Should we visit St. Peter's very early then see the museums?
Feb 27th, 2011, 02:02 PM
#1
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Should we visit St. Peter's very early then see the museums?
Someone mentioned visiting St. Peter's around 7:00 am when it was quiet, this seems like an interesting idea.
Apparently they have stopped letting non-tour people through the door in the Sistine Chapel that makes a short cut to the basilica, so now I am thinking it might be nice to see the church first thing, make the long walk around the walls and have a 9:00 or so reservation for the museums.
Does this seem like a good idea? Are there cafes along the road around to the museum entrance? We are staying near the Colosseum, so I think we will take the Metro to the Vatican. Planning our visit for a Monday.
On another subject, is it easy to just stroll into the Borghese gardens and wander about?
Apparently they have stopped letting non-tour people through the door in the Sistine Chapel that makes a short cut to the basilica, so now I am thinking it might be nice to see the church first thing, make the long walk around the walls and have a 9:00 or so reservation for the museums.
Does this seem like a good idea? Are there cafes along the road around to the museum entrance? We are staying near the Colosseum, so I think we will take the Metro to the Vatican. Planning our visit for a Monday.
On another subject, is it easy to just stroll into the Borghese gardens and wander about?
Feb 27th, 2011, 02:09 PM
#2
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There are cafes along the road, but choose carefully.
I'm not sure a 9 am admission, particularly on a Monday, is the best idea: it's when an awful lot of big-bus tour groups go.
Yes, you can just walk into the Villa Borghese park.
I'm not sure a 9 am admission, particularly on a Monday, is the best idea: it's when an awful lot of big-bus tour groups go.
Yes, you can just walk into the Villa Borghese park.
Feb 27th, 2011, 02:43 PM
#6
I can't see any reason against your plan, if you can get up early enough. HV Morton in his book "A traveller in Rome" talks about how visiting priests have the honour of saying a mass in St. Peter's from early morning to late evening, so there will be services happening somewhere in the Basilica while you are there, to add to the atmosphere. or you could attend the service should you be so inclined.
about an hour should do it, which will give you loads of time to walk round the walls to the museum entrance. There are cafes along the way, but we were foolish enough to have breakfast at one along the via della consollazione when we were on our way to St Peter's for the Scavi tour, and what had cost us €3 each in our local cafe cost twice that.
about an hour should do it, which will give you loads of time to walk round the walls to the museum entrance. There are cafes along the way, but we were foolish enough to have breakfast at one along the via della consollazione when we were on our way to St Peter's for the Scavi tour, and what had cost us €3 each in our local cafe cost twice that.
Feb 27th, 2011, 04:27 PM
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Thanks for the quick replies.
I've been spending a quiet Sunday doing lots of reading, so now I have idea #2:
Book a Scavi Tour for around 9, we go thru security before this then can wander around St. Peter's, right?
I read that the cafeteria has decent food, is this at the museums? Depending on hunger, we could go around the walls to the museum, eat something, then have a timed entry around 11 or 12?
Please advise about the timing, I read that the Scavi Tour takes about 45 mins., I suppose we could wander about the Basilica for 30-45 mins. (we aren't Catholic or even Christian), then it's a 45 min. walk around to the Museum entrance?
I've been spending a quiet Sunday doing lots of reading, so now I have idea #2:
Book a Scavi Tour for around 9, we go thru security before this then can wander around St. Peter's, right?
I read that the cafeteria has decent food, is this at the museums? Depending on hunger, we could go around the walls to the museum, eat something, then have a timed entry around 11 or 12?
Please advise about the timing, I read that the Scavi Tour takes about 45 mins., I suppose we could wander about the Basilica for 30-45 mins. (we aren't Catholic or even Christian), then it's a 45 min. walk around to the Museum entrance?
