Sherry

After flying into Rome, we would like to make our way to the Vatican especially to see the Sistine Chapel. I thought it would be more efficient to make our way from FCO to the Trastevere station, store our luggage for the morning and visit the Sistene Chapel.<BR><BR>But I cannot seem to find information about luggage storage at this station. I do not want to take our luggage with us when we tour. It just seems this is closer to the Vatican area then the Termini. <BR><BR>We plan to take an afternoon train to Florence. But maybe it would be just as easy to go into Termini, store the luggage, go back to Termini and on to Florence.<BR><BR>Any suggestions appreciated.

Helen

Hi Sherry! I would advise you to go for your second option! I am not sure if you can store luggage at Trastevere, but I don't think so - it's not a big station. What I know, is that the Taxi drivers can rip you off from there! So better go to Termini, store your luggage, and take a Taxi to the Vatican - or a bus - or even the Metro! You can easily walk to the Vatican from the Metro stop.<BR><BR>Just keep in mind, that you will need a couple of hours at the vatican - it is difficult to be in and out quickly! Do not when you are going, but if you can book before hand, please do so!<BR><BR>Enjoy Rome!<BR>Regards - Helen Malan

Sherry

Thanks Helen. The morning we arrive, we are planning to really only see the Sistine Chapel. At the end of our trip, we are going to be in Rome for a couple of days. Because we have a tour scheduled the first day we are there, we will not be able to go before it closes (12:45) And the next day we are there is a Sunday and it is only open one Sunday a month. So squeezing it in the morning of our arrival is our only chance on this trip to go at all. <BR>We will just store at the Termini and take the subway.

Sue

From my weak memory, I don't recall that you can just "see" the Sistine Chapel. We took a tour that went you through a lot of the Vatican so it will take an hour or two. The Rick Steves tour book mentioned a quick exit however if you want to skip out after the Sistine Chapel without finishing the tour. We took it and I think the door was labeled "Group Tours".<BR><BR>BTW, I thought the Raphael paintings in the Vatican hallways on the way to the Sistine Chapel were more spectacular. In the chapel, we were crowded in like sardines, it was hot, the guards were yelling for people to stop talking and snapping photos, and my neck hurt from looking up.

Helen

Sue - I remember the aching - neck - feeling as well. We were lucky enough to be there twice during October, so it was not so crowded. We hang around til we could find somewhere to sit, and after that we could really take in the beauty of that ceiling.<BR>Sherry, you will make it as you have planned - be on the lookout for the "escape routes" in order to reach, and leave the Sistine Chapel in the shortest time possible! When you are not part of a group, it is possible .I have sympathy with you who have to do this in a short time, but it is true waht Sue said - the paintings on your way to the Sistine Chapel are unbelievable - so try to take in some of that as well! <BR>Kind regards - Helen

Sherry

Hi Helen. We will actually have most of the morning to see this area. My first priority is the Sistine Chapel. I wasn't really sure if we could see it and any of the Vatican Museum area in about three hours so I was putting the Chapel at the top of the list and the rest if there was time.Thanks to both of you.

Jean Valjean

Hi Sherry:<BR><BR>Just a couple of tips that may help you make the most of your quick tour.<BR><BR>As you walk through the Vatican Museums, on the way to the Sistine Chapel, you'll walk a very long corridor, half of it with tapestries, the other one with maps. At the end of the corridor, you'll come to a little room. You will notice that there's a rope dividing the room in two. If you go to the left (on your side of the rope), you'll go into the Raphael rooms. If you go under the rope and to the right, you'll be very close to the chapel, maybe 20-30 minutes quicker.<BR><BR>The only downside of this is that you will not see the Raphael rooms.<BR><BR>Now, as you walk into the Sistine Chapel, the altar wall with The Last Judgement will be behind you. On the wall on the right, on the other end of the chapel, you'll see a door that says "Tour groups only" (or something like that). Wait for a tour group and leave with them through that door. You'll come to an alley right next to Saint Peter's. This way, you will have maybe an extra hour and a half:<BR><BR>30 minutes from skipping the Raphael rooms.<BR>At least 30 minutes from walking back to the entrance to the museums.<BR>At least 20 minutes from walking from the entrance to the museums to Saint Peter's.<BR><BR>Hope this helps.

Sherry

Thanks Jean. I really am not happy about having to budget my time like this, but since we were locked into certain dates for our travel, I am trying to make the best of the allotted time. Thanks to all of you.