tried to get advance reservations for Sat, June 28. The reservation web site came up with "closed", tried Sunday, got same msg. Is there something going at this time of the year or am I just to early to make reservations?
I was told by the website venetoinside.com that they just have April's schedule up now, but that the next several months will be available on April 20th.
There is a telephone number on the official Basilica di San Marco website which I called about a group tour reservation. They lady was exceptionally nice, spoke English, and arranged a private tour for my group of students at no cost. She said it was a service of the Basilica and there was no charge. Wow, something in Venice for FREE???
Yes, entry into the Basilica is free. However, there are other sights inside that are only by paid admission. (Treasury, Museum, Golden Altarpiece, each with separate admission prices)
We called the number in Rick's Venice book 041 522 5205 (page 67 in the 2007 guidebook)in the morning to reach Italy mid afternoon, talked with an English speaking agent, and got a reservation number. We were able to get right in. I called 3 months in advance.
Yes, I realize entry into the Basilica is free - but not usually with a private guide and definite date and time reservation.
As of today, the website does allow summer bookings. I just reserved for July 9th.
Is a reservation needed or suggested if I plan to go to the bag chek then "waltz to the front of the line" as Rick advises? We are going at the end of August.
Rick's "waltz to the front" seems to work for those who have reported here. But, since the reservation is free, I figured that there was no reason not to book in advance.