Feb 27th, 2011, 04:48 PM
#8
You don't get to pick a Scavi tour time. You e-mail them with the days you are available and they will tell you when you can come if there are any openings (many people get rejected). They only run a handful of tours per day with about 12 people in a group so spots are really limited. Also, children under 15 aren't allowed.
Feb 28th, 2011, 08:31 AM
#9
hi gigib,
you don't actually have to go through security to get to the scavi tour office. if you have looked round st. Peter's first you will have to go through security first, though at that time in the morning, there won't be much of a queue. then with the Basilica entrance behind you, the scavi office is round the side of the building to your right. [you will see the swiss guard guarding a barrier to your left at the bottom of some steps - that's the barrier you have to go through if you are going straight to the office].
it's only about a 15 minute walk around the vatican walls to the entrance to the museum, but it can take much, much longer dependant on the length of the queue. if you book an official vatican tour, you don't need to queue - just go straight to the entrance at about 5 mins before the time stated, when there is yet another security check.
The scavi tour takes about an hour, plus the time you need to sign in - say 1 1/4 altogether. as kyb says, you e-mail the vatican with the day/s that you are available [I seem to remember giving a choice of two times that would suit us best eg Monday morning or tuesday afternoon,] specify that you want a tour in English, and how many people, then they e-mail you back with what they can offer. you then need to confirm with names, ages, [ie, over 15] and some other details I can't remember. you cannot guarantee that they will offer you an early morning tour, though you could of course ask for one.
it would be a lot to do to do the scavi tour, see St. Peter's then do a tour of the Vatican all in one day. you might wish by the end of it that you had been less ambitious.
you don't actually have to go through security to get to the scavi tour office. if you have looked round st. Peter's first you will have to go through security first, though at that time in the morning, there won't be much of a queue. then with the Basilica entrance behind you, the scavi office is round the side of the building to your right. [you will see the swiss guard guarding a barrier to your left at the bottom of some steps - that's the barrier you have to go through if you are going straight to the office].
it's only about a 15 minute walk around the vatican walls to the entrance to the museum, but it can take much, much longer dependant on the length of the queue. if you book an official vatican tour, you don't need to queue - just go straight to the entrance at about 5 mins before the time stated, when there is yet another security check.
The scavi tour takes about an hour, plus the time you need to sign in - say 1 1/4 altogether. as kyb says, you e-mail the vatican with the day/s that you are available [I seem to remember giving a choice of two times that would suit us best eg Monday morning or tuesday afternoon,] specify that you want a tour in English, and how many people, then they e-mail you back with what they can offer. you then need to confirm with names, ages, [ie, over 15] and some other details I can't remember. you cannot guarantee that they will offer you an early morning tour, though you could of course ask for one.
it would be a lot to do to do the scavi tour, see St. Peter's then do a tour of the Vatican all in one day. you might wish by the end of it that you had been less ambitious.
Feb 28th, 2011, 12:14 PM
#10
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Thanks, I sent an email to the Scavi address today, I'll see what time they offer us.
I wasn't planning on a Vatican tour, just the Scavi, a look around St. Peter's and the museums. My husband and I are the sort of people that like to motor through museums rather quickly...
I wasn't planning on a Vatican tour, just the Scavi, a look around St. Peter's and the museums. My husband and I are the sort of people that like to motor through museums rather quickly...
Feb 28th, 2011, 01:25 PM
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Last time we were in Italy/Rome 2009, the Pope held mass every Wednesday around 0900...I think that is still the norm?
Although crowded, not too bad, then schedule the museums later in the day. Plenty of cafes, restaurants around Vatican Ciy.
Mike
Although crowded, not too bad, then schedule the museums later in the day. Plenty of cafes, restaurants around Vatican Ciy.
