I want to go ahead and book the museums and churchs I want to visit in Florence and Rome but I can't seem to figure it out. Though I'm on the page for Santa Maria Novella and clicking the Ticket button it's ony giving me the cost and times - not a way to make the reservation. How do I make reservations for the churches I want to see. Also I'm trying to make sure that I get tickets from the Uffizi, Accademia, etc from the Museum itself - not a ticket broker. How do I make sure of that or what is the best place to get tickets from? As we're there for 9 days in Florence and 6 days in Rome I'm not interested in the Firenzie Card. I want to do this soon as I want to get the days and times I've put together to make relaxing but get to see all that we want to.
Thanks
I did not make any reservations for churches and never had any issues getting inside. I may have lived a charmed existence and been very lucky! As for the museums, I had my hotel call ahead and make a reservation for me. This adds a couple of euros to the price, but it beats standing in line for an hour or more to get inside. If you want to do this in advance, you can e-mail your hotel and ask them to do it for you on your specified dates.
I'm not staying at a hotel but rather apartments in both cities so I can't have them do that.
The official site for the Uffizi and Accademia in Florence is http://www.firenzemusei.it/, you can call or reserve online.
You can also call the Florence Museum number (it will cost you a long distance call and don't forget the time difference) and you can speak to a human in English who will make all the museum reservations for you. They generally have more reservations available on the phone then online. As for the churches - generally you won't need a reservation. I've never needed one for Santa Maria Novella and never waited in line either. For Santa Croce, I also have never reserved except for a scaffolding tour - however it seems you can buy tickets in advance. Here is the link - website is available in English. http://www.santacroceopera.it/en/Informazioni_Biglietti.aspx Here's a link for the Duomo
http://en.duomo.waf.it/museo_dett/318-churches-and-religious-sites/7469-the-dome-of-brunelleschi.html There are often lineups for the duomo - but I've never reserved a ticket for this either. If you want to see the real doors to the baptisty, and many other interesting things like Michelangelo's last sculpture, you should go the the Opera del Duomo, the museum of the works of the Duomo - most interesting and never very busy.
Teresa, since you have nine days in Florence a better bet would be a membership in the Friends of the Uffizi ( Amici degli Uffizi ) The fee is 60EU and it gives you admission to virtually all the Major museums ( go to the website ) . While money wise it will probably be about a break even in cost over individual tickets the convenience factor would undoubtably be worth it . One further suggestion : The Uffizi is a real eyeful ( we were ther for six hours when we we went in late september ) and art lovers as we are, our heads were spinning when we left . the crowds there are more formidable than at any other museum in Florence . With the membership you could return on a daily basis at the end of the day enabling you to bite it off in , say two hour pieces allowing you to savor it in a more gradual way way and avoiding the early day hordes since you could enter at will. I had not known about this until we returned to the states, but when we go back this is certainly what we will do . In Rome , be sure to book in advance for the Vatican and the Borghese gallery ( Borghese is only a phone call from the states for a confirmation number ) Both of these will save you a great deal of time and reservation at the Borghese is pretty much mandatory . Also when you pick up your tickets at Borghese , check your bag ( nothing allowed inside ) and queue up immediately . Don't wait for entry time as that will cut into your time inside ( the entry queue builds right away . florence
I would highly recommend buying Rick's book on Italy and in it there will be official websites to use and he will have the price pretty accurately
I have his book so I'll look it up again. Don't know why I didn't think of that.
When you book the Borghese (and DO IT) make sure you arrive 30 miutes before your reservation time. You are allowed a specific time inside this marvellous place, and if you're late you'll still be made to leave when your time is up.
I was there last April and there were a lot of disappointed tourists who had either not made reservations at all, or who arrived during the middle of their allotted time and had to rush. They will allow you to take your wallet/passport through in a zip-lok, but will hold your bag/backpack in a locked bin., perfectly safe. Never needed a reservation for Santa Croce church is Florence. A lot of people ignore it, and it's my favorite. There's a "leather museum" connected to the church, and do allow yourself some time for that. Most First Ladies, Presidents, and Queens and Princesses have bought items: purses, wallets, desk sets from them. Too expensive for me, but love the museum. Previous poster gave good advice re the Museum pass for Florence. The Uffizi can make your eyes roll around and is magnificent......but more memorable in smaller doses (like the Louvre). The academia is pretty small and can be done in an hour or so. The David is there, of course, but so are Michelangelo's unfinished works and they're wonderful.
I can heartily chime in to sing the praises of the Friends of the Uffizi pass. We purchased one in 2009 when it was not very well known,and it was one of our best advanced purchases. We always skipped the line, went in as often and at any time that we wished, and used if at many museums, etc. You can order it in advance and pick it up at the help desk at the Uffizi. Just always need to have your ID with you for entrance to the museums. PM me if you need more info, or place "Friends of the Uffizi pass" in the search box.
The only church in Rome we needed a ticket for was St. Peter's (not really a church). And the best way to do that is to skip the line and go with a tour group. We used Angel tours. They took us all over the Vatican museums and the Sistine Chapel, then through kind of a back door into the basilica. I am sure if you do a post on good guides you will find someone. It was worth every penny to pass a couple of hundred people in a line waiting to buy a ticket. Especially in August - it's hot there. And lucky us, the day we went the Pope was in town (not usually there that time of year) so we got to see him in St. Peter's Square. Yes, he was way up at front, but with the zoom on the camera we were able to get a good look. The churches included in Rick's Rome walking guides (Italy book) were first rate. Have a great time.
Hello Teresa Most of the churches in Italy do not need reservation to skip the line But you will need reservation for the following places: Academy Museum, Uffizi Museum The Medici Chapels Pitti Palace - Palatine Gallery For Rome The Coliseum , the tickets include also the roman forum and the palatine The Vatican Museums The Borghese Gallery If you go on the web site you can buy the tickets, I suggest you to visit some of these places with a guided tour to have a true experience Both cities are outdoor art museums Kind Regards Viviana
Rome- Italy
Marie, St. Peter's is a basilica (a church) but there is no ticket required. You can enter for free, you don't need to be on a tour. You only need to wait in the security line to get inside. You also don't need to book a tour in order to skip the lines at the Vatican museums. You can buy entry tickets that allow you to do the same thing. There are only a few sites in Rome that require you to be on a tour to visit. The first ones that come to mind are the underground tour at the colosseum and the scavi tour at the Vatican. Both can be booked in advance at the official sites and the colosseum tour will allow you to bypass the lines. There is no need to pay extra for a private company when you can book this on your own and save a ton of money. donna
Just for clarification: You do NOT need to book a tour or buy tickets online to the colosseum in order to skip the lines. You can purchase tickets at the forum or palatine hill entrances or you can purchase the romapass. All will allow you to bypass the lines. For the Vatican museums, you can reserve a tour or tickets online at their official site but if you go in the afternoons the lines are very short or non-existent. No need to book ahead. You will need to make a reservation for the Borghese gallery as it's capacity controlled. You will also need to book the underground/third tier tour of the colosseum if you wish to take this popular tour. Donna