guarded private exit and we descended a deserted staircase, exiting the building right below the facade of the Basilica. Unfortunately, Karolina was not allowed to pass inside the Basilica with us on this occasion - we understand this is due to Easter preparations, they did not want guided tours - and so instead briefed us on what to look for inside. A wonderful experience from start to finish, and we cannot recommend this Operator (Doooing Experience) and Karolina enough. Bravissima, and thank you Karolina.