Pristine Sistine Time Allotment?

I must have gotten some bad info. Just now I looked at their calendar, and it says the Museum Vaticans are open from 9 until 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Thursdays in December, so that's good! I had read they were closed on Christmas Eve (which is on a Sunday), but their site claims they are open that day from 9 to 12:30 p.m. Does anyone know whether this info is correct? I'm still wondering whether we can stay all day if we go on the Pristine Sistine tour, which will finish up around noon. I will try to call Walks of Italy again tomorrow to find out.

Does anyone know whether after their tour is over you can stay at the
Vatican Museums until closing, re-exploring museums, or does their
tour bump you out of St. Peter's Basilica, making re-entry into the
Vatican Museums impossible, without buying a new ticket?

As far as I know, you can't backtrack into the museums on ANY tour which starts in the museums and ends in St. Peter's but I guess you could ask. To re-enter the museums, it's been my understanding that one would have to purchase another ticket and enter from museums' main entrance.

If this is so, you could ask WOI about leaving the tour before the St. Peter's part so you could spend more time in the museums.

I had read they were closed on Christmas Eve (which is on a Sunday),
but their site claims they are open that day from 9 to 12:30 p.m. Does
anyone know whether this info is correct?

Please reference the museum calendar:

http://www.museivaticani.va/content/dam/museivaticani/pdf/utilities/calendario_musei.pdf

Sunday the 24th does show that the museum is open for entry until 12:30 (closing at 14:00) BUT it's a special, free-entry day. The place will be MOBBED so it's not a good day to plan to visit.

I think in December the Vatican Museums are only open until 1:30.

That is incorrect. On regular open visiting days in December, the museums are open the hours that the calendar shows: last entry at 16:00 and closing at 18:00. That doesn't make any difference if you're taking a tour which ends in the basilica, though.

I read that their tour last 3 hours and 45 minutes, but folks online
says when they have gone on it, it has actually lasted more like 4
hours and 15 minutes.

I'm guessing actual timing may vary slightly depending on getting everyone organized for entry, working around crowds, number of questions asked by their group, etc. Just expect that your tour may or may not be exactly 3 hours and 45 minutes but is unlikely to exceed that time by a significant amount.

We want a Couple years ago and I feel like it ran a little long... we ended in St. Peter’s and stayed in there a bit... you can’t get back into the museum. But honestly
It was so crowded by the time we left it, you don’t want to! 😀

Walks of Italy, which runs the Pristine Sistine tour is run by an American and has a toll free number on their website where you can call and ask questions.

Wow, Kathy! I had not noticed that December 24th is Free Day! I had thought that was always the LAST Sunday, which is the 31st, the day after we leave. Super cool! So if we don't get pics of everything we want on the 23d, we can go back on the 24th, free of charge. How nifty is that?! Granted, crowds will be awful that day, but also energizing and exhilarating and unique. This is great news! Thank you for being a careful reader!

Also, with Free Day being the 24th, do you know whether we can go directly into the Basilica from the Museums that day, Kathy, at 12:30 (it is a Sunday) or do you think the Basilica will be closed on the afternoon of the 24th in preparation for Midnight Mass that evening? I wonder who could tell me? I'm thinking we need to see inside the Basilica before we go to Midnight Mass, to understand the layout and what we are looking at. I am thrilled at the prospect of TWO-- count 'em-- days in the Vatican Museum! In which case we should do the Pristine Sistine on the 23d, rather than the 28th. I think everyone will be more in the Christmas spirt on the 23d, adding to the atmosphere in the Museums.

Having the opportunity to visit the Sistine Chapel on a Sunday, and on Christmas Eve, no less, really appeals to me! How special! I can't believe our luck.

You cannot reenter the museums after the Pristine Sistine tour. You will be exhausted anyway. You will have seen a lot. Going back in on a free day might be manageable if you go at opening. Get there at least an hour before the doors open, though. You will have already seen the Sistine Chapel with WOI so head to the Pinacoteca where few people head right away.

Picture taking is tough with the crowds and forbidden in the Sistine Chapel. Better to just enjoy.

I think your preconceptions about an energizing, festive atmosphere in the Museums on a free Sunday are unrealistic. I would NEVER go on a free Sunday, it will be wall-to-wall people.

The early-entry tours (best way to do this), but the meet-up is at 7:30, you actually enter the museums after 8am. The length of the tour (these are very small groups) depends on the enthusiasm of your guide, too. One tour I took met at 7:30 and we exited Saint Peter's at 1:30 in the afternoon.

There is no re-entry to the Museums. But it's not difficult to tour the Basilica on your own, with an audioguide. Frankly, I think the Basilica gets short shrift on the tours. I would sign up for a tour of the Museums only, spend as much time as you want there after the tour, and still have time for a leisurely tour of the Basilica on your own.

I think your preconceptions about an energizing, festive atmosphere in
the Museums on a free Sunday are unrealistic. I would NEVER go on a
free Sunday, it will be wall-to-wall people.

Amen to that. "Free" days are the LAST times I'd consider dealing with the Vatican (or the Colosseum, for that matter) and especially not over a major religious holiday. There are too many other fascinating churches* and whatnot in Rome to explore without being squashed and trampled. If you get inside the museums after a potentially loooong wait (follow Laurel's advice and be there long before the opening hour) you may find some breathing room in less-explored galleries but the Sistine, Raphael Rooms and others of the main draws will be sardine cans.

I've no idea if one can go directly into St Peter's from the museums on Free Days but I expect security to be tighter than not so I'd guess chances are slim. Besides, that passage is mostly reserved for tours, and they don't have guided tours of the museums on free Sundays.

As far as other churches (* above) visits to those could very well be complicated by Christmas Eve falling on a Sunday when mass schedules are heaviest to begin with.

Thanks, Kathy. Are there any other interesting churches within the Prati area, where we'll be staying?