Hello, is anyone taking the private after hours Vatican tour in August? It is with a group called italywithus and I heard it is fantastic.The cost is 175 euro and you get the place to yourself! I am booked for August 28th while i am in Rome. Very excited to not have crowds. If you have taken this tour with this company please let me know. thanks, shelley

What is their web site? I would like to get some more info on their private tours - thanks!

Laura -

http://www.italywithus.biz/

(No personal experience ...)

Hope this helps ...

Steve

€175 per person ?!?!?!

The only place in the Vatican which I've ever found crowded is the Sistine Chapel : it did spoil the experience but I wouldn't pay €175 to see it without the crowds.

And if you arrive at the right time, you don't even have to queue to get in.

It would be quite a feat to have enough people in the basilica for you to feel "crowded."

As to the Sistine if you feel it is worth the extra money then go ahead.

A report of the experience would be very helpful to others I suspect.

Having looked at the websites, it's just the Vatican Museums (incl. Sistine Chapel). Not that you're going to see everything in 2 hours.

Personally I don't see the point of a guide in the Vatican Museums - I prefer to be able to linger over the parts which particularly interest me.

But if you have unlimited money I suppose it would be worth €175 to see the Sistine Chapel without a crowd.

I somewhat disagree with Caroline re the guide in the Vatican Museum which is VAST. Unless you already KNOW what is there I think having a guide is a good idea for a first-time visit.

What's wrong with a guidebook ? I can't imagine a guide wanting to spend exactly the right amount of time for me on each set of exhibits.

topping for hubble