Vatican questions for people who've done viva italia

[Rapunzellover]

Some vatican questions for those who've gone on ADB's italy adventure.

1. Did anybody have their vatican day on a wed. -- with the pope doing his weekly message? My tour will be going on a wed and I'm curious how the pope's weekly message might affect things. Can anyone spak from experience

2. About how long did you spend in st peter's? Did you see any of the grotto's?

3. Did you get to see Bramante's staircase at the vatican? The gold room? The niccolene chapel?

Anyone who can answer would be much appreciated. I'm very interested in knowing some potential answers to these questions as I plan my trip.

 

[OKW Lover]

We just did the Vatican a few days ago (Thursday, 9/18). We were able to spend quite a bit of time in St. Peters - probably 25 minutes or more. We did not get to see the grottos.

There is a separate tour that you can book for that on your own (not through ABD). Several people from our group did it, but were not thrilled. Its extremely tight quarters and very uncomfortable humidity.

Can't recall, or don't know were those three locations in your 3rd point are so I can't answer that part of the question.

 

[mare1203]

1/2) We did not go on a Wednesday, but I can tell you it was an early day. ABD is allowed into St. Peter's about 30 minutes prior to the public, so we were in by about 9:00 a.m. We had 25 minutes to explore St. Peters on our own before meeting up with our guide who spent another 35 minutes giving us a guided tour of the main areas. The Pope (if he's in town) will speak at 10:30, so you might be somewhat affected from a crowd perspective, but not in getting in to St. Peters.

3) Everyone who visits the Vatican Museum sees/experiences the Bramante Staircase as it serves as the museum exit. There is an elevator for those who cannot do the staircase.

Due to the nature of the special-access tour, the itinerary changes each time, regardless of who booked and is giving the tour. Access to the secret rooms varies and is based on availability. We did not do either of the rooms listed, but as it says above, the itineraries may change due to a variety of reasons.

 

[georgiagirl2]

Our Viva Italia trip this past May/June began on a Monday. According to the itinerary booklet that came in our pre-trip box, the St. Peter's tour and the after hours tour of the Vatican Museum were to occur on the second full day of the tour (which would have been a Wednesday). Instead, on Tuesday, our first full day, we met at 8:30 AM and immediately set out for St. Peter's from the Gran Melia. We toured St. Peter's from right around 9:00 and finished our bathroom break right around 10:30. We walked around by ourselves just taking it in for the first 25 minutes, then spent about 40 minutes with our guide, then had about 20 minutes on our own. DH followed a group downstairs during that last 20 minutes and I followed him, so yes, we were able to see some of the tombs of the different popes. It was quick, though, not a part of the guided tour.


Afterward we went to the Vatican gift shop and walked over to Castel Sant'Angelo and toured that. Then we had a nice relaxing lunch and went on to tour the Coliseum and the Roman Forum that afternoon.


I asked our local guide, Christina, why the itinerary changed and she said the crowds that flock to see Pope Francis on Wednesdays make it extremely difficult to tour in that area, so they changed it around for our group.


We did tour the Vatican Museum on Wednesday as planned, but it was after hours so the crowds didn't impact us at all.


As mare1203 said, you will exit the Vatican Museum via the Bramante Staircase. It is magnificent!

 

[Rapunzellover]

Our Viva Italia trip this past May/June began on a Monday. According to the itinerary booklet that came in our pre-trip box, the St. Peter's tour and the after hours tour of the Vatican Museum were to occur on the second full day of the tour (which would have been a Wednesday). Instead, on Tuesday, our first full day, we met at 8:30 AM and immediately set out for St. Peter's from the Gran Melia. We toured St. Peter's from right around 9:00 and finished our bathroom break right around 10:30. We walked around by ourselves just taking it in for the first 25 minutes, then spent about 40 minutes with our guide, then had about 20 minutes on our own. DH followed a group downstairs during that last 20 minutes and I followed him, so yes, we were able to see some of the tombs of the different popes. It was quick, though, not a part of the guided tour.


Afterward we went to the Vatican gift shop and walked over to Castel Sant'Angelo and toured that. Then we had a nice relaxing lunch and went on to tour the Coliseum and the Roman Forum that afternoon.


I asked our local guide, Christina, why the itinerary changed and she said the crowds that flock to see Pope Francis on Wednesdays make it extremely difficult to tour in that area, so they changed it around for our group.


We did tour the Vatican Museum on Wednesday as planned, but it was after hours so the crowds didn't impact us at all.


As mare1203 said, you will exit the Vatican Museum via the Bramante Staircase. It is magnificent!

