Unlocking the Code of Michelangelo 

The Vatican houses some of the most important art in the world with masterpieces by Michelangelo, Raphael, da Vinci. But it also contains some of the most tantalizing stories and mysteries in history. Eyes of Rome offers more than just a fascinating teaching tour, we provide an interactive service with passionate tour guides who will not only explain the history of the magnificent artwork you will experience, but will field your specific questions as well. Our guides will also focus not only on the history of the breathtaking art you will explore, they will uncover some of the uncanny legends and mysteries behind the work. Be enlightened on the codes of geniuses Michelangelo and da Vinci in their world-renowned masterpieces. Discover Michelangelo's secret way of signing the Sistine Chapel. Find out what he was trying to say with anatomic shape he painted around the figure of God in the "Creation"... 

After bypassing the long line to get into the Vatican, we will start the tour with the highlights of the majestic Vatican Museum, which includes over 1,200 galleries. Among these breathtaking galleries you will see the celebrated statues of "Laocoon" and "Apollo Belvedere." You will hear the story of how these impressive statues came to be and dig into the hidden tale behind Laocoon's missing arm and Michelangelo's proposal on how to fix it.

 Within the Vatican museum you will also enter the stunning "Raphael Rooms" and view the "School of Athens" - Raphael's masterpiece. This fresco depicts the most influential thinkers of the ancient Greek world, but you may recognize the faces of Raphael and his contemporaries - such as Michelangelo, da Vinci, and Bramante. Your guide will fill you in on Raphael's influences as an artist and how he came to mature into the master who painted this breathtaking masterpiece.

At the end of the Vatican Museum we will proceed to the Sistine Chapel. Here, below the largest and most renowned fresco in the world, your tour guide will convey to you not only the intriguing history of how this work of art came to be, but also the lesser known mysteries of the Michelangelo's work - including explanations of newly discovered Jewish symbolism within the art, and the revelation of hidden anatomical shapes in some of the figures. 

The Sistine Chapel leads into St. Peter's Basilica, the largest and tallest Catholic church in the world, where we will visit the tombs of the Popes including Pope John Paul II. You will also see Michelangelo's magnificent "La Pieta`" and Bernini's acclaimed "Baldachino."

Once you have witnessed the artistic wonders of the Basilica, you will step outside for a full view of the Dome itself in glorious St. Peter's Square. The square also houses the famous Egyptian obelisk and fountain designed by Bernini. We will finish the tour in the middle of the square standing before the 140 saints on the colonnades where you can take photographs - your tour guide will be more than happy to photograph you and your group. The view will fill you with wonder and awe and bring to completion the life-changing experience of the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica.