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The Vatican, despite its status as one of the worlds most visited destinations, is a place still shrouded in secrecy and myth, with numerous restricted and hidden areas dotted throughout its labyrinthine mass. We have exclusive access to the Vatican and its many mysteries - and our packages allow you a chance to glimpse behind the curtain and gain unprecedented admission to the Holy City. We can create a bespoke itinerary for you to enjoy the hidden wonders of the Vatican City and Rome - and the various options are detailed below! Our Vatican Insider package offers an incredible chance to sit with dignitaries and world leaders in a prime position next to His Holiness as he delivers Mass. Various options for enjoying Mass as the Pope's personal guest include at a Chapel within his private residence, inside the ancient Basilica, or at the iconic St. Peter's Square. • Private chauffeur to transfer you from anywhere in Rome to the Vatican • Your personal, expert guide will take you on a visit to the serene Vatican Gardens, an area not usually open to visitors, where the Pope walks to contemplate each morning • Explore the Sistine Chapel without the tourist crowds. Your visit will be totally private - you will be taken back to the Vatican after hours for you to explore in privacy, which will be opened especially for your trip - an incredibly privileged experience normally available only to the most senior heads of state or visiting dignitaries • Visit mysterious and usually restricted areas, closed to the public, such as the real tomb of Saint Peter in the Necropoli - below the Basilica. An incredibly rare chance to see some of the Vaticans hidden chambers including the Cabinet of Masks & the Bramante Staircase • Tour the remainder of the Vatican, including the Vatican Museums, with a private guide • Receive a personalised, hand-written benediction from the Pope himself • The pinnacle of this experience, unobtainable to most, is to attend Mass as a personal and private guest of the Pope! The exclusivity and intimacy of the experience, regardless of its location, comes from the thrill of attending Mass as the personal guest of as revered a figure as the Pope, as well as the proximity to which you'll be seated to him during the service itself, alongside gathered dignitaries, heads of state, and other hand-picked VIP guests. Depending on your availability, the time of year, and the Pope's schedule, you will have the opportunity to book one of three varieties of Mass. At special times of year important to the Catholic faith, such as Easter and Christmas, evening Mass is held within the Basilica itself. At other times, the Pope will hold mass at a Chapel within his residence, where you will be a valued guest. Mass is also, of course, held in the historic and elaborate space of St. Peters Square, where the Pope delivers a rousing Mass to the gathered audience from a raised pulpit - immediately adjacent is the 'Head of State' area where you will sit, reserved for a select number of hand-picked guests, all personally approved by His Holiness. This reserved area is where any attending VIPs, Heads of State, cardinals, and famous figures will be seated to enjoy Mass, and provides incredible views over the Square and the gathered crowds from an incredible viewpoint right next to the Pope himself. A million people gather for the largest masses in the history-soaked space of St Peters Square, creating an incredible atmosphere. After Mass, Pope Francis will typically take some time to greet the small number of hand-picked VIP guests in the exclusive, reserved area where you will be seated, stopping to talk and give benedictions. An unforgettably unique experience! The Vatican Experience – Sample Itinerary ROME - AN INTRODUCTION Arguably one of the most pivotally important cities in ancient history, Rome's enduring influence spans 2,500 years from the legend of its creation by the first king Romulus and his defeated twin brother Remus, to Julius Caesars’ Republic and the birth of the Empire under Augustus. The Italian capital has truly earned its status as the Eternal City, and its rich history leaves it awash with grandiose architecture dating back to antiquity; intricately designed Baroque fountains and churches, moving Renaissance artworks and lively modern piazzas - and all this is without mentioning the sublime food! It is also home to the Vatican, the holy city-state that is home to some of the most ornate and spectacular artworks in the world. PAPAL MASS (Day 1) 09:00 - This morning you will be collected and transferred to the Vatican to attend a Mass personal guest of the Pope himself! Mass will take place in the morning - you'll be collected at your hotel for a private transfer and taken to the Vatican, where todays Mass will take place in the grand space of St. Peter's Square. The crowds are likely to be huge - with as many as 200,000 enthusiastic attendees - but you will be taken straight to the front, where you will join the other VIP guests and diginitaries in a specially reserved area adjacent to the pulpit from which the Pope will deliver Mass. Mass is a truly special experience even from the crowds of the square - but from your privileged vantage point, so close to the Pope himself, it is even more enchanting. After Mass, your driver will return to collect you - it’s time for lunch, and we have reserved you a table at a traditional Roman restaurant! Details to be confirmed. VATICAN GARDENS (Day 2) 10:30 : Your chauffeur will be waiting at your Hotel to transport you to the Vatican City. 11:00 : Enjoy a morning visit to the Vatican Gardens within the City complex - an area usually closed to the public! You will have use of a private guide throughout, who will take you through the extensive gardens, an area the Pope uses to walk and contemplate throughout the day. 13:00 : At the end of your visit, your chauffeur will transport you back to your hotel (or to a restaurant of your choice for lunch). Next up, we suggest you explore the highlights of ancient Rome - we can arrange private tours and special access to numerous sites on request. 19:00 : Your chauffeur will collect you from a mutually agreed location to take you back to the Vatican for your final trip to the Holy City! As this visit is after hours, the Swiss Guard will open the Vatican especially for your group - its quite a remarkable feeling to arrive at such a unique location after dark, to the sight of its ancient and cavernous doors opening just for you, revealing centuries-old secrets hidden inside. You will be led through the labyrinthine corridors of the Vatican until you reach the Sistine Chapel, one of the wonders of the modern world, covered in frescoes by the great Classical painter Michelangelo. Normally thronged with tourist hordes, you will have no-one but the Swiss Guards and your personal guide for company, meaning that you may wander through the Chapel at your own pace, taking in the incredible artwork and enjoying the masterpieces in total seclusion and privacy. A truly remarkable experience, which will last approximately 2 hours. Your car will be waiting to transfer you back to your hotel, or a restaurant for dinner, after the experience