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Rome--Extreme Sistine

I don't know if this is a temporary measure in advance of Holy Year, but crowd control measures at the Vatican Museums now make it impossible to do a beeline to the Sistine Chapel. There are roped-off corridors so that visitors are shunted through many many rooms en route to the chapel. Upstairs, downstairs. Upstairs, downstairs. Eventually the Long March begins reminding one of a brisk hike cross-country. The chapel itself is reached after the visitor passes through the Raphael and Contemporary rooms. The Sistine Chapel is glorious, no more crowded than it ever was, and the benches along the sides make it possible for the weary visitor to sit and drink in the experience. Exiting is fairly straightforward: Long March through a number of gift shops, past snack bars, pizzerias and WCs, down a long long spiral ramp and into the fresh air.
Again, not sure if this is a permanent situation but the visitor whose goal is the Sistine Chapel needs to budget--extra time and extra stamina.

Kathie

Posted by
1055 posts

Thanks, Kathie. I've added your notes to my file--we'll be at the Vatican in late December. It sounds as though being in the SC is more humane, and it's nice to know that there are benches.

Posted by
33829 posts

there have always been benches around the perimeter of the Chapel.

Posted by
33829 posts

well I say always - let's tone that down a bit. There certainly were on my only visit to the Sistine Chapel (many visits to Rome, just one to the Sistine Chapel) which something like 15 or 20 years ago. Before that I cannot say...