Questions for Rome visit

The open hours are on the Basilica website : https://www.santacroceroma.it/parrocchia/orari

What "secret places" at the Vatican are you interested in?

The secret places are by definition secret. The only way to get into them is to be the Pope or be very good friends with him.

In terms of places tourists don't usually see (but still can see), there's the Scavi tour, the Gardens tour, or any of the variety of Key Masters tours (Walks, Liv or GetYourGuide).

If you want to see more, I recommend conversion, ordination, elevation, and election.

Thanks. CJean. for the Holy Cross link. Very helpful! I hadn't found that page on their website.

The Vatican Secret Rooms or Areas that we would like to visit are:

--The Bramante Staircase
--The Room of the Masks (also known as the Cabinet of the Masks)
--The Niccoline Chapel (also known as the Chapel of Nicholas V)
--The Meridian Hall and the Tower of the Winds

Any information about how to visit these would be terrific.

Jeff, Thanks very much for the reply. I was aware of the Necropolis and Garden Tours. I will check the other Key Masters tours you recommended. Very much appreciate your help!

Would also like to see Pope Francis speak on a Wednesday morning from his veranda while we are in St. Peter's Square.

Thanks very much in advance!

tcgnj, the parts of the Vatican museums you list are not 'secret' but are are limited to exclusive tours that are quite expensive. All (or most) of them can be booked via in Vatican Museum's website.

https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en.html

For instance, the "Hidden Vatican Museums; Bramante Staircase" tour costs € 25,00 per adult plus €300.00 for opening of the area.

Cabinet of Masks costs € 25.00 per adult plus €300.00 for opening of the area.

Chapel of Nicholas V costs € 25,00 pp plus € 300,00 for opening the area.

There is a combo of Bramante Staircase and Chapel of Nicholas V that costs € 25.00 pp plus €500.00 for opening of both areas.

I'm not sure that the Meridian Hall and the Tower of the Winds can be visited at all or only via a tour of Vatican Gardens but I'm not seeing them listed on the tour itinerary.

Short story long, unless you have a VERY large budget - and even if you do - you're unlikely to see everything that available for tourists to access on your list.

You don't list the dates of your trip to Rome but given the Holy Father's recent health challenges, it's possible that he won't be well enough for the General Audience. You should reference his schedule as it currently stands understanding that they don't schedule it out very far given those challenges.

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/events/year.dir.html/2025.html

Thanks, Kathy. Much appreciated.

Those all would be interesting but are too expensive.

Thanks again.