um...we can't get into the museums in Florence.

so the Uffizi, for example, closes at 6:50pm. What time would you recommend we get there so we don't get turned away?

Okay, so I am getting some conflicting information from y'all. Some say no reservations are possible, others say they have reservations for culture week. Some say there will b e long lines, others say they will move fast. Who's right? Hehe

To clarify, culture week is April 18-25.

Er, make that April 18-26.

Well I do have reservations but I also paid for the stinkin' tickets (although to give them credit, no culture week dates had been set yet). I'm not going to worry about it too much, but I certainly hope they have the separate line available for ticket holders...

Darn! Too bad about the free entrances when you're there. I fear you are facing long lines and huge crowds. Are you early birds? I'd get there 30 minutes before the doors open. Otherwise, you will spend your entire day standing in long lines. Is there any way to re-jigger your itinerary so that you're in Florence on different days? In 2008 We had reservations for both and it was the BEST advice we took. I felt really, really sorry for all those people standing in the long lines.

I'm in the same boat and have heard very mixed things about Culture Week so far- some say that it is early enough in tourist season that the lines aren't terrible. Some have also suggested that reservations are still possible.

The only place I'm really concerned about the lines is the Accademia; hoping the Colloseum isn't too awful, and we bought our tickets for the Vatican museum.

It is nice everything is free but I get the sense you feel the same way I do- that you'd rather pay full price to not have to waste time in lines! Good luck to you!

I was at the Accedemia mid to late morning during culture week last fall. Line was ten or fifteen minutes.

Folks in front of me said the lines and been rough first thing in the morning, so they left. Walked back by there late in the afternoon and lines were much longer than what we had experienced -- maybe a half hour. Maybe too many people were playing the 'hints and tips' game. All having been said, a long-appearing line moves pretty fast.

We planned our trip around Italian national holidays but had no idea about the Week of Culture (April 16-25) until this week. We have reservations at the Uffizi and Academia on April 14 & 15 - hard to believe we cut it that close.

Will be in Cinque Terre and Lake Como the 16-20. Anyone know what fallout we might expect to see in those locations?

That's odd, because we have paid tickets for Accademia and Uffizi (purchased over a month ago) for Sunday April 18th. Do you think they will honor these tickets?? Yikes...

We had reservations for the Acadamia and Uffizi. The lines were long enough (in late October) that I was glad we had a reservation.

Even with the reservation both museums were crowded. At least we didn't have to wait to get in.

In 2007 we had reservations for the Pitti Palace, not realizing that it was a "free" day. Because we had reservations we were taken to the front of the line and ushered in...make us feel like VIPs and we felt guilty!

Sounds like the reservations are a good thing regardless. Judey - ask the proprietor of your hotel/B&B to see if they can make a reservation for you. This seems to work better than going through b-ticket. Good luck and perhaps we will run into you in the streets of Italy.

just the other day i used ticketitaly.com and got academia tickets for $8, so if only costs me that to make sure i am not waiting in line, its worth it.

Actually, if you go to the Roma Pass site, it says Culture Week is April 16-25. Just to clarify.

I hear you on the conflicting info though- I really don't know what to believe either! I'm going to prepare myself for long lines and hope for the best.

Kelly--if I figure out how to get reservations, I'll let you know!