Vatican VR walking tour

Main Info

Hop on board our time-traveling adventure as we zoom through the story of the biggest and most fabulous basilica in the world! Imagine starting in the ancient gardens of Agrippina, buzzing through the massive construction by Constantine, and zooming all the way up to the spectacular basilica we see today, topped with Michelangelo’s fantastic dome. With a dash of virtual reality magic, you’ll get to see each step of this epic architectural journey. It’s like building a massive puzzle, piece by historic piece, right before your eyes!

But wait, there’s more just a hop, skip, and a jump away! A stone’s throw from St. Peter’s, the mighty Castel Sant’Angelo stands tall, packed with two thousand years of secrets and stories. From a mysterious mausoleum to a majestic fortress, this castle has transformed over the ages and is itching to spill all its thrilling tales.

So, grab your explorer’s hat and get ready to uncover the wonders of these iconic Roman landmarks—it’s going to be a wild ride through history!

Type of Tour:	Walking and VR
What´s Included:	Your family-friendly guide
Length:	2.5 hours
Time:	9am or 2.30pm
Available:	Every day
Meeting Point:	Coliseum Metro Stop Above
Activity Level:	Easy
Our promise to you:	You will have an amazing experience wih your family walking with your child friendly guide in Rome.
Itinerary	St Peter’s Basilica & St Peter’s Square The Roman Phase: The Circus Way back in the first century A.D., some fancy Roman families thought it’d be cool to build their posh villas right where St. Peter’s Basilica stands today. One of these was Agrippina the Elder—yep, a real VIP of her time! After she passed away in 33 A.D., her son Caligula (who was kind of a tough cookie as emperors go) inherited her lush gardens and built a gigantic circus right there! Imagine a huge playground, 540 meters long and 100 meters wide, where only the coolest Roman parties were thrown. This wasn’t just any playground though. It was where emperors entertained with wild chariot races and shows. Sometimes, if the people of Rome were lucky, they could snag an invite to these epic parties too. But during Nero’s time, around 64 A.D., things got a bit spooky with a big fire in Rome and the circus turned into a rather scary place for some not-so-fun events. The Basilica of Constantine Jump forward a few centuries to the 300s, and along comes Emperor Constantine the Great. He decided to build something super special over the old circus—a massive basilica right over an ancient cemetery. But don’t worry, he made sure it was well-preserved underground. This basilica wasn’t just any building; it was a giant tribute to Peter the Apostle and became a final resting place for lots of folks who wanted to be near him. The Renaissance Basilica Fast forward to the 1400s, and oops—the city and the basilica were falling apart! By the 1500s, some smart architects like Bramante and later Michelangelo (yes, the guy who painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling!) stepped in to fix it up. Michelangelo dreamed up a fabulous dome to top off the basilica, making it a worldwide wonder. Although he really hoped to finish it himself, the dome was completed after his time by architects Giacomo della Porta and Domenico Fontana. The Mausoleum of Hadrian and Castel Sant’Angelo Now, let’s not forget about the mighty Castel Sant’Angelo! Originally, it was a mausoleum built by Emperor Hadrian around 123 A.D. as his future chill-out zone for eternity, surrounded by gorgeous gardens. But wait—there’s more! By 271 A.D., it turned into a fortified castle. Fast forward to 590 A.D., and something epic happened. During a nasty plague, Pope Gregory the Great saw an angel, Michael, who seemed to say the plague was ending—and poof! The plague was gone, turning the castle into a holy site called Castel Sant’Angelo. Later on, it even got a secret escape passage connecting it to St. Peter’s Basilica, just in case the Pope needed a quick getaway! So there you have it—a whirlwind tour through time, filled with emperors, epic buildings, and even angels. How cool is that?