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English speaking driver-guide for tours of Rome, shore excursions, day trips, journeys through Italy |
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Tours of the Vatican |
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Some advise... A lot of people think that the
Sistine Chapel is the most important site to see in
Rome and think they can't go home saying they were
in Rome and didn't get to see it. I don't fully
agree with that, I would rather suggest everyone to
spend at least two days in Rome and enjoy the city
the first day, then visit the Vatican in comfortably
the next day. A lot of people ask me to skip the
Vatican Museums and go directly to the Sistine, but
that's not possible; you have to go through them to
get there. Some people even say they'd rather skip
St. Peter's, but they don't know what they would
miss until they see it. Much more spectacular than
the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's is one of Rome's
essentials, this is really a place one shouldn't
miss. I advise against bringing little children,
there's no way they can appreciate such a place and
just give their parents (and the guide) a hard time.
Nevertheless, if you only have one day and you
really want to see Rome and the Vatican, I'll be
glad to satisfy your request, but I guarantee you'll
be exhausted at the end of the tour! Lately I've
been going to the Vatican in the afternoon and
there's never been any line, but if you want to be
sure you waste no time,
reservations
for the Vatican Museums are available for 30 Euros per person.
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How to dress to visit
the Vatican city: Saint Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel and Vatican
Museums.
Also valid visiting the
Vatican Gardens and/or the Scavi (the excavations under St. Peter's
Church. |
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APPROPRIATE DRESS IS A MUST!
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Please be aware that there are monitors
outside St. Peter's, which has a very strict dress code: no skirts
above the knee, no shorts, no bare shoulders (i.e., tank tops or
sleeveless blouses), and you must wear shoes. You will not be
permitted inside the basilica unless you are dressed appropriately.
Slacks and jeans, however, are permitted. If you are out sightseeing
in shorts, miniskirts, tank tops, sleeveless blouses, etc., and wish
to enter a church, you must be dressed appropriately. People who
monitor visitors in churches have the right to refuse entrance if in
their opinion the visitor is dressed inappropriate to enter. One way
to get around this is to carry long pants and a shirt/blouse with
sleeves in a bag or backpack so that when you wish to enter a
church, you can slip these garments on over your inappropriate
attire before you enter. Strict dress codes are especially adhered
to at St. Peter's, |
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so I wouldn't even try to enter wearing
short skirts, shorts, or sleeveless tops. You will be refused
entrance. Again, no shorts, or sleeveless tops, but it’s okay to
wear jeans. In case you haven't been foresighted enough to carry
additional apparel with you and you happen to be at the Vatican
wearing inappropriate clothes you can still buy disposable pants
and/or t-shirts and scarves on sale in the souvenir shops just
outside St. Peter's. In addition to all of this keep in mind that
during your visit to the Vatican you'll be in a sovereign country
regulated by it's own rules, where the laws of Italy or your own
country do not apply! No smoking anywhere in the Vatican! |
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It is important
to understand that the point is not to get everyone to dress up like
going to a wedding party, but to make people cover their sinful
flesh. You can be dressed in rags and they'll let you in! |
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The days
of the week are listed in Italian, in English they correspond to: |
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L = Monday |
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M = Tuesday |
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M = Wednesday |
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G = Thursday |
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V = Friday |
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S = Saturday |
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D = Sunday |
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Closed dates: |
- Sundays,
except for the last Sunday of each month, unless it falls at
Easter, on June 29 (St. Peter and Paul), or on December 25 and
26 (Christmas Holiday)
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Other holidays: |
- January 1,
6
- February
11
- March 19
- April 16,
17 (Easter - Easter Monday)
- May 1, 25
(Ascension Thursday),
- June 15
(Corpus Christi Day), 29
- August
15-16
- November 1
- December 8
(Feast of the Immaculate Conception), 25-26.
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The closed
sections in the Museums are indicated at the entrance.
Access to the
Museums is permitted only to visitors with proper attire. |
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Admission fees |
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Regular admission
fee Euro 14,00 |
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Reduced admission
fee Euro 8,00 |
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Visits organized by
schools, academies or other educational establishments may be
requested in writing on the institute’s stationery letterhead
and addressed to the Direction of the Museums.
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Pilgrimages
organized by dioceses or parish churches by presenting a written
request, authorized by the local diocese and addressed to the
Direction of the Museums.
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Students under 26
years of age in possession of a valid student card or other
document proving their status in the institute for the current
year.
Children under 14 years of age.
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Special admission
fee Euro 4,00 |
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Visits organized by
schools of all grades (excluding university level) located in
Rome and Latium, by presenting a request on the school
letterhead exclusively during the months of January, February,
November and December.
Guided Tours (for
schools located in Rome and Latium)
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Specifically adapted
for the individual class program, the guided tours are intended
to increase knowledge about one particular sector of the
Museums. Guided Tours with operator are limited to small groups
(max. 30 people). They must be reserved in advance, by faxing a
properly compiled booking application form to the office for
didactic activities and special visits (06.6988.1573)
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Free Admission
(Free of charge) |
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On the last Sunday
of each month; World Tourism Day (September 27).
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Directors of
museums, ministries or governmental organizations assigned to
archeological, artistic, artistic heritage preservation.
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Disabled (with 100%
invalidity) and one companion each.
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Journalists
authorized by the Direction of the Museums after clearance from
the “Sala Stampa della Santa Sede”, the Pontifical Council for
Social Communications, the Foreign Press Association and the "Ordine
Nazionale Italiano dei Giornalisti".
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Holders of valid
ICOM ( International Council of Museums) and ICOMONS
(International Council of Monuments and Sites) membership cards.
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Donors of works and
patrons: Patrons and Friends of the Vatican Museums.
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Children under 6
years of age.
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University
professors (Department Chairs of Archaeology, Art History,
Architecture and Ethnology), professors of academies with seat
in Rome, may give special lectures in particular sections of the
Museums on subjects within their specialization by presenting a
written request to the Direction of the Museums. The
authorization is not valid for a subsequent visit outside those
sections.
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This is how it works with the Vatican reservations:
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You just need to tell me, and I'll
take care of making the reservation for you
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Reservations must be presented
minimum three days prior to the day of the tour.
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Reservations will only be accepted
thirty days prior to the day of the tour.
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Reservations can be made for
different time bands: A, 8:30/9:30 am; B, 9:30/10:30
am; C, 10:30/11:30 am; D, 11:30/12:30 am; E,
12:30/1:30 pm; F, 1:30/2:30 pm; G, 2:30/4:00 pm.
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Not everyone can make reservation,
only travel agents with special credits who have to
make a deposit in advance consisting in several
thousands of Euros.
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The price of the reservation
includes: admission fee, reservations fee, ear phone
(compulsory for large groups), Italian and Vatican
taxes.
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