How strike is the dress code in vatican city?
 

How strike is the dress code in Vatican city and other churches in Rome?

Such as these sites:
Pantheon
Basilica
Vatican museums
St. Peter in Chains church
Santa Maria Maggiore
Capitoline museums

My shoulders and arms will be completely covered by my cardigans.. but some of my dress hit right at the knee or 1/2 inch higher than my knee.. by no means is it a mini skirt.. but I was wondering if I were to wear these dresses.. would I really be denied access and kicked out?

I was viewing some photos online of people going into the vatican and there are a few young women who are wear such items?

Has anyone ever seen or experienced a person kicked out for wearing above knee skirts or dresses?

thanks again fodorites you guys are great!

I meant to say STRICT.. omg with all these strikes.. I'm so used to saying it.. sorry

I haven't seen anyone guarding the door for proper attire at any churches in Rome so your knee-length skirts will be fine. Covering your shoulders and knees is out of respect, it's not a law so it's your decision about what to wear.

I don't know if it is so strict (or strike) at the Vatican. Can you wear capris the day you go to the Vatican museums and St Peters? I wouldn't take the chance in case you get someone cranky at the door.

Some people have reported seeing the Vatican dress code imposed in an arbitrary fashion. E.g. young, cute women get to wear shorter skirts than middle-aged ones, even when they immediately follow each other. I think you have to count on the strictest person being on duty, so why chance it?

Vatican - both St Peter's basilica and the museums - will be strict. While you may get away with a slightly shorter dress/skirt, why take a chance? Get a longer dress or wear trousers/slacks/jeans for the visit. Other places you mention don't have anyone at the door to impose dress code, or only sporadically (esp St Mary Major). You can wear what you like for the Capitoline Museums!

You will be fine everywhere except the Vatican/St Peters. I visited with a friend dressed just as you describe (skirt just barely exposing the kneecap, completely respectable) and she was turned away by the guards. I wouldn't chance it - wear trousers or a longer skirt that day.

The Capitoline museums aren't a church - you can bear your shoulders with pride there.

Son was kept from going into the Vatican wearing shorts. A vendor across the street was selling paper pants.

The Vatican dress code applies to men also!

Covering your knees or shoulders isn't out of respect, it's because you have to in Rome. They don't even have such dress codes in Catholic churches in other countries. So that means all those catholics, including the priests, don't have any respect. I was at a mass in Paris where one of the major participants (in some special singing group up in the sanctuary) had on a knit dress where the top was basically a camisole or tank-type top and it was also above her knees. Didn't seem to bother anyone there.

cali - my DH was thrown out of the church at the top of the capitoline [santa maria in aoracoli?] because his knees were visible under his most respectable shorts, and in Florence, he was made to wear a sarong].

if you wish to avoid such ignominy, [and the jeers of your family, who still refer to his offensive knees] i suggest that you err on the side of caution and wear trousers [or capris].

personally, if I'd spent over an hour in the queue for the vatican museums, or booked an paid on-line, and then I couldn't got in cos I'd ignored advice about what to wear, I'd be a bit cross!

The dress code is for religious places in Italy, not just in Rome. We were not allowed into the Abbey at Montecassino (far away from Rome) because we (both husband and myself) were wearing shorts. Just didn't think about the Abbey being the same thing as a church.

Having said that, I would say that my stepdaughters dress was at knee length, not completely below. It does seem like St. Peter's (and the Vatican) are the most strict so I'd try for something longer on at least that day.

I tried to get into St. Peter's wearing a Sienese flag around my waist and covering my shorts. I was told, very politely "Trousers! No shorts!" I had just been through the Vatican museum in my shorts, but St. Peters was another story.

I was also turned away - my skirt was not long enough; had to buy a long skirt - it was worth it!

<< Covering your knees or shoulders isn't out of respect, it's because you have to in Rome >>

Covering your knees and shoulders is respecting the rules of an institution. Are you saying it's the law that you have to cover your knees and shoulders in churches in Italy?

Wrapping a flag around your waist? It's not a carnival, it's a Catholic church. I am always amazed at the sights I see in St. Peter's. Last time it was the Japanese tour group posing in the confessionals and taking pictures of each other.
There are lots of us who would never wear a flag in anyone's place of worship or turn it into an amusement park.
How hard is it to dress appropriately?

Yes, a flag - actually a large scarf - we didn't behave, nor would we ever behave as if it were a carnival. As a christian I believe that "church" refers to people, not buildings. Nevertheless, I changed into trousers and behaved very nicely, thank you. We were quiet and respectful of beliefs that were not our own. It was very hot that day and we had been told that covering our knees was OK and so we tried. I agree that posing in confessionals would be disrespectful - but my flag/scarf attempt cannot be compared to an amusement park atmosphere. Sorry, Lynnaustin, your posts are always so helpful, friendly and sometimes funny - but this felt like a scolding.

I have seen mature adults in shorts or quite short skirts turned away from the Vatican as well as a couple of young girls in sundresses (way too bare - legs, arms and bosom). They all seemed astonished.

May I ask specifically for Santa Maria Maggiore? I am thinking of going on that date after seeing the ancient ruins and I was wondering if I have to go back to my hotel and change?

Here's the story as has already been explained to you:

The entire adult population of the world must cover their knees and shoulders in Italian churches.

You can do whatever you want to do. I've never seen a gate keeper at Santa Maria Maggiore or any other Roman church.

They are quite strict about the dress code at the Basilica di San Marco in Venice, but none of the other churches I visited there had officials at the entrance. Senorarroz obviously had no trouble at the Vatican Museum because it's a museum, not a church.