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Buying tickets in advance confused about payment language

Hoping someone might have some experience with this or maybe an Italian will better understand the translation/verbiage used in this example.

In Siena's Cathedral for those that are not aware they recently opened up a new option of a "gate of heaven"
Which appears to be a tour allowing you to see the inside of the cathedral, and seeing rooms not seen by the public previously, walking above the temple from the inside roof area above and also there is an outside area I believe for roof top views outside.
Unlike tickets to the rest of the complex this seems to be advance reservations required. Cost was quite reasonable adult tickets were 20 euro for this access plus the full complex access, which is normally 12 euro's without the gate of heaven included.

Online they don't book tickets for this but have an email address and a local tel#.
They were very responsive via email and confirmed by time and date for my ticket request.
Here is where the confusion comes in:
Body of the email reads:

your booking has been confirmed.

  • IT'S DISPOSED THE PAYMENT WITH CASH OR CREDIT DIRECTLY AT THE TICKET OFFICE ON THE VISIT DAY (CASH DESK NR. 1);
  • PLEASE DON'T CONSIDER THE PROVISIONS ON PRE-PAYMENT BY BANK TRANSFER.

Remember to get tickets to cash n. 1 ticket in the Piazza del Duomo.
We recommend to arrive at the ticket office, 15 minutes before the scheduled hour.

But there is a PDF attachment with bank wire instructions stating that tickets must be paid for in advance within 5 days for the reservations to be valid. Bank details for the bank transfer are included and there is an internal fee small surcharge.
The body of the email appears to be saying to disregard the bank transfer and pay at the ticket office instead when I get there?
Am I reading that incorrectly???

I didn't want to bother the ticket office email again with my question if I don't have to.
I assume I need to make the bank transfer but hoping someone else could share their opinion?

Posted by
2456 posts

It was in May of 2014, soon after they opened this tour, that I made an advanced reservation and went. I seem to remember paying when I arrived at the church complex, I think it was €25 at the time, I know for sure that I never made a bank transfer for this (or anything else).

Posted by
16895 posts

I read their point in the body of the email to tell you that you can ignore the bank transfer info in the PDF. Maybe the PDF is sent automatically or has other info you need, but payment will be accepted in person at the ticket office.

Posted by
11613 posts

The bank transfer info might work for European interbank transfers and be a standard part of their email attachment; I would take the advice written specifically for you in the body of the email and pay when you get there.

Posted by
4152 posts

Just pay when you get there. That's what we did. Get there at least a half hour early because the lines at the ticket counter can be long. They are not inside the church but are behind it to the right as you are looking at the facade.

Donna

Posted by
1832 posts

Appreciate the advises
I did send them an email just to confirm and as the replies assumed the body of the email was stating to disregard the bank wire and pay on site
Which is a relief for me

In the PDF there is my reservation number so I guess that is why they send the PDF ; maybe the bank wire is for very large groups ot something

Posted by
3522 posts

Sounds like a bad Google translation from Italian to English. :-)

Bank transfers are very common way to pay in Europe. People routinely do that rather than writing a check. Unfortunately, the European bank transfer system is not really compatible with the US Wire transfer system (which is really the closest thing we have). Some of the larger US based banks with an international presence will know how to do the transfer if you really need to (for a fee, of course).