What's the shortcut to see the Sistine Chapel?
Mar 24th, 2001, 05:49 PM
#3
Guest
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Absent bishops, archbishops and cardinals for relatives, the distance from the entrance to the Sistine is the same for all.
The secret is to:
1) Get in line early. 45-60 minutes before opening time seems to do it;
2) Ignore all the wonderfull eye candy on the way to the Sistine thus bypassing the few dozen who were in front of you on line.
With a bit of luck that will put you among the first dozen or so into the chapel, and well in front of the hundreds who will fill it in a relatively few minutes.
The downside? To see the rest of the museums you'll have to swim upstream. Think salmon!
The secret is to:
1) Get in line early. 45-60 minutes before opening time seems to do it;
2) Ignore all the wonderfull eye candy on the way to the Sistine thus bypassing the few dozen who were in front of you on line.
With a bit of luck that will put you among the first dozen or so into the chapel, and well in front of the hundreds who will fill it in a relatively few minutes.
The downside? To see the rest of the museums you'll have to swim upstream. Think salmon!
Mar 24th, 2001, 06:57 PM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
We made a mad dash to the Sistine Chapel soon after opening time and did manage to get there well before the huge crowds. However, the guards would not let us swim upstream to go back to see all we had missed. Carefully watch a map to know where you are in the museum, though, as it is possible to go back to the beginning BEFORE exiting and do the rest of the museum at leisure. You will still get caught in the body press near the Sistine on your second trip through, but being there without the masses initially was worth the slow shuffle later. PJK
Mar 26th, 2001, 03:42 AM
#7
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Getting in the "back way" you have to know someone. But leaving we had no problem, and this cuts of the long walk back from the chapel and to St. Peters if you are on a tight schedule.
To leave the back way don't follow the crowds to the exit on the left side. Hang over on the right side and wait for a tour group to leave then tag along behind them. You walk down a long stairway and it will let you out right at the basillicia. We saw lots of clergy entering the Sistine this way. So if you have connections this would be the way to go in to avoid the crowds.
To leave the back way don't follow the crowds to the exit on the left side. Hang over on the right side and wait for a tour group to leave then tag along behind them. You walk down a long stairway and it will let you out right at the basillicia. We saw lots of clergy entering the Sistine this way. So if you have connections this would be the way to go in to avoid the crowds.
