VATICAN CORNER
- Don’t come in June and July, the high peak crowd months. Your precious !me could be wasted in the sluggish pace of the crowds and in July the temperature can be extremely hot and humid making traveling and sightseeing uncomfortable.
- Rome like many big cities is infamous for overcharging tourists on cab fares. Don’t take the illegal, abundant, unmarked, taxis with no meter, or if you do, negotiate the price before accepting the ride. Don’t use the extremely expensive taxis from the airports. A train called the ‘Leonardo Express’ runs every half hour from Flumicino – Leonardo da Vinci International Airport to Termini Station in the center of Rome. Ciampino International Airport has a shuttle service ‘Terravision’ which will also transport you directly to Termini Station. These options are far more economical and are extremely convenient.
- Don’t plan to rent a car and drive around Rome unless you have a death wish. There is chaotic madness on the Roman streets. Lanes are just suggestions, traffic lights optional and forget about trying to park. Try public transit, taxi or walking instead.
- Don’t stand in line for hours waiting to get into the Vatican museum. Instead buy tickets ahead. Go to the museum on-line site: museivaticani.va, select the tour that you want, the number of people, date, time, then purchase tickets and print them at home. At the museum entrance you may find a line that wraps around the block, but do as the signs direct and go to the front of the line, past the glaring patrons, show the guard the tickets and he will let you in. Then go to the ticket booth marked “advanced sales” where an attendant will print your actual ticket.
- Do not try to enter the Vatican Museum with any: bags, backpacks or luggage measuring more than 15” x 13” x 6”, large umbrellas, those with spike tips, walking sticks (unless for disabled) camera or video stands & tripods, signs, knives, scissors, weapons or other dangerous objects, food, or drinks. All of these items must be le% at the cloakroom. You will be required to pass through a metal-detector. You may not enter inappropriately dressed, where your shoulders/arms or lower legs are bare. Don’t take photographs or film inside the Sistine Chapel. This rule is strictly enforced and staff are authorized to remove any such photographs or recordings, but you see tourists trying to break this rule all the time. Expensive restoration work was done in the 1980s and, to help fund the work, exclusive rights to photography was sold to the Nippon Television Network of Japan. This deal has since expired, but the official rule remains and besides there are lovely photobooks available at the gift shop. Elsewhere you may take photographs, but not using flash. Do not make sketches or drawings without prior approval. No telephones are allowed inside the Sistine Chapel, but elsewhere it is preferred that you not use them. Do not touch any works of art. Alarms and surveillance systems are in use. To be continued …
Sources: landlopers.com, .tickitaly.com, destinationtips.com