Vatican Museum Entrance to be Covered

Although the lines at the Vatican Museums in Rome are nowhere near as long as they used to be (some years ago the opening time was changed from 10am to 8.30am) waiting times of several hours ae still not exceptional. This is of course a big problem when it is raining or in the summer months of July and August when the temperatures in Rome can be well over 30 degrees Celsius.

As of November 2009 the wait will be less uncomfortable, since it has been decided to broaden the sidewalks on the Viale Vaticano and the Viale dei Bastoni di Michelangelo, the two roads leading to the Vatican Museums’ entrance. Moreover, an awning will cover these sidewalks and protect the visitors from the sun and the rain.

Another change that will take place, initially only on certain dates but later on a permanent basis, is that the Vatican Museums will also be open in the evening, from 7pm until 9pm.

Rome – new Vatican Museums ticket prices and policy

At the moment the Vatican museums open at 9.45am and close at 3.45pm (except on saturdays and on the last sunday of the month when they close at 1.45pm). As of January 2007 this will change. Visitors will be admitted at 8am and 9am, but only if they are part of tour groups registered at Italian chambers of commerce. People who prefer visiting the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel by themselves and seeing the exhibitions at their own speed will not be allowed to enter before 10am anymore. This will be a setback especially during the winter months when the Vatican Museums close at 1.45pm every day.

The privileged agencies will have to deposit €6,000 in order to be allowed to handle the bookings. The bookings will have to be made at least 30 days beforehand. (Foreign agencies will thus be excluded and so will Rome’s authorized guides. Presumably the owners of the Italian tour agencies will have uncorked some nice bottles of champagne upon hearing the news.)

The admission price will go up from €12 to €13, with an extra €2 booking fee (so being part of a Vatican Museum tour group will really cost you €15 as of next year).

Groups of up to 30 people who want a private visit (after closing time) will be charged €2,500 (plus €15 per person) for a two hour visit, which at the moment costs €1,800 plus €12 per person. For very large groups (of more than 100 people) the price is augmented from €7,000 to €20,000. Plus the individual tickets, that goes without saying.

Roman necropolis opens to the public

The “Necropoli dell’Autoparco”, named such because it was discovered during excavations for a car park, will be opened today. The 2,000 year old Roman necropolis, discovered inside the Vatican walls, displays 250 tombs containing bones of both pagans and Christians from all classes.

While the work goes on the burial grounds can be visited via a walkway. Reservations for the visit are obligatory and can be made by e-mail: visitespecialimusei@scv.va. The cost of admission is 5€.

Although work will continue, the Roman burial grounds can be visited via a walkway for five euros a person by making a reservation only. Reservations can be made by email to: visitespeciali.musei@scv.va.

From the B&B Chaplin Hostel Rome you walk to Termini and take the metro line A to Ottaviano (6 stops). From the Little Italy Bed and Breakfast you take the metro from Vittorio Emanuele to Ottaviano (7 stops)