St. Peter's Basilica Virtual Tour Part 1: The Rise of Christianity and Constantine's Church

Tour Overview

Join expert guide and Through Eternity founder Rob on a 2,000 year journey to discover the history, art and architecture of the world’s largest church and centrepiece of the Catholic faith: St. Peter’s Basilica. In part one of our immersive journey we’ll be tracing the story of St. Peter’s from its earliest foundations on the site of the apostle’s martyrdom through the construction of the first, magnificent Constantinian basilica. Explore the splendours of this lost architectural gem that stood as a proud symbol of the Christian faith for over a millennium and unravel the story of its slow demise in the 15th century. Learn about the grand plans devised for a new basilica in the Renaissance which led to the destruction of the old church and the transformation of St. Peter’s into the largest building site in Europe - as well as how every great artist of the age had a hand in the rebuilding project, from Bramante to Raphael, Michelangelo and more. To continue the journey, join us for part 2 where we’ll be going inside the extraordinary 16th century church and getting to grips with its unparalleled collections of artistic masterpieces!

Tour Description

Meet your guide: Rob 

Hi I’m Rob, co-founder and president of Through Eternity Tours. Born in Montreal, Canada and raised in Stamford, Connecticut, I’ve had the good fortune of living in Rome for the past 20 years. I hold a Bachelor of Arts, and before coming to Rome worked in the travel division of American Express. Arriving in Rome on a backpacking trip through Europe in the late 90s, I’ve never left! I founded a small tour guide business in the hope of sharing my passion for the city, and over the last 2 decades Through Eternity has developed into one of the most successful walking tour companies in Italy. A licensed tour guide of Rome myself, I only work with the most knowledgeable and personable guides out there, whose storytelling abilities can make Rome come alive for our clients.

What Exactly is a Through Eternity Virtual Tour?  

The world of travel might be on hold right now, but just because we're all staying at home to help the world overcome a common enemy doesn't mean we have to put our wanderlust on the back burner. Frustrated with not being able to get our travel fix, we decided to transform our award-winning tours into immersive virtual experiences, meaning you can still explore Italy’s spectacular archaeological sites and jaw-dropping museums from the comfort of your own home.  

As a sign of our gratitude to those who are on the front line fighting the Coronavirus, we would be more than happy to invite all first responders, health workers and NHS workers to join our Virtual Tours for free. Please message our office staff directly!

* Please note that the booking times are in US Eastern Standard Time and Rome, Italy CET is 6 hours ahead *

Fun and informative, our virtual tours take the form of online real-time presentations led by our expert guides. Combining videos, high-definition photos and more, our guides will be sharing their wealth of knowledge and experience with you on these interactive walkthroughs of Italy’s most fascinating sites. The live format of our virtual tours means you’ll be able to ask your guide anything you wish, just like on a normal tour. We really believe it's the next best thing to being here!

Please note that the proceeds from our online tours go directly to our guides, providing them with a valuable lifeline in these tough times for the world of travel. Thank you for your support! 

Discover the treasures of St. Peter's from the comfort of your own home 

In part one of this live online experience, Rob will unravel the fascinating story of St. Peter’s and the Vatican. Discover how the original Constantinian basilica was built over the site of the emperor Nero’s ancient circus, legendary site of the apostle’s martyrdom. You’ll learn how the venerable old church fell into disrepair in the 16^th century, and get the inside track on the construction of the extraordinary church that was to take its place – including Michelangelo’s awe-inspiring dome. Making our virtual way through iconic St. Peter’s square, find out why an ancient Egyptian obelisk stands at the centre of the piazza.

In part two of our tour we'll be learning all about the fabulous artworks that adorn St. Peter's glittering interior, so be sure to continue the journey with Rob!

Tour Reviews

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