Vatican City's Must See Sites Requiring Special Access
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Located throughout Vatican City are places that require special permission to visit. In this self-guided itinerary, we will show you the best places to see. From the Swiss Guard Barracks to the Papal Observatory, you'll leave Rome with memories that will last a lifetime. Be sure to reach out far in advance before your trip to the corresponding Vatican offices to schedule visitations to these sites.
Places to Visit
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Key Keeper: Early Morning Opening of the Vatican Museums
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Pontifical Swiss Guards - Barracks, Museum, and Armoury
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Vatican Library
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Vatican Apostolic Archives
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Restoration Labs with the Patrons of the Arts of the Vatican Museums
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Scavi Tour" - St. Peter's Basilica Underground Ruins and Excavations
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Vatican Space Observatory
Key Keeper: Early Morning Opening of the Vatican Museums
Join the Key Keeper of the Vatican Museums for an exclusive look at the opening of the Vatican Museums. At 5:30 AM, the Key Keepers begin their daily rounds to open some 300 doors, alight the halls and galleries, and open what many would consider the pearl of the Vatican - the Sistine Chapel.
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Tickets & Visitor Requirements
Reservations are available through third party tour companies or directly with the Vatican Museums for VIP Guests.
Pontifical Swiss Guards - Barracks, Museum & Armoury
Founded in 1506, the Pontifical Swiss Guard were integral in defending the Pope during the Sack of Rome which saw over 20,000 soldiers invade the eternal city.
See how these dedicated men serve and protect the Vatican, and learn about their unique camaraderie and the discipline required to maintain their prestigious roles. Visitors can get an inside look at the armory hosting medieval and modern weapons.
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Tickets & Visitor Requirements
Reservations for Individuals, Groups, and Pilgrimages should be arranged well in advance of your trip. For more information, please visit the Swiss Guards' website.
Vatican Library
The "Library of the Popes" is a treasure trove of human knowledge and culture. Within its walls, countless works collected over the centuries explore the profound question of what it means to be human.
Established in 1475, The Vatican Library is one of the oldest libraries in the world. It has 75,000 codices from throughout history particularly The Hannah Papyrus which is the oldest surviving text of the New Testament. The Vatican Library is open to anyone who can document their qualifications and research needs.
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Tickets & Visitor Requirements
The Library is open to:
- Researchers and scholars with appropriate qualifications and/or relevant scientific publications
- Teachers and researchers at universities and other institutes of higher education
- Graduate students (laureati) who are pursuing research for a doctoral dissertation
- In exceptional cases, undergraduate students who can demonstrate that they need to consult material which is available only at the Vatican Library.
Please visit the Vatican Library's website for contact details and necessary documents for your visit. Tours are also available in exceptional cases for VIP Guests.
Vatican Apostolic Archives
Although more traditionally known as the "Secret Archives", it's very much not a a secret, The Vatican Apostolic Archives is one of the most important document centers in the world. Discover the chronological continuity of the Vatican's documentary heritage that spans more than 12 centuries and the geographical extension of said documentation that embraces every continent.
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Tickets & Visitor Requirements
Access is free of charge and open to qualified scholars conducting scientific studies. All researchers must have a university degree (five-year course) or an equivalent university diploma. Clergymen must possess a licentiate degree or PhD. Today, permission is granted to consult the documents in the archives up until the end of the papacy of Pius XII (October 1958).
Please visit the Apostolic Archives website to fill out an application form for an admission card stating your qualifications and time of visit
Restoration Labs with the Patrons of the Arts of the Vatican Museums
Preserving artistic works requires constant care and maintenance. Restorers carry out this work either in open spaces behind scaffolding or in laboratories in undisclosed locations inside the Vatican Museums. Chapter members of the Patrons of the Arts of the Vatican Museums have the opportunity to explore all of the restoration laboraties and see restorers working on their projects. Here, you'll meet the artists, learn how they restore delicate masterpieces, and take away an unforgettable experience.
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Tickets & Visitor Requirements
Each individual requesting to visit must be a current/active Patron Member. Please visit the Patrons of the Vatican Museums website to learn how you can support their conservation efforts and make visits.
"Scavi Tour" - St. Peter's Basilica's Underground Ruins and Excavations​
The Scavi Tour, officially known as the "Excavations Tour," is one of the most exclusive and fascinating experiences in Vatican City. This guided tour takes visitors deep beneath St. Peter's Basilica to the necropolis, an ancient burial ground that dates back to the Roman Empire. Underneath the layers, one can view the original foundation of St. Peter's Basilica. The highlight of the tour is the opportunity to see the tomb containing the remains of St. Peter, one of Jesus's apostles and the first Pope of the Catholic Church.
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Vatican Space Observatory and Museum at Castel Gandolfo
As one of the oldest astronomical research institutions in the world, the Vatican Observatory reflects the Catholic Church's long-standing interest in the study of the cosmos, dating back centuries. Originally based in the Roman College of Rome, the Observatory is now headquartered in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, just south of Rome next to Lake Albano and the Pope's Summer Residence. The Vatican also operates a telescope at the Mount Graham International Observatory in the United States.
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Tickets & Visitor Requirements
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Vatican Gardens
The Vatican Gardens date back to medieval times when orchards and vineyards extended north of the Papal Apostolic Palace. Pope Nicholas III in 1279 moved his residence to the Vatican from the Lateran Palace, closing this area with walls. He created an orchard, a meadow and a garden. Through the centuries, the Vatican Gardens have undergone remodels, being influence by the Renaissance style.
Throughout, one can see numerous fountains, sculptures, and many grottos dedicated to the Virgin Mary and other saints. While you visit the Vatican Gardens, we invite you to pray the rosary visiting the many sites honoring the Virgin Mary.
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Tickets & Visitor Requirements
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