the turnip

Sadly we have only one day to spend at the Vatican and it's a Monday. I did a search here on the Forum and found what seems to be rather conflicting advice. <BR> <BR>We want to spend our time as wisely as possible, the less time in lines the better. <BR>What was your experience when visiting? <BR> <BR>Specificly; best order to see the sights, true "must see's", things you found over-rated, and any general hints. <BR> <BR>Many thanks in advance for your suggestions, <BR>the turnip

Jane

We recently went to the Vatican and saw: <BR>1. St. Peters: walk around, stare at the ceiling, admire the hugeness of it all; <BR>2. Don't miss the Pieta, behind the bullet proof glass; <BR>3. If you are not claustrophobic DO go up to the cuppola: the first level takes you inside the dome and you look down on the beautiful marble inlay floor, but don't stop there continue up and see the City of Rome from the top of the dome...it's a great memory. <BR>4. We slept in the day we planned to go to the Vatican Museum and didn't get there until about 1:30 it is a lovely Museum and the Sistine Chapel is fairly easy to find. The cafeteria was almost empty when we went around 3:30 and we remember our snack of pizza and ice tea at a table by a half moon window overlooking the garden as one of our favorite moments in the trip. Other people we'd spoken to who were in Rome at the same time and who had arrived early to see the Museum found huge line ups to get in ( so sometimes going late in the day really helps) <BR>So if you only have one day for the Vatican if you get an early start you should be able to see lots! (I'm sorry I don't know about Mondays--is the Museum closed that day?) <BR>Even if you don't get to see the Museum this trip, make sure you get those Coins in the Fountain of Trevi and you'll be back another time to see anything you missed! <BR>Best Wishes <BR>Jane

Paulo

When exactly are you going, turnip? This may make a difference. Unless things are different this year, from mid June through August the Vatican Museums should close at 1pm ... This means that one would have no choice but queuing up early (8am) and take it from there. Once we did just that and were able to get in around 9:45am. The other time we were late, arriving around 9:30am and the queue was immense ... we managed to enter quickly but the means we used were kind of illegal. Otherwise my estimate is that we wouldn't make it before 11:30am, with not more than 1 1/2 hour to go (which's far from enough). From today till mid June and September through October, closing time (unless things changed for the Jubillee) should be 4pm. The only time I visited in September, I queued up at 12pm and it didn't take 15 minutes to get in. In the morning we were able to visit all of the Basilica and had time for a quick snack before visiting the Musei. Upon exiting, we still had lot's of time to climb the dome. <BR> <BR>I have no idea on how long the queues are this year, though ... probably I wouldn't risk and would be there at 8am even outside the mid June-August period. <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR> <BR>

the turnip

Paulo (and Jane), <BR> <BR>Thanks for such quick replies. Sorry I wasn't specific enough on when I was going. It will just a few weeks from <BR>now, Monday May 8th that we will be there.

Ed

Certainly plenty of time unless you're a real museum enthusiast, in which case you'd need a week to explore the Vatican Museums. <BR> <BR>Start with the Museums. If you get in early you can get to the Sistine Chapel without the oppressive crowds. Get on line by 8am or 8:15 (it opens at 8:45) and go directly to the Sistine. Then spend the rest of the morning (as long as you wish) backtracking and exploring the rest of the Museums. <BR> <BR>Spend the afternoon at St. Peter's. Certainly include a visit to the roof. If you've the energy, walk up the dome to the cupola for a spectacular vista. As well, do visit the grottoes beneath the central part of the church. <BR> <BR>You'll find the information at www.twenj.com/romewalk.htm helpful. <BR> <BR>Rome.Switzerland.Bavaria <BR>www.twenj.com

the turnip

Thanks Ed (and or Julie)! <BR> <BR>Your webpage is SPECTACULAR by the way. You have no idea how many pages of it I have printed out in text form to take with us on our trip. Thanks for having such a excellent resource.

