My husband and I are arriving in Rome early AM on June 29 (sunday). we hope to see the vatican and St. peters on sunday after we drop our bags in the hotel and on monday go to the colosseum, forum, pantheon and spend the evening at the spanish steps and trevi fountain. is this doable? should i do vatican on monday or am i better off doing it on sunday...i will not have a chance to arrive early as the blogs suggest on sunday, do i need to buy a tour so that i will not have a long wait> any advice is much appreciated.
Posted by
Westford, MA, USA
567 posts
SS,
First check the vatican websites to see if anything special is going on, especially being a Sunday.
When there is an event, the church and museum is closed for viewing.
Posted by
OP
NY, NY, USA
67 posts
Would anyone know the website for the vatican musuem? the RS book tells me that the last sunday is open for public (free admission). Any thoughts on that?
Posted by
The Hague, NL (AMS)
2207 posts
SS - the Vatican is open on the last Sunday of the month and it is free. But the hours are limited (usually 8:30 am -12:30 pm) and the lines ARE LONG! I DO NOT recommend going on a Sunday. If the last Sunday of the month is the busiest day of the month, then MONDAYS are often the busiest day of the week... Also even if you arrive early, say 7 AM, by the time you clear passport control, wait for your bags, catch a ride into town, check in to your hotel, and then head to the Vatican (not sure where you're staying) it will probably be close to 10:30 or 11 AM at the earliest! Not to mention if you're coming in from NYC the effects of jet lag. This sounds very ambitious- are there other alternatives for you?
Ciao,
Ron
Posted by
OP
NY, NY, USA
67 posts
i was afraid of that. the other option is to go see the colossuem and forum on sunday...with the evening at trevi fountain, spanish steps and then on monday morning book a "skip the line" tour for the vatican and cover all that on MOnday.. what do you think of that?
Posted by
The Hague, NL (AMS)
2207 posts
Yes, one of the best ways to avoid jet lag is to get out and exercise so that may be a better option... Being cooped up in a museum or waiting in an incredibly long line will test your patience and stamina! I take it you have only two days in Rome???
Ciao,
Ron
Posted by
Meteghan, N.S., Canada
152 posts
Do the Colosseum and Forum the first day (buy your ticket at the forum to avoid the line ups. The Pantheon is part of an easy walk to the trevi fountain, spanish steps. You could stay flexibile on that and do this on Sunday or Monday evening, whenever you have more energy. For what its worth, the Trevi Fountain was, for us, much nicer than the Spanish Steps. Linger there and chill. Enjoy
Posted by
Scottsdale, AZ, USA
1127 posts
June 29 is a bad day to visit the Vatican as it is the Feast of St Peter & St Paul, the patron saints of Rome. The museum will be open but it will be a mob scene. The Pope will preside over a mass at 9:30a and you will need a ticket (free) to attend. Do the Vatican on Monday.
Posted by
la frette sur seine
448 posts
I need to dig thru my notes, but for our short week in Rome in May we used much advice from this site..Monday is the best for the Vatican Museum....We had lunch at Da Vito e Dina on Via degli Scipioni...a couple of blocks from Metro Ottaviano..and a couple of blocks up the street to the museum entrance...arrived at ticket counter at 3:00...no line..though of course you'll never be alone. Spent 2 hours (short i suppose for some)..and then over to StPeter's..(almost empty at530) and went to mass (gate keepers do want to make sure that you ARE there for mass)..and down to visit the tombs of popes..all was perfect timing.
We didn't take a tour..just read a bit in advance to see what we wanted.
My favorite place in Rome is the Santa Maria Minerve..just behind the Pantheon..i love the baby elephant obelisque in front...and inside a painting with musical angels, the body of StCatherine of Siena and a Michelangelo statue of Christ that you can touch.
Re: Colosseum...I didn't go , but my husband did..following Ron advice that mentioned the ticket was good for 24 hours..he went to the colosseum one morning and the palantine and forum the next morning (while i enjoyed nearby churches and supermarkets)..
Posted by
North Pole, Alaska, USA
32 posts
SS -
We're in Italy right now. Your schedule is very doable as we did it. The only thing that may hinder you is going to the Vatican on a Sunday. As long as there is nothing scheduled, your fine. Go to the Pantheon first as you'll be pretty exhausted after the Forum and Palatine Hill.