The Vatican Museums Rome - A Practical Guide
An Introduction For Those Planning On Visiting The Vatican Museums
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| The Vatican Museum |
Vatican Museums Official Web Site
The Vatican Museums, an enormous complex composed of more than two dozen distinct collections, any of which could be a self-sustaining gallery you need to plan your time in the museums.
The Vatican Museums are where you will find the Sistine Chapel, one of the most famous tourist attractions in the world. Additionally, the Vatican Museums house many priceless works of art including the “ Raphael Rooms”, and many galleries of sculpture, tapestries and frescos.
For many visitors, the climax of the visit is the Sistine Chapel.
You will know immediately when you have reached the Sistine Chapel, because not only everyone is in the room standing with his eyes turned toward the ceiling, but there is an amazing hush that descends as you enter.
Although the walls of the Sistine Chapel are covered with paintings by a number of Renaissance masters, including Botticelli and Ghirlandaio, they become secondary in the company of Michelangelo's extraordinary fresco covering the great vaulted ceiling.
For a detailed run through of the galleries, link to the official Vatican Museum web site at the top of the page.
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Vatican Museum Ticketing, Opening Hours & Time of Visit
The Vatican Museum opens Monday to Saturday. The Ticket Office is open from 9 am to 4 pm. The Museums open at 10 a.m. and close at 6 pm.
The Admission Ticket permits the tourist to visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel and is valid for the day of issue.
Current admission prices can be viewed by clicking through to the official web site at the top of the page. .
The admission ticket permits the tourist to visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel and is valid for the day of issue. You can purchase tickets in advance on-line for which there is a charge.
For art lovers: don’t even think to come out in less than 4-5 hours.
If you are a time poor tourist, whose only clear target is to see the Sistine Chapel then about 2 hours might be appropriate.
Start with the Cortile della Pigna (Pinecone Courtyard) and having the huge pinecone in front of you lead to your right for the Pio Clementino. Peak inside, walk a bit and step back to the Courtyard to take the Simonetti Staircase on your right. Stop on top of the first flight to see some of the antiquities. Walk all the way down to the Sistine Chapel (Galleries of Candelabra, Tapestries & Maps). At the end of the Gallery of the Maps go straight, take the modern staircase to the Sistine Chapel.
Audio Guides, Guides & Tours
There is an Iphone/Ipod app for guiding you around the Vatican Museums. There is a free lightweight version and a full app which is chargeable. You may also find other mp3 tours available on the market.
You can also get the traditional audio guides for a fee on entering the Vatican Museum itself.
There are two hour English tours that you can book online at the Vatican Museums web site.
The reservation allows individual visitors to be part of a Vatican Group Tour conducted by an official Vatican Tour Guide. The tour takes the visitor through the most significant cultural and religious areas of the Vatican Museums.
The tour follows an itinerary which includes: the Pio Clementino Museum (classical antiquity), the Gallery of the Candelabras, the Gallery of the Tapestries and the Gallery of the Geographical Maps (Renaissance Art), the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel.
There are also other Vatican Museum Tours available, including private tours.
Use Of Vatican Cloakroom
The cloakroom will accept from the visitors their bags and personal belongings, including food
It is obligatory to deposit in the cloakroom suitcases, backpacks and containers with dimensions larger than cm 40 x 35 x 15. or any articles that 'stick out'.
It is obligatory to deposit in the cloakroom suitcases, backpacks and containers with dimensions larger than cm 40 x 35 x 15. or any articles that 'stick out'.
Do's & Don'ts Visiting The Vatican Museum
No shorts, bare shoulders or miniskirts. This applies to both men and women. Even if you get through security, you will be turned away by the attendants at the door.
Pushchair's are permitted in the Museums.
The use of mobile phones is allowed but not recommended, except in the Sistine Chapel
It is forbidden to use flashlight photography inside the Museums and no photography at all in the Sistine Chapel.
It is forbidden to touch works of art.
Any item that could conceivably be used to damage works of art like scissors, pointed umbrellas etc must be deposited in the cloakroom. Alcohol must also be deposited in the cloakroom.
Vatican Gardens Tour
The only way of seeing the Vatican Gardens are by tour with an official Vatican guide. Again details are on the official web site.
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| Summary of Most Popular Tours & Fast Track Tickets In Rome | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vatican | ||
| Vatican Museums Tickets | €40 | Fast track admission to Vatican Museum |
| Vatican Museums inc Sistine Chapel | €60 | 3 hour tour with hotel pickups. |
| Vatican Museums inc Sistine Chapel (Private) | from €87 | Price shown is per person for 9 person group. |
| St Peter's + Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel | €58 | Most popular 3 hour tour. Daily except Sunday. |
| Audience With The Pope | €36 | Attending Wednesday audience with transfers |
| Ancient Rome Walking Tour (Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Trevi...) | ||
| Colosseum & Roman Forum | €52 | Daily half day walking tour, am and pm. |
| Colosseum & Roman Forum (Segway Tour) | €75 | 3 hour tour by Segway machine. |
| Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon,Trevi | €30 | 3 hour walking tour. Morning or Afternoon. |
| Spanish Steps, Pantheon,Trevi, Piazza Navona | €39 | 3 hour afternoon walking tour. Tues,Fri,Sat |
| Villa Borghese Gallery | ||
| Villa Borghese Gallery Fast Track Tickets | €35 | Fast track admission ticket for a 2 hour slot. |
| Villa Borghese Gallery & Gardens Tour | €44 | 2 hour tour of gallery + 1 hour gardens tour. |
| Other Popular City Of Rome Tours | ||
| Dan Brown 'Angels & Demons' Tour | €56 | 4 hr walking tour inspired by the Dan Brown novel |
| Classic Tour Of The Main Sights Of Rome | €38/€90 | Half or Full Day coach tour of main sights |
| Roman Gladiator Lesson | €55-€132 | 2 hour lesson in becoming a Roman Gladiator |
| Night Tours Of Rome (Walking or Bus) | €30/€41 | Choice - walking or coach tour of Rome by night |
| Private Car & Driver | ||
| 4 hour private custom tour of Rome | €210-€378 | Prices are per vehicle. Mercedes vehicles from 1-3 passenger E-class Merceds up to 8 seat Mercedes Vito vans/mini-buses. |
| 8 hour private custom tour of Rome | €378-€567 | |
| * Price from April 2nd 2012 | ||
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