Rome Travel Answers

I've not taken this particular tour, but I've visited the Sistine a few times and each time it gets more and more crowded. My first visit in 1970 and I was allowed to actually lay on the floor to photograph the ceiling. On my last trip a few years ago cameras were not even allowed to be in you hand and the place was packed with people. If this tour is for only a few people you are in for a delightful time.

I agree. I have been in the Museums when they opened, and been jostled and hit by people racing from the entrance to the Chapel (which is at the exit), just so they can be in the Chapel for a few minutes before everyone else shows up. And once you are in the Sistine, the place will be packed with visitors all talking and gawking and taking photographs despite the admonitions of the guards...frankly, for most people, it's not a very religious experience. I haven't taken this tour, but if you are very interested, I would say to go on the tour; you will have an experience that most people can't share. Oh, and you might take binoculars - the ceiling is a long way up there ;-) Bill

Agree it's worthwhile if it means you get access with fewer people. The whole place has been sardined when I've visited. No fun at all, and not in the least atmospheric.

Reading the scread on the tour they have you in the Sistine an hour before general public/tour groups and you move out of chapel into museum as the public/groups are commencing & ditto for basillca My daughter and family did normal tour last May and she said shoulder to shoulder Dad When asked what i wanted for birthday i said some euro toward Vatican and she came up with 84 Euro [$108 aud] for full cost One very happy dad!!!

Ahh yes Al the seventies were my start in to travel and one of my first recollection of an ancient site was the Parthenon sitting atop the Acropli and i was staying in Monastiraki at the base On a Sunday morning we walked a kilometer to end of the street we were staying in to some ancient steps which led up to the Parthenon and to return down we walked down thru the Theatre of Dionysus and all for no cost On a trip to Athens in 2000 the whole place surrounded by a fence with a ticket box --a simalar situ to Sistine on your first visit in as much as less regulation but ravages of time some protection & restoration funds necessary

Just to add here - as I don't know what month this tour is scheduled for - please see Bill's ongoing updates on closures of the Sistine and other Vatican sites during upcoming Papal elections: Vatican City Travel Guide

Thursday 28th March is my visit and I will be watching close. According to tradition/and news bureau,s 15-20 days after his exit from office is conclave. I,like many PS customers will be in simalar situ Have 20/21 April and 4th June in Rome if raincheck needed

Thursday 28th March is my visit and I will be watching close. According to tradition/and news bureau,s 15-20 days after his exit from office is conclave & he steps down Feb 28 I like many PS customers will be in simalar situ Have 20/21 April and 4th June in Rome if raincheck needed --also on June 4 as i fly out that day at 8pm These dates i,ve emailed to their customer service so now its the fullness of time aproach

Normally, after the death of the Pope, there is a 9 day period of mourning before they start the conclave (the meeting in the Sistine Chapel)...but in this case, they are already discussing how that isn't necessary in this case...so the current thought is that the enclave will start sooner than "normal". Really, they're talking about maybe having a new Pope by mid-March...of course, it could be on the first ballot or the 1,000th ;-) Bill

Yes the cardinals could be assembled the day after he vacates which would be March 1st. Still a comfortable gap with Good Friday 4 weeks away so in my case i,m fairly OK but lots of peoples plans will be up in the air. This conclave unique in modern times and i wonder if a Pope ever died around a Christian festival like Easter or Christmas so causing disruption. Any one have an idea

I'm sure some past Popes must have died near such times but I cannot imagine that their deaths would disrupt the Christian ritual, most especially at Easter. So I'm sure the Easter services will continue as scheduled even if there is no Pope to officiate (which seems unlikely anyway)....although there will obviously be no Papal address.