Raphael in Rome: Churches, Frescoes & Tomb

Raphael's tomb sits under the Pantheon's open oculus, the same vast dome that has sheltered Rome for two thousand years.

A private 1.5-hour guided tour of four churches in Rome where Raphael's frescoes and architectural designs still stand, ending at the Pantheon with his tomb. Follow the artist from the Chigi Chapel at Santa Maria del Popolo through Sant'Agostino and Santa Maria della Pace to the ancient dome. Extend the tour with a 1-hour stop at Villa Farnesina in Trastevere to see his Triumph of Galatea and works by his contemporaries.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Raphael's Rome masterpieces

• Visit Santa Maria del Popolo and Chigi Chapel
• See fresco of Prophet Isaiah at Sant’Agostino
• View Sibyls fresco at Santa Maria della Pace
• Visit Raphael’s tomb at the Pantheon
• Optional: Tour Villa Farnesina and see Triumph of Galatea

The experience

The tour moves through Rome's center on foot, stopping at four churches that hold Raphael's work across different scales and moments of his career. At Santa Maria del Popolo, the Chigi Chapel shows his architectural hand in marble details and a luminous mosaic dome. Sant'Agostino holds his fresco of the Prophet Isaiah: a smaller work but one that reveals his precision with the human body, especially in the bent knee and the play of volume and movement. Santa Maria della Pace, tucked near Piazza Navona, displays his Sibyls in the Chigi Chapel, mythical figures painted with color and grace that merged classical forms with spiritual themes in ways that felt new to Renaissance viewers.

The Pantheon closes the core tour. You stand beneath its open oculus (the same opening that has let light and rain into the building for nearly two thousand years), and your guide reflects on what it meant for Raphael to be buried here, among the most sacred spaces in Rome. If you choose the extended option, a 30-minute journey takes you to Villa Farnesina in Trastevere, where his Triumph of Galatea fills a wall with mythological figures swirling in color and motion. The villa's other rooms hold frescoes by his contemporaries, a glimpse into the world of Renaissance patronage that surrounded him.

Your guide wears a headset so you hear clearly even in the churches' acoustics, and you'll need comfortable shoes for moderate walking on uneven surfaces and some stairs. The Pantheon tickets are nominative. You'll provide full names when booking and bring a matching passport or ID. Flash photography isn't permitted in the basilicas, and Sant'Agostino doesn't allow photography at all. The tour runs in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and other languages, and you can bring your own headphones to reduce plastic waste.

What’s included

• Headsets to hear the guide clearly.
• expert live guide in your chosen language.
• entrance fees and live guide at the Pantheon.
• entrance fees and live guide at Villa Farnesina if you select that option during purchase.

Options for this experience

12 options

Regular Italian Tour09:00Private 1.5-hour guided tour of the Raphael churches with an Italian-speaking guide. Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes. Select this option to book.

Regular English Tour09:00Private guided tour of the Raphael churches lasting 1.5 hours, with an English-speaking guide. Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes. Select this option to book.

Regular French Tour09:00Private guided tour of the Raphael churches lasting 1.5 hours, with a French-speaking guide. Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes. Select this option to book.

See 9 more options

Regular Spanish Tour09:00Private 1.5-hour guided tour of the Raphael churches with a Spanish-speaking guide. Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes. Select this option to book.

Regular Portuguese Tour09:00Private guided tour of the Raphael churches lasting 1.5 hours, with a Portuguese-speaking guide. Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes. Select this option to book.

Regular German Tour09:00Private guided tour of the Raphael churches lasting 1.5 hours, with a German-speaking guide. Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes. Select this option to book.

Extended English Tour09:00Private 3-hour tour covering the Raphael churches and Villa Farnesina, led by an Italian-speaking guide. Duration: 3 hours. Select this to book.

Extended Spanish Tour09:00Private 3-hour tour of the Raphael churches and Villa Farnesina with a Spanish-speaking guide. Duration: 3 hours. Select this to book.

Extended Portuguese Tour09:00Private 3-hour tour of the Raphael churches and Villa Farnesina with a Portuguese-speaking guide. Duration: 3 hours. Select this to book.

Extended German Tour09:00Private 3-hour tour of the Raphael churches and Villa Farnesina with a German-speaking guide. Duration: 3 hours. Select this to book.

Extended Italian Tour09:00Private 3-hour tour covering the Raphael churches and Villa Farnesina, led by an Italian-speaking guide. Duration: 3 hours. Select this to book.

Extended French Tour09:00Private 3-hour tour of the Raphael churches and Villa Farnesina with a French-speaking guide. Duration: 3 hours. Select this to book.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to FridayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (7 to 17 years) · Infant (under 7): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by TOURIKS

Is this one for you?Choose the extended option if you want to see the Triumph of Galatea and explore the villa's frescoes by Raphael's contemporaries. The core 1.5-hour tour covers the four churches and the Pantheon alone. The tour requires moderate walking on uneven ground and stairs, so wear shoes built for that and bring a valid ID matching your booking name for Pantheon entry.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 17 years); Infant (under 7): free.

What exactly is the Chigi Chapel at Santa Maria del Popolo, and what did Raphael design there?

The Chigi Chapel is a Renaissance chapel inside Santa Maria del Popolo where Raphael designed the architectural space itself. The chapel features marble details and a luminous mosaic dome, both bearing his distinctive touch, creating a masterpiece of harmony and classical elegance.

Where is Raphael's tomb, and why is that location significant?

Raphael's tomb rests beneath the Pantheon's vast ancient dome in Rome. The Pantheon is one of Rome's greatest architectural marvels and one of the most sacred and enduring spaces in the city, making it an extraordinary honor for the artist to be buried there.

What is the Triumph of Galatea, and where can I see it?

The Triumph of Galatea is Raphael's mythological masterpiece at Villa Farnesina in Trastevere, where mythological figures swirl in a sea of color and motion. It's included only if you choose the extended tour option that adds a 1-hour visit to the villa.

How much walking is involved, and what surfaces will I be on?

The tour involves a moderate amount of walking on uneven surfaces with some steps and stairs to climb. Comfortable shoes are essential, and a moderate level of fitness is recommended to join the tour.

What do I need to bring or know before arriving?

Bring a valid passport or ID that matches the name you provide when booking, since Pantheon tickets are nominative. You'll need to provide full names for all travelers at reservation. Phones should be on silence inside the basilicas, and flash photography is not permitted. Photography is not allowed at Sant'Agostino.