Marilyn Ham

We just got back from there. The museum has longer hours now, although I can't remember what they are specifically. Maybe they have them posted on their site. We did a morning tour of the Scavi--it was wonderful--those are the diggings under St. Peters; then we went to the museum and stayed three hours. Hardly any crowd that way and we saw most of it except for the Raphael Room--which we had seen before. Marilyn

Mary

Hi Turnip--went to the Vatican on Saturday March 26 and Sunday March 27 (ended up doing it over two days because the Pope was in the Square on that Saturday and they do not open the Basilica until the Square is clear--which takes hours and they were unclear when it would open); I don't think this advice conflicts, but here it was we did: <BR> <BR>1. Got to the Vatican Museum entrance (took a cab straight there--the walk from St. Peter's Square is long and boring)at 8:00 (for an 8:45 opening); there were probably 200 people in line in front of us BUT most seemed to be in large groups which congregated together once the museum opened--we went directly to an open ticket booth and then rented the audio/CD tour (HIGHLY recommended) then walked briskly to the Sistine Chapel--there is only one way to go--straight. When we got to the Sistine Chapel there were probably only 25 other people there and it was wonderful. We then doubled back to see the Raphael Rooms--by then the museum was almost impassable there were so many people and, of course, we had to exit via the Sistine Chapel which by now was so full of people (it was probably 1 1/2 hours after they opened by then) that you had go sideways to get out. In hindsight, we would have been content with all of the wonderful art and frescoes we saw elsewhere in Rome and not gone back around. That's your call. <BR> <BR>2. I also highly recommend the cupola if you are okay with heights and not claustrophobic (the hallway gets very narrow at points) but the view is spectacular. <BR> <BR>3. The Basilica is wonderful. <BR> <BR>Hope it is all open when you are there--have a grand time. <BR> <BR>Mary <BR> <BR>P.S. You will have plenty of time unless you really spend a lot of time in the Museum.

howard

Ed and Marilyn's advice were both right on the money. A full day at the Vatican is long enough to gain an appreciation. If you get to the museum by 8 a.m., as advised, you should be okay. And, as Marilyn urged, definitely get the audio tape. After the museum you'll have plenty of time in the afternoon to digest St. Peter's and go up to the cupola. <BR>E

Steve

We were at the Vatican on Sunday, April 9 and Monday, April10: <BR> <BR>On the 9th, there was a mass in the square at 10:00 - John Paul presided. The volunteers in blue smocks were great - they answered our questions (we were not there because of the mass - though we stayed) and the volunteers even found tickets for us to get in the seated area. Nothing was open until much later in the day - due to the mass. <BR> <BR>We were in line at 8:15 on a rainy Monday morning for the Vatican Museum. There were only 20 people in line ahead of us. So...pray for rain. Needless to say, we also went directly to the Sistine Chapel - which was about 1/2 full. <BR> <BR>Follow everyone else's advice about going in, the Pieta, etc. <BR> <BR>Have fun.

Jen

I agree 100% with Mary and Ed - we were told by a friend/priest, who lived in the Vatican for years, to do the same - line up for the museum first and VERY early to see the Sistine Chapel with no one in it - worth the lack of sleep. Then proceed to St. Peter's for late morning and early afternoon and don't miss the grottos, etc. If you are ambitious, get to St. Peter's square early (before heading to the museum entrance) when no one is there...it's wonderful to experience. Enjoy!

jim

Does the sistine chapel close at 1 PM. Does anyone know why it closes so early? We will be there on June 16.

Cindy

Two follow-up questions: <BR> <BR>1. What is this tour underneath St. Peters (Scavi?)? How long does it take, and what does one see? <BR> <BR>2. If one is doing the audio tour, how does one skip around and do things like the Sistine Chapel out of order? Is it a CD or a tape?

jim

I have answered my own question. I did a search on the web and learned the Sistine Chapel is open from 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM, April 1 to October 31, 2000.

howard

Cindy, here's an answer to your questions about the audio tour at the Vatican Museum: <BR>1. It's totally self-guided. Each piece of art has either a specific number for it or has a group number for the period or whatever that it represents. So, when you get to any painting, or sculpture or room, you just punch in the number. That's what makes it so greeat! <BR>2. The audio in on CD.

mary

Are the Vatican museums open daily except Sundays? I found a website that has the hours from 8:45 to 4:45. In one of my books it has closing at 1 on Saturdays. <BR>Does anyone know the exact times? <BR>Thanks very much <BR>Any ideas on restaurants in the Vatican area? How long a walk is it to the Colloseum? <BR>Mary

howard

I believe it's about a two-mile walk from the Vatican to the Colosseum. There are Metro stops at both sites for an easy "commute."