We have a 24 hour layover in Rome on our return to the US. Considering to book Borghese tickets for the 5 to 7 pm timeslot. It's very near our planned hotel. But as the gallery closes at 7 pm I wondered if it is like some other museums where they start shutting down rooms an hour before already that our actual time would be too limited. Any thoughts?
Posted by
Chicago
1024 posts
I stayed the full 2 hours on my visit several years ago - quite purposefully. I noticed that people began leaving after about an hour and most were gone about 90 minutes after being admitted. The gallery is not huge, we re-visited several of the areas after most people had left and were probably the last to leave in our "time". I suspect many visitors do not need or want the full two hours.
I hope others will post their experiences to give you a range of opinions!
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7749 posts
I didn't get that time slot, but it's inconceivable that you'd have to leave more than five minutes earlier than any other time slot. Because they are absolutely used to evacuating every single art viewer before the next time slot opens, they do not have the problem of a big museum gradually emptying hundreds of galleries.
It is too important to get the ticket (especially without a tour company mark-up!) to fuss about this detail. Take the ticket, now.
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
6285 posts
I didn't think the 2 hours was enough for the amazing Borghese. I don't recall staff clearing people out early. I would take any time slot I could get.
BTW, I hate when museums do that. I paid for the ticket. I should get the full time and not be pestered/coerced/forced out prior to closing. Looking at you WWII museum in Gdansk where the ticket lines were long to get in with only two of the five staff members at the counter selling tickets. Don't take your time getting me in and then force me out before closing.
Posted by
Los Angeles
1034 posts
I believe things have changed there - the two hour slots are now sold on an hourly basis - so a new group enters every hour, and then is able to stay for two hours. I didn't notice any effort to clear people out at their expiration time.
The scale of the Borghese is so small that it wouldn't take a full hour to clear the place out at closing. You should have plenty of time to view the Bernini and as much as you want to see upstairs. So just relax and go for it.
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
2598 posts
I loved this museum - if it's a high priority for you, then book the ticket and triage your viewing. I think the RS Rome guide has a self-guided tour (I don't have a current version). IMHO the Bernini sculptures should be high on the list, then see what else you can. As has been noted it's not a huge museum. If the time slot is until 7, you should have until at least 6:45 before they start herding people out.
Posted by
2674 posts
We did the 5-7 slot with an English speaking guide. We really enjoyed that. We stayed afterwards and don’t recall being chased out before it closed. You are supposed to only get two hours so at 6 there was some announcement to those who had entered at 4 to leave.