Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Tickets, Rome

The Vatican is Italy's most popular attraction with almost five million visitors annually. Book your tickets in advance to avoid long lines and guarantee your entrance. Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums ticket: This ticket allows you to skip the long lines and independently visit the Vatican Museums and the magnificent Sistine Chapel. Night at the Vatican Museums: This ticket gives you an extraordinary opportunity to independently visit the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums after sunset. These are entrance tickets ONLY, but if you would like a guided tour, select our private tour OR our shared group tour.

Colosseum - Dungeons and Upper Tiers Tour, Rome

Take part in Rome's most exclusive cultural experience. Some unexplored areas of the Anfiteatro Flavio, better known as the "Colosseum," have been re-opened to the public, allowing small groups accompanied by a guide to view the underground chambers and upper levels of this world-famous monument. Ipogei is the name given to the underground dungeons and passageways where the ferocious lions and tigers were caged and the gladiators were prepared for battle. Here, both men and animals waited their turn before taking part in the bloody spectacle; a fascinating aspect of the visit to the Ipogei is seeing the elevators and lift platforms that were used to hoist them up to the arena floor. The upper level of the amphitheater has been closed since the 1970's. It comprises the monument's second and third tiers, and will be accessible to those who wish to enjoy a spectacular, bird's-eye view of the ancient Forum, the arch of Constantine and the monuments of Rome. Bronze pedestals, floors paved in brick, tile and cut stones laid in a herringbone pattern, marble statues and capitals, well preserved sarcophagi and smaller objects meant for daily use can be admired on this unforgettable, 1 1/2 hour tour that is sure to be the highlight of your visit to Rome! PLEASE NOTE that the entrance to the Palatine and the Roman Forum is included in the ticket fee, but they are not a part of the guided tour.

Night at the Colosseum, Rome

Take part in Rome's most extraordinary experience. From May 2nd until November 2nd, 2013 small groups accompanied by a guide will be allowed to view the Colosseum under the moonlight! This after-hours tour will make your visit to Rome unforgettable. It is available on Thursdays and Saturdays at 8:40PM, 9:10PM and 9:45PM. The guided tour lasts 1 hour and includes the tour of the Colosseum and of the Dungeons. However, the tour does NOT include the entrance to the Upper Tiers.

Colosseum and Roman Forum Pass, Rome

Any visit to Rome must include a visit to the ancient heart of the city, including the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Now it's possible to reserve entrance to all three sites with just one ticket and to skip the line! The price also includes One Select Italy Gift Certificate valued at $5. By far the wisest and most convenient reservation you can make for your trip to Rome, the Colosseum and Forum Pass allows you to skip lines at all three sites, visit at any time of day on your chosen date and stay in the sites as long as you like. In addition, all three sites are located just steps away from one another, allowing for easy touring. Please Note: Select Italy Gift Certificates have no inherent cash value and can only be redeemed once on Select Italy's website. Select Italy Gift Certificates are not transferable.

Borghese Gallery Tickets, Rome

After many years of restoration, the Galleria Borghese is once again inviting visitors to view the collection of masterpieces assembled in the 17th century by the great collector and patron of the arts, Cardinal Scipione Borghese. His passion and instinct for art led him to amass a unique collection that includes many Baroque masterpieces. Highlights of the collection are Gianlorenzo Bernini's marble sculpture groups of "Pluto and Persephone" and "Apollo and Daphne." The painting galleries contain Titian's "Sacred and Profane Love" and other great works by Caravaggio, Rubens, Raphael and Correggio. The Villa Borghese itself is a noteworthy example of a beautifully decorated and frescoed suburban villa, set in a vast park. Reservations are required in order to visit the museum.

