Early entrance to the Vatican was worth getting up before dawn. There were quite a few tour groups doing early entrance, so I was worried it wouldn’t be as “crowd free” as we were hoping. I don’t know about the other tours, but guide took us directly to the Sistine Chapel first which was a great strategy. The long art filled corridors that lead to the chapel were virtually deserted (definitely NOT the case 1 1/2 hrs. later!) and we were able to admire the stunning floors, ceilings, tapestries, paintings, and statues in peace. Our lovely guide Pina was so informative and enthusiastic- you could tell she loved her job. Having a small group (just 4 in ours) was a bonus. Pina did a great job getting us up close to the major highlights, even once the crowds were present. Don’t even consider seeing the Vatican without a guide- you need one to put everything in context. LivItaly’s guides are great, you won’t go wrong booking with them.