I'm helping friends plan a trip to Italy and Poland in July. I've done a lot of research here on Fodor's, culling a wealth of information. However, I still need your help....


UFFIZI & ACADEMIA RESERVATIONS -

Is this information still correct, seeing how it's 2 1/2 years old?

Author: ira
Date: 09/02/2003, 10:16 am
How do I make reservations for the Accademia and the Uffizi in Florence?

The easiest and cheapest way is to call Florence 011 (U.S. international access code) 39 (Italy's country code) then 055-294-883 8:30-18:30 M-F and 8:30-12:00 Sat. Florence time. You will get an English speaking operator and in 2-3 minutes YOU CAN RESERVE FOR BOTH. This is through the reservation service at the Uffizi and costs beyond the normal entry fee only about 1.60 euro for the service. This is MUCH cheaper than the commercial booking services.


VATICAN & SCAVI -

I've read so many threads on Rome and Florence, sometimes I can't keep the information straight. I think I read somewhere that if you take the Scavi tour first, they let you enter the Vatican museum at a different entrance other than the general one, thus avoiding walking around the building and waiting in line. Can anyone verify this?


THE POPE ON WEDNESDAY -

My friends want to visit the Vatican on Wednesday. I think I read or heard somewhere that the Pope does his weekly blessing on the square on Wednesday. Is this correct, and if so, can anyone give me the time it occurs?


POMPEII TOUR -

They would like to do a day trip from Rome to Naples & Pompeii (there will be five in the group). They will be taking the high speed train to Naples, visiting the Naples Archealogical Museum, then heading on to Pompeii, following Walter's suggestions:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34665492

In Pompeii they will probably want to hire one of the tour guides instead of trying to tour it themselves. Can and should they book the tour guide ahead of time, or just wait and choose one at the gate? I remember reading a thread about the best guide to hire, but of course, now I can't find it. Any recommendations on a good guide to Pompeii?


Thanks for any information you can provide. I just wish I was going on the trip with them, even if it will be during July. Italy in July is better than no Italy at all. Peace, Robyn >-

We made a trip to Poland two years ago and are planning a trip to Rome in the fall. I found you must pre-order tickets for the Wednesday audience with the Pope. We'll be doing this through the Santa Susanna site.
http://www.santasusanna.org/popeVati...peVatican.html

and for Krakow:
http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/...er_krakow.html
is a fantastic guide to print out and take along.

Enjoy your journey!
Colleen

check out Rick Steves books for the various countries. We have used his advice for making museum reservations in the past.

Thank you for the link about the Wednesday Papal Audience. As it turns out, there will be no General Audience on Wednesday, July 12, 19 or 26, and my friends will be there on the 19th. That takes care of the Pope question.

Does anybody have any insight to the other three questions? Peace, Robyn >-

I can help you out on the first two questions. By far the easiest way to get reservations for the Accademia and the Uffizi is to have your hotel arrange them for you. you specify the time frame that you are interested in and they will set it up. You will not pay your hotel, but will pick up the tickets and pay for them prior to your specified time. once your time arrives you get into a separate line that only requires about a ten minute wait and then you will gain entrance to the museum. regarding the Scavi tour. Unsure if my terminology is correct, but the tour will end at the Papal Crypts right by John Paul's Tomb. At this point you exit to the side of the Basilica and can walk right in, thus bypassing several hours wait. Hope this helps.

artstuff,
The number for Uffizi and Academia is correct. From the U.S. 011-39-055-294-883

Hi, artstuff --
You are a kind friend to help out. I just went in December to Rome.

Papal audience: I believe these are offered at his summer residence, but don't know the times or dates. I understand that it is a charming little town and would make a nice daytrip if this is an important part of the trip.

Scavi: The line does, as the other poster said, let you out near John Paul II's tomb. You can also ask to go in the Basilica (St Peter's) if you ask before leaving entirely; otherwise you must go through the checkpoints. Hopefully someone else will post details.

The Scavi and St. Peter's are entirely separate from the Vatican Museums/Sistene Chapel. You must enter the Vatican Museums at the north side of the Vatican City. There is a separate line for the Vatican Museums. The only way to avoid this line is 1) come before opening to wait. 2)Hire an official museum guide for a tour, which must be done ahead of time. To attend the tour, from what I've read I understand you ask the exit guard to go on your tour.

Good luck!

Thank you, everyone, for the valuable information. I'm off to New York City for the day (International Food Festival - 20 blocks of food, food, food) and will check this evening for additional responses. Have a great day! Peace, Robyn >-

artstuff- For those of us who do not stay in hotels, call the number in Florence previously listed, as Ira said. The phone call takes 3 minutes. The operators speak English and she will give you a reservation number. When you go to the Accademia, have the number written down on a piece of paper. There will be a long line of people waiting (1+ block long) and the doorway will be cordoned off with red velvet ropes. Go to the velvet ropes and show your paper to the guy on duty. He does not speak English and he does not want to chat. He will go check somewhere and come back and let you in while everyone in the line gives you an evil eye. Inside, you go to the teller cage and you will buy your tickets. When we went, we were early by one hour and they let us in without any difficulty. I do not know if that would happen in high season. lynclarke

They will not necessarily let you in earlier than your reservation states. When I was there in Sept, there was a short line for reservations, and they were checking tickets and only letting those in whose time had come. The regular line goes to the right of the door, the reservation line goes to the left of the door.

Thank you, thank you, for the additional responses.

Does anyone have any suggestions about Pompeii? Maybe I'll just post a seperate question. Thanks, Robyn >-