Mike
Mar 1st, 2011, 07:04 AM
#12
gigib, the only bit of the vatican you can see IS the museum. [apart from the garden which can be toured in the summer, i believe]. that's what people are talking about when they mention doing a tour of the vatican. Sorry if I/we didn't make that clear.
the museum is huge - it took us about 5 hours, just following the signs to the sistine chapel, though that did include a snack in the cafe which is nice and good value. [there's a restaurant and a pizzeria too]. there are tours which offer 2,3,4 hours which miss a lot out. the last part of the museum is the sistine chapel- and apart from very expensive private tours, you can't get to it without going through the museum first.
if you don't go much on museums, i would give the vatican museums a miss. after all, Rome is one huge living museum in a way, and you can probably see enough "old stuff" and art just by stepping into a few churches.
good luck with booking your scavi tour. as I said above, you don't need to go through security to get to the scavi office. just present your tour confirmation to the swiss guards at the barrier on the left of the Basilica, [just across from the vatican post office] go to the office and check in, then at the end of the tour, you can just slip into St. Peter's. if you walk across the front of the Basilica to the right hand side, you will find the ticket office for entry to the Dome, which is well worth a visit; the area at the top of the lift is fascinating by itself.
the museum is huge - it took us about 5 hours, just following the signs to the sistine chapel, though that did include a snack in the cafe which is nice and good value. [there's a restaurant and a pizzeria too]. there are tours which offer 2,3,4 hours which miss a lot out. the last part of the museum is the sistine chapel- and apart from very expensive private tours, you can't get to it without going through the museum first.
if you don't go much on museums, i would give the vatican museums a miss. after all, Rome is one huge living museum in a way, and you can probably see enough "old stuff" and art just by stepping into a few churches.
good luck with booking your scavi tour. as I said above, you don't need to go through security to get to the scavi office. just present your tour confirmation to the swiss guards at the barrier on the left of the Basilica, [just across from the vatican post office] go to the office and check in, then at the end of the tour, you can just slip into St. Peter's. if you walk across the front of the Basilica to the right hand side, you will find the ticket office for entry to the Dome, which is well worth a visit; the area at the top of the lift is fascinating by itself.
Mar 2nd, 2011, 12:07 PM
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Well, they gave me a 9:00 a.m. Scavi reservation, I am pleased. We will have plenty of time to see the basilica and climb the dome.
I have still one more question about the cafeteria in the Museum, can one go there BEFORE your timed museum entrance, sit there and eat before entering the galleries, or do you have your timed entrance, THEN go eat?
I don't think I want to give these museums a miss, HAVE to see the Sistine Chapel, but I certainly could see us not lingering too long.
I have still one more question about the cafeteria in the Museum, can one go there BEFORE your timed museum entrance, sit there and eat before entering the galleries, or do you have your timed entrance, THEN go eat?
I don't think I want to give these museums a miss, HAVE to see the Sistine Chapel, but I certainly could see us not lingering too long.
Mar 2nd, 2011, 01:40 PM
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The cafeteria is *within* the Museums; you have to use your timed entry to get there.
I'd be interested to know your reason for taking the Scavi tour. St. Peter's tomb is presumably of little interest to you; are you interested in ancient Roman burial customs? Or is it just the cachet of doing something relatively few people get to do?
I'd be interested to know your reason for taking the Scavi tour. St. Peter's tomb is presumably of little interest to you; are you interested in ancient Roman burial customs? Or is it just the cachet of doing something relatively few people get to do?
Mar 2nd, 2011, 01:58 PM
#15
Why wouldn't they be interested in seeing below St. Peter's, Zerlina?
it's not just about St. Peter's tomb [if that's what it is] but an opportunity to explore the nether regions of this historic building. we were fascinated, and even this died in the wool atheist was moved to tears as we stood below the main altar as mass began.
and why does the OP have to justify her interest to you?
it's not just about St. Peter's tomb [if that's what it is] but an opportunity to explore the nether regions of this historic building. we were fascinated, and even this died in the wool atheist was moved to tears as we stood below the main altar as mass began.
and why does the OP have to justify her interest to you?
