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The Vatican Museums Audio Guide

Uncover the stories of papal power behind the Renaissance masterpieces and ancient artifacts in the Vatican's collection
US$20
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Listen on your schedule, you will receive a link to access the audio guide online immedately upon purchase.
Audio Guide Details
Duration
2 to 6 hours
Product Type
Audio Guide
Venues
  • Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
  • Raphael Rooms
  • Sistine Chapel
Preview The Vatican Museums Audio Guide
The Origins of the Vatican
Leonardo da Vinci's St. Jerome
The Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
Photos & Highlights
Audio Guide Description
See iconic masterpieces including Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, delve into the stories of the Popes who built the Church, and decode the political messages they sent by amassing these collections in its name in Context's Vatican Audio Guide.

The Vatican Museums consist of 54 galleries containing tens of thousands of pieces across 1400 rooms. It can be daunting to try to see it all. But don't worry, we'll be in your ear to help you uncover the treasures and tales hidden beneath the surface! A group of five experts each sharing their own specialty will focus your attention on the pieces, places, and stories that changed history. 

Jeannette Pena will take you through the hundreds of years of art history within these walls through paintings, tapestries, maps, and sculpture. Valentina Ansuini and Cecilia Martini will share the stories of Michelangelo, Raphael, and the other masters of the Renaissance whose frescoes adorn the walls and ceilings.

Egyptologist Giulia Pagliari will explore the connections between Ancient Egypt and Rome, and art historian Theresa Potenza will unpack the legacy of the sometimes-overlooked Etruscan civilization that inhabited this land before Ancient Rome.

Together, these experts will deepen your understanding of the connections between art, history, politics, and power. You'll see the Sistine Chapel's ceiling and The School of Athens differently when you understand the spiritual and political messages behind them.

This tour includes an essential path through the museums that takes between 2 and 3 hours, but you can choose your own adventure by digging deeper into the areas that pique your interest. With over 6 hours of stories to choose from, there is something for everyone.

The Vatican Museums are open daily from 9 AM to 7 PM except Sundays, and the last entrance is at 5:30 PM. The museum is closed on Sundays.

Tickets and time reservations are mandatory to visit the museum, and they sell out fast so you will need to purchase your ticket in advance of your visit. Admission tickets can be purchased here. We recommend booking your museum ticket in advance and arriving a few minutes before your ticket's entrance time.

Experts
Cecilia Cecilia
Art Historian
Valentina Valentina
Art Historian
Jeannette Jeannette
Art Historian
Theresa Theresa
Art Historian
Giulia Giulia
Archaeologist
Once you complete your purchase, you will receive a voucher code for your Audio Guide. You must download the Voicemap app and enter the code. 
  1. Install VoiceMap from the Apple App Store or Google Play
  2. Create an account
  3. Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes
  4. Enter your Voucher Code
  5. Select Download Now
Yes! All of our audio guides have the option to turn on closed captioning should you have difficulty hearing the expert.

The essential portions of the audio guide last about 2 to 3 hours and include the painting gallery, Greek and Roman antiquities, the Raphael Rooms, and the Sistine Chapel. This audio guide also has options to dig deeper into everything from ancient cultures to Renaissance scandals to contemporary art for up to 6 hours of listening.

You are welcome to listen together with friends or family, but each person listening to the guide on their own device will need to purchase the audio guide individually.

Once you purchase an audio guide, you are welcome to listen to it as many times as you would like. Your access to a purchased audio guide does not expire.

Sales for recorded audio guides are final upon purchase. Please contact us at digital@contexttravel.com if you have any questions or concerns about your purchase.

Absolutely! Gift cards can be purchased here. Gift cards are good for 365 days from the date of purchase.
(5.0) 4 Reviews

Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.

Exceptional. I haven't finished to hear all of it yet. Less than half actually. I don't want to miss even a single in-depth digging. But I'm really thrilled. The historical, artistic, and cultural context of the various introductions, for each and every collection, is so clear and fundamental in order to contextualize and lightly "absorb" the overwhelming at times amount of material of the Vatican museums. My gratitude to Cecilia, Valentina, Jeannette, Theresa and Giulia for generously sharing their incredible knowledge and their beautiful way of offering it and many thanks to Context for letting us enjoy it. I can't wait to keep listening....
Exceptional