RPS wrote:
>Allowing one day for jet-lag and to orient
>ourselves, how many days at minimum
>are needed to get see Rome?
3 full days at least along with getting an early start and avoiding the
queues.
I'd say 1 day for the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's
Basilica.
This is a tough visit with the later Museum general public opening at
1000 and long queue, the mob scene inside the Sistine Chapel and the
Security Queue at St. Peter's Basilica.
The Museum used to open at 0845 but last Jan they moved it to 1000.
Tour companies can enter between 0800-1000 which gives them a jump on
the public opening.
This is new but there is a tour company that will sell you an early
entrance ticket for =8023.5. www.rome-museum.com/vatican2ind.php
The Vatican charges =8013 for a museum ticket plus a =802 reservation
fee, so it's only =808.5 over cost.
There will be a tour group queue but with a 0815 reservation you can
get quite a jump over the 1000 queue.
If I was doing it and wanted to spend alot of time in the museums; I
would get a 0815 ticket, rent an audioguide inside and beeline straight
to the Sistine Chapel.
After the Chapel backtrack thru the museums.
[The Chapel becomes a very crowded shoulder-to-shoulder mob scene
during the day, if you want to enjoy the art try to go early. Going
later before closing used to be another option but with the later 1000
opening time I don't know.]
Or you could whirlwind it in a halfday by either getting a reserved
early AM museum ticket or going later in the day before the ticket
office closes but not too late or they will close before you enter.
Then just hit a few highlights in the museum and follow the signs to the
Sistine Chapel (Chapelle Sistina?).
In the Chapel exit in the far right corner thru the door that says
'Tour Groups Only' (nobody minds or checks also you couldn't have an
audioguide if you do this).
This will take you directly into St. Peter's Basilica saving you a long
walk back thru the Museums & around the Vatican Walls.
Plus you will bypass the often long Security Queue for St. Peter's
Basilica.
Another option is too book an official Vatican tour and avoid the
entrance queue
http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/z-Info/MV_Info_Servizi_Visite.html
VATICAN MUSEUM HRS
http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/z-Info/MV_Info_Orario.html
A day for ancient Rome; Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Colosseum, a walkby
from the sidewalk of the Imperial Forums, Pantheon, etc.
This will get you around the Colosseum queue which can be quite long
www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=3D2&tid=3D34606583
On your last day visit what interests you the most; ruins, museums,
churches, art, exploring neighborhoods, etc.
Regards, Walter
..And Paradise Was Lost...like teardrops in the rain...
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