Awesome to know! Did you still get an afternoon free? And free time for dinner any day?

 

[Sarabi's Cubs]

There are separate tours of the grottos, gardens, and necropolis that you can book through the vatican website. You have to book them well in advance. As Jeff said, the Scavi tour is extremely humid and tight quarters. However, Brian and I found it fascinating and well worth the discomfort. It was very interesting to learn about the ancient foundations underneath the current basilica before seeing what's there now.

We did not have much time in the Vatican museum, but the timing of our tour was different (we did not see the Sistine chapel after hours).

Laurie

 

[old lady]

This sounds fun. i would love to go , however, I am concerned about security issues.

 

[sayhello]

This sounds fun. i would love to go , however, I am concerned about security issues.

What kind of security issues are you concerned about?

Sayhello

 

[OKW Lover]

This sounds fun. i would love to go , however, I am concerned about security issues.

I don't know what security issues you may be referring to at the Vatican or elsewhere. Perhaps you've heard about possible pickpockets? Traveling in a group like ABD is a really good defense against pickpockets since everybody is together and watches out for each other.

 

[LoveMickey]

I don't know what security issues you may be referring to at the Vatican or elsewhere. Perhaps you've heard about possible pickpockets? Traveling in a group like ABD is a really good defense against pickpockets since everybody is together and watches out for each other.

Did you use those 'under your clothes' waistband wallet thing for your passport/Euros?

 

[KathyTX]

We didn't encounter any security issues, but we were a pretty tight little group.

I also carried one of these CitySafe bags: steel mesh in the strap to protect from slash-and-run theft, a zipper top with a clip closure to prevent pickpockets from unzipping the bag, RFID blocking, adjustable crossbody strap. ... It was a very handy bag for this trip.

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/travel/totesBags?productId=10034828&N=255

 

[OKW Lover]

Did you use those 'under your clothes' waistband wallet thing for your passport/Euros?

I did not. We were advised to leave our passports in the hotel room safe. I just carried a form of ID, a couple of credit cards and my Euros in my front pockets.

 

[Rapunzellover]

A Passport isn't needed for the Vatican?

 

[OKW Lover]

A Passport isn't needed for the Vatican?

No it isn't

 

[LoveMickey]

I did not. We were advised to leave our passports in the hotel room safe. I just carried a form of ID, a couple of credit cards and my Euros in my front pockets.

Thank you for that information. I had read on Trip Advisor the discussion of passport vs copy of passport and people were pretty adamant that you needed to bring your original passport in case the authorities stopped you.

 

[carpenta]

Thank you for that information. I had read on Trip Advisor the discussion of passport vs copy of passport and people were pretty adamant that you needed to bring your original passport in case the authorities stopped you.

We have traveled Western Europe a number of times and never taken our passport out of the room safe. My wife does carry a cut proof/ pickpocket proof handbag with a copy of our passports but even then we have never needed even those. Just a form of ID like drivers' license is needed. Even though the Vatican is a " separate country" it is really just more a section of Rome. Rome is such a walkable city so get out and explore. Have a wonderful trip.

 

[sayhello]

Thank you for that information. I had read on Trip Advisor the discussion of passport vs copy of passport and people were pretty adamant that you needed to bring your original passport in case the authorities stopped you.

I, too, always leave my passport in the room safe and carry a copy in my purse. The chance of needing your passport is far less than the chance of having it stolen or losing it. If you're stopped by the authorities, you can show them the copy, and tell them the original is in your hotel safe. It's easier to retrieve your passport from the hotel safe than it is to get a new passport.

I, also, carried a slash-proof Pacsafe bag while in Spain and Italy. Worked well.

Sayhello

 

[mapsd]

Same here.
We carry a copy of our passport only.

We also scan images of our passports, flight info, & credit cards: then email them to ourselves so always have access from our phone or via any computer if something happens

 

[k5jm]

I keep a Passport Card with me and keep the Passport in the safe.

It has all the same info minus the stamps. I use it as my ID. When I get a SIM card for my Ipad, I have to use my Passport. That is the only time it came out of the safe. The rest of the time, I use my passport card and have had no problems using it as ID.

 

[sayhello]

Also, if you *do* need your Passport for some reason during your ABD, the Guides will tell you about that (multiple times!) to make sure you're carrying it that day. In Scotland, we needed them to fly to the Isle of Lewis, I believe it was. (It's all hazy now. ) But the Guides made sure we had them for that day. Otherwise, it stayed in the hotel safe.

Sayhello