| Page Views: 18,854 Last Visit to Vatican City: - I Visit Here Frequently | Vatican City - Holy See by icunme - last update: Nov 5, 2009  |
My best view of the Vatican
NEWS FLASH - THE SISTINE CHAPEL WILL BE CLOSED SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009.
Plan accordingly if you are to be in Rome from November 20 THROUGH November 23.
Friday, 11/20 and Monday, 11/23 will likely be crowded days as a result of this Saturday closure. There is a possibility that other rooms of the Vatican Museum may be closed on Friday, November 23. The Pope has invited artists for a special viewing. If your travel plans are set for this particular week, you may consider “skip the line” tickets at the Vatican Ticket Office.
NEWS FLASH - JANUARY 1 NEW YEARS DAY - Tens of thousands gather in St. Peter's Square, filling the streets with pageantry and music, to celebrate and receive the Pope's New Year's Day blessing. In keeping with the Italian tradition, enthusiastic spectators fall into step alongside the band route from the grand Via della Conciliazione and culminating in St. Peter's Square. MASSIVE TRAFFIC!
Yes, the last Sunday of every month is FREE entrance at the Vatican Museum with long ques -- unless you arrive and enter about 11 a.m. and you will still have plenty of time. Officially, the Musueum site says they close at 2. The last entrance is 12:30 and I have left as late as 3:00.
You can request Papal Audience tickets at the links below. Either directly at the Vatican Prefecture of the Papal Household or Santa Susanna, which is the church that serves the American community in Rome, and is always a good source of information and tickets for the Vatican audiences.
Go to: Prefecture of the Papal Household
or
Santa Susanna Click on Tickets at the bottom of the Santa Susanna page.
NEWS - A New United States Ambassador to the Holy See, Dr. Miguel Humberto Diaz, presents his appointment to the Pope October 2, 2009, at the Vatican.
St. Peter's Basilica and related pages will be here in "Vatican City" - the separate City within a Country within Rome.
We posted a Things to Do tip regarding reservations for an Audience with the Pope. Yes, it is possible to request a reservation for an audience - it should be well in advance of your visit to Rome - view details in our tip.
While it is, indeed, not to be missed - it is not my favorite place for devotion and/or prayer, given the constant swarm of tourists and general lack of reverence. This is, unfortunately, a condition that prevails in many churches of Rome where you find the more notable art works. |
| Pieta encased inprotective glass in St Peter's |
|  | Vatican a City in its own Country |
Span of Saint Peter's Basilica View from St Peter's Basilica entrance - when you step inside, the sheer span of this Basilica is overwhelming | | | A rare moment with few tourists in St Peter's |
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| Pros: | "Astonishing in artworks and in size" | | Cons: | "Usually crowded - tourists' general lack of reverence" | | In A Nutshell: | "A MUST SEE - regardless of your religion..........." |
icunme's Vatican City Travel Tips
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 Comments for icunme about Vatican City | | | | |
hopang Tue Sep 22, 2009 16:27 UTC
Absolutely amazing Vatican City page with marvellous images. Certainly bring back fond memories of our trip there. We did not make it to Vatican Museum - definitely worth a visit! We hope to visit the museum on our next trip. ~ho & pang | ViajesdelMundo Sun Sep 20, 2009 20:48 UTC
WOW! such fab, detailed info, Carol! My 1st trip here was in '77with my dear Mother; we climbed up to top of the Vatican--got claustrophia a little; but grt views; now bn awhile since last there 2001 but got to attend a Mass by Pope doing a beatification! | spgood301 Mon Sep 7, 2009 18:19 UTC
I believe members of Congress still make appointments to the service academies; that hasn't changed from what I know. | gilabrand Wed Sep 2, 2009 13:26 UTC
Excellent guide to the Vatican. If I go again, I will follow your lead. |
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