We begin our private, skip-the-line tour inside Vatican City, where the Vatican Museums hold one of the largest collections of Greek and Roman sculpture in the world. With our guide leading the way, we pass through the Pio-Clementino rooms, the Gallery of Tapestries, and the Gallery of Maps, whose Renaissance frescoes chart the Italy of another century.

The Raphael Rooms follow, decorated for Pope Julius II by the young Raphael, and there we stop before the Parnassus and The School of Athens. We then enter the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam and The Last Judgment cover the vault and the altar wall, and where our guide explains the symbolism before we fall silent in the room that hosts the conclave.

From the chapel we continue into St. Peter's Basilica, where Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's Baldachin stand among statues of saints and popes, and our route ends in St. Peter's Square, in front of the façade and Bernini's colonnade. Throughout the visit the pace stays comfortable and the commentary follows the interests of the group.

A dress code applies to places of worship and selected museums. Shorts and sleeveless tops are not allowed, and knees and shoulders must be covered for both men and women. Guests who do not comply may be refused entry. Comfortable shoes are recommended for the walking sections of the route.