Explore the stunning mosaics and papal history of Rome's major basilica on this guided tour.

Start outside to admire the 18th-century facade. A guide will point out the hidden 13th-century mosaics behind the arches, which tell the legend of the "Miracle of the Snow. Discover The Holy Door, opened only during Jubilee years.
 Look up at the walls of the central nave. These are among the oldest Christian mosaics in Rome, depicting scenes from the Old Testament. Prepare yourself to be enchanted by The Gilded Ceiling: Legend says the first gold brought from the Americas (donated by the Spanish monarchy) was used to gild this spectacular coffered ceiling.
Discover The Sistine Chapel: Not to be confused with the one in the Vatican! This one was built for Pope Sixtus V and is a masterpiece of Mannerist decoration. Admire The Pauline Chapel (Left): A lavish Baroque display housing the Salus Populi Romani, a venerated icon of the Virgin Mary.
Witness:
The Holy Crib: Beneath the high altar lies the "Confessio," where fragments of wood believed to be from the Crib of Jesus are kept in a crystal reliquary.
Bernini’s Tomb: Interestingly, the great Baroque master Gian Lorenzo Bernini is buried here in a very simple, unassuming floor grave.