Museums (leave everything at the hotel?)
 

This will be my first time to see these museums and
I read here not too long ago someone had their expensive sunglasses stolen from their bag they had to check at the entrance of a museum.

Should I just leave everything- camera, cellphone, sunglasses, etc in my hotel so I don't need to check a bag/purse...

Vatican

Uffizi

Borghese Gallery

I was thinking I should pack some binoculars to see the Sistine ceiling but I guess they aren't allowed?

I'd like to know this too!

Only place you need to check stuff is Borghese. The only two you can bring as much inside as you can carry.

Borghese is a small place with limitations of visitors. Never heard of stolen stuff there.

In October 2005, a poster named Dayle reported this incident at the Borghese Gallery:

"Unfortunately, my very expensive Oakley cycling glasses were stolen out of my bag at the bag check. Be aware!"

It must have had an impact on me, because I remember this post.

Use a tiny pouch style pocketbook, just big enough to fit sunglasses and a few personal items. Isn't it just large bags and backpacks that need to be checked?

We returned last week from a 3 week trip to Northern Italy. This is the first trip to Italy where I decided to carry my regular bag. Actually, I always use an Ameribag back-saver bag, and it worked out well. I just kept the bag in front and covered it with my arm when I was in an area that could be problematic, such as crowded city streets, etc.

In many museums, they did ask me to check the bag, and I was nervous a few times. I removed my wallet and my husband carried it in his pocket, but I did leave my camera and sunglasses. Sometimes, they used a locker, but usually it was just put on a numbered shelf. I did not have any problems, but I was concerned. You might just be careful what you put in your bag in the morning. My husband uses a front pack and no one asked him to check it. Since he carries the cellphone, his PDA, and his camera in it, we probably would have left the museum if they required him to check it.

Certainly, you can leave your stuff back at the hotel, but then, you wouldn't have your sunglasses, your camera, etc. It's a tough decision. I decided to just trust the people and, as I said, I didn't have any trouble.

Have a great trip,

Margret

Hi Enpleinair,

Yes my glasses were stolen out of my checked bag at the Borghese. However, the Borghese was the only museum I've visited where you have to check everything.

At the Vatican museums, St. Peter's, The Archeological museum in Naples, all the Venice museums, the Ufizi (SP?), they do let you take in a handbag. Large backpacks are questionable.

Buon viaggio!

I remember the post about the sunglasses, too, but we checked our bags at the Borghese with no problems. Of course, my sunglasses were $10 ones from Target.

They REFUSED to check our bags at the Uffizi...they would only take large bags, which really meant large, stuffed, full-sized backpacks. My messenger back was large, and we stuffed jackets, etc. in it, and they still refused to check it.

Other places with mandatory bag checks were the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Doges Palace in Venice.

Missypie,

This is the first time I've heard about checking your bags (all types?)at the Doges Museum. Was the handbag checking for the Secret Itineraries Tour?

Yes it was. We were required to check our bags for the SI tour; others not on the tour were not. However, it is pretty pleasant to walk around with no heavy bags. After our SI tour, I went back to get my guide book out of my bag (for touring the rest of the palace) and re-checked the bag.

I was asked to check my bags at the Acadamia and Ca Rez in Venice, and I wasn't carrying a large back-pack. Perhaps the muesums are becoming more vigilant.
-Margret

You also have to think about what you'll be doing the rest of the day. Do you REALLY want to have to go back to your hotel to get your stuff after your two hours in the Borghese?

This May, I did not have to check my medium-sized purse at the Uffizi or the Accademia in Florence, or the Vatican Museums.

what about a CAMERA? Can I carry it in the Borghese Gallery?
It's going to be in my bag, and I don't want to leave it if I have to check my bag in!

At the Borghese, you have to check every bag, no matter how small. I did not have to check my rather large purse at the Vatican in Rome, Accademia in Florence or Ca Rez in Venice (or anywhere else for that matter).

thanks to everyone concerning my questions! (my sunglasses are designer & prescription...kinda costly to get ripped off (I don't know if they could see out of them tho ha)I'd rather not have to replace them If you KWIM.

I'll just stash some $ in my zip pocket for the Borghese & leave the specs in my room. We are staying close by at the Excelsior- so not a problem at all.
Thanks again!