Anyone in Rome now? I have a small favor to ask....

We aren't in Rome but would gladly do it for you if we were as I speak Italian. If you need their number, at least I can tell you that. It is + 39 06 841 3979

Let us know how this works out in any case, Lola, because it sounds not just optimistic to me but head-in-the-clouds.

During the day people with tickets start bunching up in the lobby by the starting gate (entry to the gallery stairwell) 30 minutes before their ticketed time and it takes that peloton quite a few minutes just to make it into the galleries. People who are only there to check it off their list or get a selfie in front of expensive artwork that they know almost nothing about can slither through in under an hour, but if there is work that you care for and care about, you will not be able to get to every room on a first visit.
I haven't been there so late in the evening, but I'm sure you've noticed that when hours are listed as ending at X:XX at southern European museums, that means they want the lights out and the doors locked at X:XX, and most staff are already half-done with a cigarette on their way to the tram stop. The shoo-ing and herding toward the exits happens well before X:XX.

Note also that the villa is several minutes walk from the nearest street that allows motorized traffic.
So, it seems to me that even if you are allowed into the ticketed area later than your ticketed time, you will likely have only enough time to glance around and say, Gee, this is pretty enough for a real visit.

If your train arrives at 4:30 you can take a taxi directly to the gallery. You have to check all of your bags anyway so checking your luggage shouldn't be an issue. The trip shouldn't take more than 15 minutes by taxi. You will still "technically" be late, the site does say you must be there half an hour early, but it's the best solution. In the summer there are people who wait for no-shows so they can take their slot and you would be considered a no-show if you don't check in on time.

Donna

Thank you for your comments.

Avirosemail, I know that one hour is not enough to see it all or even a small part. We are going with people who have been there before and want to make this short visit upon arrival in Rome. My husband and I can visit again at another time. Both men (my husband and his brother) have limited tolerance for standing and prefer to make multiple short visits to museums rather than one "see it all" visit. We thought that by entering late we will have an advantage of the earlier rooms being more empty. As I am only 5'2" I can not see anything in crowded museums anyway. . .

I cannot find anything on the official museum website ( as opposed to the Ticketone vendor website) that says we must be there 30 minutes early if we already have our tickets. The museum website only says we must exit at the appointed time at the end. Can anyone find the entry time language on the museum website? This is why I want to call ( or have someone call for me).

We have been to numerous popular venues where one must reserve a time in advance and still queue to get in (Alhambra Nasrid Palaces, Accademia in Firenze, Sagrada Familia, etc.) and have seen the mob scene to get in. We have always shown up early and joined the chaos. But the rules are different at each venue, and I am trying to figure out the exact rule that applies here, specifically to people like us who have paid to have the tickets shipped. I feel like that is not a common situation.

Donna---I know we have to check purses, camera, etc. but will they really allow us to check all our travel luggage? My brother-in-law and his wife do not travel light!!! I cannot imagine arriving by taxi with all our luggage and checking it there. They are planning on using the concierge service at their hotel to handle this. Then the ladies will just have handbags to check at the museum itself.

If the luggage is large they won't take it. You can always store it at the termini station. They will store it for a very minimal fee.

I think the only way you're going to find out the exact answer to the question is to call. Even with that you might get two different answers from two different people. I can tell you that in the summer when people don't show up for their time slot they give their reservation away, even if they've bought tickets. There is usually a line up of people waiting for no-shows, which I'm pretty sure you'll be classified as if you're a half hour or more late.

Good luck,

I believe the vast majority of people who have bought tickets do not pay to have them shipped. It more than doubles the price of two tickets if they are shipped to the US. ( Cost of shipping is €29 on 2 €26 tickets).

I can see how that policy would apply to people who book online and then fail to show to pick up the tickets. But we are in a small minority and I can't help but hope there is an exception for this type of ticket. I am just trying to confirm that possibility before we give up and pay to change our train tickets.

It turns out Laurel has graciously offered to call for me so we are covered.