Seeing the pope in rome on a wednesday
 

Hello! This is the first time I will be seeing the pope on a wednesday at the vatican. Last time I had the opportunity to see him at his summer home since it was during August.

My question is this -

I've contacted Sant'Sussana (mentioned here on the boards) to reserve tickets for a Wednesday papal audience in September. Ideally we would like to do the whole Pope/Vatican visit that Wednesday. However, when I visited the Vatican web site at
http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/z-In...zi_Visite.html it mentions that the gardens and sistene chapel are CLOSED ON WEDNESDAYS.

Can anyone please confirm and provide suggestions? Since we are only in Rome for three days, I'm hoping I don't have to go back twice to the Vatican on 2 separate days.

Many thanks in advance!

I would assume that the Vatican web site knows what is open and closed on Wednesdays.

In May we went to one of the Pope's Wednesday appearances without tickets. We had a good view of him as he was driven around the square.

Other tourists told us they went to the Vatican Museum during the Pope's appearance, and the crowds were very small there.

The Sistine Chapel is *not* closed on Wednesdays. The tour of the Vatican Gardens and the Sistine Chapel is not offered on Wednesdays. Those are two different things.

I was in Rome this past May and reserved a ticket through Santa Sussana. However, no one ever asked to see my ticket when I got to St. Peter's. I was able to sit fairly close, but it was very hot. If you are going during the summer, bring lots of water and a hat or parasol.

Actually your link doesn't say that at all. It just lists tours for the gardens are 3 days per week(T,Th,Sat.). Museum tours which include the Sistine Chapel are Monday-Saturday.

Here are the operating hours:
http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/z-In...#calendariobis

My family just returned from Rome and attended the Wednesday audience with Pope Benedict and the Sunday blessing. We obtained tickets from the Swiss Guard located up the stairs to the right of St. Peter's Tuesday morning, but the tickets weren't needed. Wednesday morning,we took bus 64 to the left of the square, and walked in and were fairly close. While we didn't have chairs, we saw Pope Benedict face to face when he rode around the square.
The Vatican is a beautiful place to visit. We went several times during our 5 days there. To avoid the line for the Vatican Museum (Sistene Chapel, etc.) we went in the afternoon around 2:00pm and walked right in. There is so much to see and do........maybe this trip will introduce you to other things you may like to do next time!
Hope this helps, Karen

bookmarking

Can anyone tell me what time the Pope appears--and what time people start to arrive? Thanks--K.

Are you asking about the General Audience with the Pope in the square on a Wednesday morning or a separate appearance inside the Vatican. I do not understand it all to be certain on what to tell you - we only walked into the square after passing through security to see the Pope in the General Audience. You did not need a ticket. Below is a website with information.

http://goeurope.about.com/gi/dynamic...n/tickets.html