Ancient Rome Archaeological Card, Rome

The perfect pass for Archaeology lovers! Ten monuments in the heart of Ancient Rome and on the Appia Antica -- all with prepaid tickets and no waiting in line. Enjoy the flexibility of an entrance ticket that is valid for an entire week for the most important archeological sites in Rome. The Rome Archaeology Card allows you to skip the lines at these museums and sites and is a great value, generating savings of up to 35%. Valid for seven days from the time of redemption, the Rome Card allows you to see sites like the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Rome's National Museum (housed in various palazzos throughout the city). The card allows entrance to the following ten sites around Rome: The Roman Forum Colosseum Palatine Hill and Museum The Palazzo Massimo (Rome National Museum) The Palazzo Altemps (Rome National Museum) The Crypta Balbi (Rome National Museum) The Baths of Diocletian (Rome National Museum) The Baths of Caracalla The Villa dei Quintili The Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella Please find below a short description of each site: The Roman Forum The heart of Rome's ancient public life and government began and ended here in the Roman Forum. Home of the famous Rostra and Via Sacra (or Sacred Way), the forum is now the place to visit the ruins of Ancient Senate buildings and triumphal arches. Palazzo Massimo Since 1998 the seat of the National Museum of Rome, the Palazzo Massimo contains the majority of the collection of the city of Rome, including the best Roman coin collection in the world, a jewelry collection, and Ancient Roman sculpture, paintings, and mosaics. The main exhibition concentrates on two revolutionary times in Roman history -- the conquest of Greece and the transformation from republic to empire. Palazzo Altemps The palatial Renaissance setting is an ideal backdrop for many items of the Cardinal Altemps' original collection, as well as pieces from the Ludovisi family collection and the city of Rome's Egyptian collection. Primarily a sculpture museum, the collection includes a series of sculpture busts, famous sculptures of Aphrodite including the famous 'Ludovisi Throne,' and important ancient sarcophagi. Crypta Balbi The Crypta Balbi is part of a theatre built by Lucio Cornelia Balbi in the first century BC. Balbi gained his wealth as a soldier for Julius Ceasar and Ottavius Augustus, bringing back plunder from a war in Africa. This remaining part of the theatre houses part of the National Museum of Rome, with sections dedicated to the history of this area of Rome and archeological studies from Medieval times. Baths of Diocletian Built to eclipse the earlier Baths of Caracalla, the Baths of Diocletian could accommodate twice as many bathers. Most of the complex has been destroyed, however, or incorporated into other building projects, such as Michelangelo's church of Santa Maria degli Angeli and part of the National Museum of Rome. Colosseum Construction of the Colosseum began in 72 AD by Vespasian. The Colosseum was used for gladiatorial combat, with people and wild animals from all over the world. In the Middle Ages, it was used as a fortress, and later years saw its use as a quarry for marble and travertine. Damaged by earthquakes, pollution, and theft, the Colosseum still stands tall as the symbol of Rome. Palatine One of the seven hills of Rome, the Palatine was home to the ruling elite of Rome. The remains of the House of Livia, the House of Augustus, the House of the Griffins, the Domus Flavia, the Domus Tiberiana, the Domus Flavia, the Domus Augustana and the Domus Severiana can all be visited. In fact, the word 'palace' comes from Palatine, because the hill was associated with so many rich dwellings. Baths of Caracalla The second largest baths in ancient Rome were built for the public between 212 and 219 AD. The baths consisted of bathing areas of various temperatures, exercise areas, massage rooms, and all the necessities for leisure, such as theatres, restaurants, and libraries. After the fall of Rome, this magnificent complex fell into disuse. Villa dei Quintili This villa just outside of Rome contains the remains of an extensive villa including baths, fountains, various out-buildings, and a residence. Emperor Commodus had the original owners executed so that he could use the property himself. Visitors can also view the remains of a 12th century castle on the property. Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella Cecilia Metella, wife of a powerful Roman nobleman, was buried in this monument in the first century BC. The mausoleum was preserved because it was converted and reused over the years -- it served as the castle around which a small village sprung up, a fortress, and in the 19th century it was used for scientific and astronomic experiments and duels.

Christmas Season Masses at the Vatican

In celebration of the holiday season, the Pope presides over special masses on December 1st (Vespers of Advent), Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve Vespers, New Year's Day and the Feast of the Epiphany. The masses take place in St. Peter's Basilica with additional seating in the square. Join other pilgrims to see and hear the leader of the Catholic Church on some of the most important feast days of the Catholic year. Catholic or not, you'll find a Holiday Papal Mass a very special and memorable experience.

Papal Audience Tickets, Rome

Every Wednesday morning that the Pope is in residence in Rome, he addresses and blesses his many international visitors: in Piazza San Pietro on warmer days and inside the Sala Nervi during the winter. Join other pilgrims to see and hear the leader of the Catholic Church. Catholic or not, you'll find a Papal Audience a very special and memorable experience.

