In 1655 Fabio Chigi became Pope, taking the name of Alexander VII. Art collector and dabbler in architecture, on the very day of his election he immediately sent for Gian Lorenzo Bernini to discuss projects for the Square. In 12 years the pope commissioned the colonnade of San Pietro, the bronze throne of Saint Peter and the Scala Regia in the Vatican; he reworked the squares of the both the Pantheon and Minerva, in which the famous elephant obelisk was erected, and restored the Pyramid of Caius Cestius. this tribute to classic architecture that makes the colonnade the most sober example of the Roman Baroque creations.

Inside the majestic St. Peter's Basilica the guide will let you discover the famous statue of Pietà by Michelangelo, the great baroque Bernini's baldachin, the tomb of St. Peter in the underground, the tomb of Pope John Paul II and Christina of Sweden’s funeral monument, one of the few funeral monuments dedicated to a woman.

Saint Peter's tomb is a site under St. Peter's Basilica that includes several graves and a structure said by Vatican authorities to have been built to memorialize the location of Saint Peter's grave. After entering the Basilica, you will discover the beautiful artworks that fill its space. While walking on the colorful marbles, you will be mesmerized by the enormous dimension of the building and the ceilings entirely covered in gold. Here the guide will take you through the main highlights. You will discover the incredible Papal Altar under Bernini's Baldachin, and marvel at Michelangelo's other timeless masterpiece, La Pietà, as you explore the most important church in the Christian world.

highest point within vatican, admire breathtaking and panoramic views of the city, including the vatican gardens below. Keep your camera ready to click beautiful panoramic views, end.