I'm hearing that the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums should be open during the time between the Pope's funeral and the conclave. Is anyone else hearing similar reports?

A fodorite favorite tour organization, Context Rome, is quoting a Vatican official as saying that tourism sites in the Vatican are likely to be closed continuously for several weeks.

http://www.contextrome.com/static/po...9800c31f935c26

I think this is a time when people travelling to Rome will really have to go with the flow. I wouldn't expect it to be open for awhile,but you never know. I wouldn't have expected them to keep San Pietro open 21 hours a day,but they are.I also read the CR info, and recommend keeping in touch with them.

As the conclave takes place IN the Sistine Chapel, it would not be open. I don't have any info on the rest of the Vatican Museums, but as the general flow is into the entry and out via the Sistine Chapel, it may not be possible from a security standpoint to keep other areas of the Museums open. Try the website for the Vatican at mv.vatican.va.

I do believe it will remain closed until after the conclave has concluded. (Say that 3 times fast!)

BC