Ara Pacis Museum Tickets, Rome

The Ara Pacis, or Altar of Augustan Peace, is considered to be one of the highest examples of classical art ever produced. Built in 13 B.C. to honor the return of the Roman Emperor Augustus from the provinces of Gaul and Spain, it was adorned with beautiful marble relief panels depicting a stately procession of priests and members of the imperial family, led by Augustus himself. However, the original location close to the Tiber River meant that frequent flooding caused the destruction of the altar and all memory of it was lost. Rediscovery of the monument occurred in the 16th century but it wasn't until 1937, to celebrate the two-thousandth anniversary of the birth of Augustus, that archaeologist Giuseppe Moretti recomposed the altar. A hastily built glass pavilion was erected just so Mussolini could inaugurate the restored Ara Pacis on September 23rd, 1938; the start of World War II meant that this temporary structure was not replaced for another 70 years. By 2006 the sculptural reliefs were so badly deteriorated by pollution from automobile exhaust and rainwater that had seeped in over the decades that it was decided to commission the celebrated American architect Richard Meier to design a new building to house the Ara Pacis. This striking but controversial post-modern building in travertine and glass is often used for temporary exhibitions, while the sublime Augustan relief carvings are always on display. They are bathed in diffused, natural light streaming in from skylights that enhances their visibility and allows visitors to admire the amazing naturalism and attention to detail of these reliefs.

Centrale Montemartini Museum Tickets, Rome

The polished turbines and archaic engines of Rome's first municipal electric plant, which opened in 1912, make for fascinating modern sculpture, especially when set against the ancient sculpture now on display here -- 400 antique marble and bronze works from the rich collection of the Capitoline Museums. This abandoned factory was converted into a museum in 1997 during the restructuring of the Capitoline Museum complex. At that time, the exhibition The Machines and the Gods was created to display side by side two diametrically opposed worlds, those of classical art and of industrial archeology. In an atmospheric game of contrasts, the old machinery of electricity production is the backdrop for masterpieces of ancient sculpture arranged in four interconnecting galleries: the Atrium, the Columned Hall, the Machine Hall and the Boiler Room. The display reconstructs some of the great monumental complexes of Ancient Rome and illustrates the development of the city from the Republican era to the late imperial age. Centrale Montemartini is also used to showcase the Capitoline Museum's most recent acquisitions, making repeated visits to this fascinating site a must for anyone with an interest in Ancient Rome.

MACRO Museum Tickets, Rome

Contemporary art shakes up the Eternal City! In the neighborhood around the Porta Pia in the northeast of Rome the multi-faceted cultural complex of the Museum of Contemporary Art is born. It is a compelling example of an "industrial archeology" that promotes the reuse and renovation of abandoned factory buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries: in fact, it combines the ex-Peroni brewery with a striking new wing by leading French architect, Odile Decq. The sheer size and spatial distribution of the complex makes it ideally suited to host important national and international exhibitions. In addition, MACRO's permanent collection offers a selection of the most significant expressions of the Italian art scene from the 1960s until the present day. Artists such as Carla Accardi, Piero Dorazio and Ettore Colla (Forma 1 group), Tano Festa, Mario Schifano and Mimmo Rotella (Scuola di Piazza del Popolo) and Mario Ceroli and Pino Pascali (Arte Povera) are displayed alongside exponents of more recent trends like Astrazione Povera and video art. The museum contains a bookshop, media library, video resource center, conference room and education center, as well as the stylish MACRO 138 Restaurant in collaboration with Gambero Rosso and a multi-level rooftop garden with an outdoor cafe'.

Palazzo Valentini Tickets, Rome

Take a captivating journey through time at the Domus Romane, a 20,000 square foot complex with two 4th century AD patrician villas and the remains of a private thermal bath situated next to Trajan's Forum in the heart of Imperial Rome. Sophisticated multimedia reconstructions featuring computer-generated projections and realistic light and sound effects plunge spectators into Roman life as it was lived almost 1,700 years ago. A wealth of mosaics, polychrome wall veneers, fountains and frescoes attests to the high rank of the villa's owners, who were probably magistrates or senators. Archaeologists stumbled on the villas in 2005 during repair work on the underground areas of the 16th-century Palazzo Valentini, the seat of Rome's Provincial Administration. Because of the fragmentary state of the ruins, videos are used to reconstruct not only what the villas may have looked like but also scenes from daily life in ancient Rome - crowds cheering victorious centurions, a glimpse of a chaotic food market and a mugging in a dimly lighted back alley. At the tour's end, visitors spill out into Trajan's Forum after passing through a series of tunnels and air-raid shelters dating from 1939.