petepat

4 of us have reservations to a September Wednesday morning Papal Audience which begins at 10:30. Does anyone know how long this usually lasts? Any other advice you can give would be helpful. For example should we arrive quite quite a bit early? Is there a good location where we should position ourselves? Other suggestions or comments? thanks.

bookchick

Definitely arrive early, because security is very tight--it's literally like going to the airport to catch a flight. Audience will last 2-3 hours, depending upon if you choose to stay to watch the Pope bless newlweds, etc.

Buon Viaggio,
BC

Grinisa

The audience is usually over between 11:30 and noon. Only a few select groups are invited onstage to be blessed by the Pope and even if you stay to watch that, it's only an extra half hour or so. I've been to several audiences and none have lasted longer than 90 minutes.

rex

I would definitely arrive early. We didnot arrive early enough, and it meant that we were "locked out" as they started putting up the barricades for the quasi-perimeter path, (just behind all the seats) driven by the "Popemobile" as he enters the Piazza. So we were outside that ring looking in; all the others (seated) were inside looking out. Eventually, we were allowed to cross this path, after he was seated, and choose seats if we wanted.

But the visual access when he entered was not as good - - a lot "standees" trying to crowd up against a barricade.

Best wishes,

Rex

petepat

thanks for the advice, we will make a point of getting there early.

pete and patty