This NYT article is so interesting, with pictures of the sketches found on walls beneath the Medici Chapels in Florence. It looks like there will be ticketed, limited access but wow, what a treat!
I've gifted the article. It's my first "gifting" so someone needs to let me know if I've not done it correctly and you hit a paywall.
***Gifted articles only last for 30 days. CL regifted Nov 26 so scroll to the bottom. If you are reading this after Dec, message me and I’ll regift!
I just finished reading this- very cool!
PS-your link works fine
Hahah...thank you Christine!! Apparently we are on the same schedule for reading the daily digest or whatever they call it, lol.
Last time I was in Rome I went to the Domus Aurea, Nero's buried Palace, and found it fascinating. When you look at those old cities you wonder what else is buried/built over that might be fabulous!
We just missed the Domus Aurea last trip. Have to go back soon, my list of new things to see is getting long!
Thanks Pam. I love that there always seems to be something new to experience on our next visit.
Thanks Pam. Your link works so well that I added Medici Chapel to my itinerary for September.
Looks as if that will be a very tough ticket once word gets out; they're starting with just 4 visitors per hour.
@Christine - Valerie from the Seattle area mentioned it when we were both traveling to Italy and it was really, really interesting!
@CJean - That "to-do" list is never-ending isn't it?
@Horsewoofie - Oh, that chapel in and of itself is excellent!
@acraven - Yes, tickets will be a scramble especially since they will close it for 45 minutes after the 15 minute entry time! Not very many people per day and quite expensive for 15 minutes!
Wow oh wow, thanks for sharing the article, Pam!
Thanks, Pam….fascinating!
Oh my! Amazing! Closed all that time and now open! Would love to see this.
Thank you, Pam, fascinating story.
Pam, that is amazing! Thanks so much for gifting this--I want to go to Florence right now and see it! I'm so glad that they are limiting access as I have a horror of there being too many people and they shut it down completely.
The article is somewhat misleading by stating this room has never been open to the public -- I visited this room on two occasions in the 1990s by just asking the guard, and I'm only a regular schmoe. If you read the user comments in that article, other people have similar stories.
That said, the drawings are pretty cool to see!
Thanks to all for the comments!
@mlouns - may I ask how you came to know even to ask about seeing it? That must have been awesome!
If I recall correctly, the Let's Go! travel guide (old timers will remember that one) mentioned the Michelangelo room, and that it was available by asking the guard.
This is not uncommon in Italy -- sometimes there are cool things in church crypts, etc that are available if you happen to know about them and ask the right official on site.
Oh gosh…I’d forgotten about the Let’s Go guides! Thanks for the additional information.
I saw these years ago, and maybe it was from a tip in the Let’s Go Guide, but I actually thought the recommendation came from a Rick Steves’ book. I thought anyone could see them if you asked, but when I returned a few years later it seemed no one knew anything about them (i.e.: they were off limits). These drawings are truly the single most awe inspiring things I have ever witnessed. It was a rich emotional experience.
Is there a link for tickets yet?
Richard, this gives some information about buying tickets. It looks like it opens to the public (on a limited basis) on November 15. https://www.theflorentine.net/2023/10/31/michelangelos-secret-room-medici-chapels-museum/
I bought a ticket for January! I am looking forward to this.
@robertjbmitchell....what an exciting thing for you to have seen! And darn to them being off limits afterward! (PS Welcome to the forum!!)
@Mardee - Thanks for the link
@Linda - Excellent! Will you post about it after you go?
Has anyone in the USA successfully gotten a ticket to this? I'm having a hard time getting Italian ticket sites to open. I get the message that it times out. I don't remember this happening in 2019 when I last went to Italy. The link to tickets in this thread never loads for me.
Actually it looks like all are sold out. Oh well....
I could only get this website to work. https://www.b-ticket.com/b-Ticket/uffizi/default.aspx.html
Pam, when I try to read the gifted article, it instantly tells me I must have a NYT subscription. Is there a limit to how many people can read a gifted article? Does anyone know?
Luv2travel, it's more likely a time limit on the gift- the OP posted this a month ago.
Here's the article gifted again - should get you all a bit more time. You can also print the file as a PDF for longer storage :)
@CL…thank you for the re-gift! I suspect it was a timing thing since the Help section on NYT says gifted articles are good for 30 days.
I read this morning that the only way to book the secret room is by phone. I'll be in Italy in March and haven't even decided if I'll make it to Florence for a day, but I am really intrigued by this.
I booked this online and didn't have to call.
I booked this online and didn't have to call.
Linda, can you provide the link to this? The info I found was here: https://www.visitflorence.com/blog/michelangelos-secret-room-will-finally-open-to-visitors/, but I like your answer much better!
