Will Have One Day in Vatican City - Requesting Tips to Get The Most Done!

[Mattapoisett64]

My wife and I will be in Rome for 3 days in April - shortly after Easter. We have been going crazy budgeting our time, and have basically set aside one day as “Vatican Day.” It’s a Tuesday, so a papal general audience is out, which I read are Wednesdays. We have secured tickets to the Scavi, which along with the Basilica I see as the highlight of the day.

We would greatly welcome tips and ideas from people who have visited the Vatican as to squeezing the most out of our day, what else not to miss, and what’s unrealistic to even try to do.

One specific question: from my reading, it doesn’t appear that it’s possible to see the Sistine Chapel without being on a fee-based guided tour. Is this correct? Any and all ideas welcomed. Thanks!

 

[LilyElain]

Yay! the Vatican…Rome Sweet Home!

Anywhooo…the Sistine Chapel is at the end of the Vatican Museum…just follow the signs that will lead you to it. At least I was not on a tour when I went, that was a couple years ago though. And the Scavi tour is amazing! Good luck!

 

[1ke]

Go early, first thing in the morning. The lines to go through security to get into St. Peter’s can get long. Once through security, enjoy the Bascilica and inside the Bascilica you can pay a small fee to visit the Treasury. It’s small, but has some cool stuff in it.

Touch St. Peter’s foot on his statue!

Also, go into the tombs below the Vatican (not the Scavi) and see JPII’s tomb.

Be on time for the Scavi tour.

Buy some post cards and mail them from the Vatican post office, which is on the left as you are facing the Bascilica in the square. Tip: Print address labels before you go on label sheets and take it with you. Saves you time on addressing post cards!

If you go up in the towers, you will have a grand view of the Vatican gardens, the square, etc.

The Vatican Museum is entered around the backside of the Vatican. If standing in St. Peter’s square looking at the bascilica there will be a road going off to the right, out of the plaza. Take that road to the large intersection (bus transfer station), then turn left, follow the walls of the Vatican around to the entrance of the museum.

Lines can be long, so skip the line by buying your tickets ahead of time online at the Vatican Museum website.

At that intersection as you are turning left and walking along the Vatican wall, look across the street and you will see Old Bridge gelatoria-- the BEST gelato in Rome. Stop for some gelato!

You do not need to be on a guided tour to see the Chapel, or any part of the museum. The museum is huge, so pick a few things that are important to you to see.

 

[dixieagle]

The previous post covers it all well. I am so glad you have Scavi tickets. It is likely the very most exciting thing we’ve ever done, in any of our travels.

The Sistine Chapel is, of course, fabulous, though the guards can be crotchety.

You will be amazed at the sheer size of the Basilica - incredible.

Have a wonderful visit.

 

[sheilathebard]

My biggest recommendation is to visit the cupola of St. Peter’s. You can see everything up there! I believe the entrance is at the far right hand of the basilica entrance – you don’t go up the steps at the front, but to the side of them. Hope that makes sense. There’s a sign that says “Cupola.” You have to pay to take the elevator, but I think the stairs are free. It takes awhile and some knee strength though!

But the view from there is incredible.

Also, you are missing out if you don’t spend at least an hour exploring the basilica itself. See if you can read up on the various things in it. Don’t just see the Pieta (though it is lovely!), but look at other famous objects. There is a big porphyry disc near the front door where Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor. And many of the mosaics on the walls are quite famous.

You also should have plenty of opportunity to go to Mass and Confession. Masses are held several times a day, either in the adoration chapel on the right-hand side or at the altar at the very front. Confessions go on for most of the day in the right-hand transept.

 

[LilyElain]

Oh and the gardens, they are beautiful!!!

 

[new_wife]

Scavi tour, hands down.
You need to buy tickets in advance online.

 

[cdanison]

Take pictures, lots of pictures. But try to see all the paintings, statues and the architecture. Yes, see the tombs. They are breathtaking. You will probably see more on your own rather than doing a tour. Tours have to stop and wait too often. Buy lots of books so you can reminisce about the things you saw, and perhaps plan for a future trip back to the Holy City.

A friend and I went in 2008. We went to St. Peter’s three days and still didn’t see everything. We were with a tour group the first day. The Papal audience is over rated. We were so far back in the auditorium that we could barely see him. I actually thought I would fall and be trampelled to death while waiting to get in to the auditorium. Hundreds of people crammed in to enter the security gate one at a time. Enjoy!

I am so jealous!