When in Rome can I wear shorts or do I have to wear long skirt/trousers when visiting the churches?

No shorts, no sleeveless dresses or shirts/blouses, no bare midriffs. <BR> <BR>twenj <BR> <BR>

It's funny, I couldn't care less what people wear in churches (well, okay, some clothing would be nice) but you humans make up all kinds of rules about this. Why? What does it matter to you if someone wants to visit the inside of a church wearing shorts?

Nice try, Rex, but we'd recognize your handwriting anywhere. <BR> <BR>Good voice effects, though, coming from behind the clouds.

I'm sorry God---I keep telling people that I am you, then I tell them stupid inane stuff(no shorts in church, only Christians get into Heaven). They believe me every time.

Last week I drove by a church in Connecticut where the exiting parishioners looked like the were on their way to the golf course. <BR> <BR>If you want to visit the historic churches and museums of Rome (and the rest of Italy), dress respectfully. The Vatican extends the dress code to the Museum, so if you don't want to be turned away after waiting in a long line, do not go sleeveless, bare-midriff, short pants or short skirt. Shorts are cool if you're just hiking through ruins or posing for pics in front of fountains. Dress the part if you want to enjoy a decent restaurant or bar. Paris and Rome are not Key West.

Keep in mind, though, that the respect you're showing has absolutely nothing to do with respect for me. It's for the people who make up these rules. <BR> <BR>Personally, I find it outrageous that someone would be forbidden to enter a church because their knees are showing. How ridiculous. But I can't interfere. All I can do is watch and laugh.

Just got back from 2 weeks in Italy. The Vatican was the only place to visibly enforce the dress code. In all other churches (Rome, Florence, Venice) I wore shorts, but saw no sleeveless shirts or bare midriffs. Looked like everyone tried to respect the rules.

We returned yesterday from a week in Italy. I saw lots of people walking aorund the vatican museum wearing shorts. At the door to the cathedral, they had to wrap a scarf around their waist. All bare shoulders had to be covered, but there were disposable shawls (made out of paper) to put over your shoulders.

Bare shoulders? Oh my me! That's terrible. You might incite a riot or something.

Definitely follow advice from here, and be prepared. <BR>But, when we went to the Vatican, there were men and women in the sistine Chaplel, wearing sport type shorts, and lots of tank tops in evidence also! <BR>But, at the Abbezzia at Montecassino the dress code was being VERY strictly enforced. <BR>

Remember it is someone elses church. So they can tell you how to dress and/or act if you wish to enter. We have done it all. In some places of worship my wife had to cover her head, others I had to cover my head and in others we had to remove our shoes. You just respect their wishes.

When in Rome... <BR> <BR>You said it! One should be respectfull of someones rules. <BR> <BR>When in Rome...