Tips for a short visit to Rome and the Vatican City
Written: Dec 09 '99 (Updated Oct 02 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Sistine Chapel restoration
Cons: long bathroom lines
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| ms_block's Full Review: Holy See (Vatican City) |
Review Topic: Practical Information
Review Topic: Practical InformationAh, Rome for a day. Much too short of a visit.
During a trip to Italy with some friends, I took a side day trip to Rome alone. I have some tips and recommendations for those people who only have a short time in Rome. If I had to do it over again, I would spend three days in Rome, and spend one of those days in the Vatican City.
Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel has been renovated and is well worth seeing. If it has been a long time since you have been there, the colors are very bright since they have cleaned off the soot from burning candles. Also, there was very little scaffolding still up (fall 1997). It should be even better by now. You can't take pictures inside the chapel, so I bought a poster of the entire ceiling. I only saw them for sale inside the museum, and it was really cheap, less then $15.
TIPS:
Get a VERY good map. I wasted a lot of time because my map didn't make sense and didn't have the most famous sites listed.
Use public transportation, it can save you a lot of time.
Arrive as early as you can. There are tours of the museum of varying lengths, and it is best to decide when you have a lot of time to work with.
Men and women: do not wear shorts or tank tops. The signs are serious; you will not be allowed into churches if you are not properly attired. Pack with modest, cool clothing if traveling in summer. If you want to wear a tank top, bring a light shirt tied around your waist and put it on before you enter a church.
Women: I would suggest wearing skirts, they keep you cooler.
Do not walk around the Vatican City. I did (dumb story). It is very long and dangerous. There is no sidewalk, you don't know which corner is the last, and the cars are really fast. ACK!
Keep in mind that lines to the bathroom (particularly women's) are very long, especially outside St. Peters. Go before you have a need. Also, there is an attendant there. If you find there is no toilet paper (look first) step out, motion to the people in line to wait, and get some from the attendant.
(If you were the one who finished the roll, please be courteous to the next person in line and ask the attendant to replenish the paper!)
If you see something for sale that you like, especially in the Vatican City, buy it. You might not see it again.
Have a great time!
Don't forget to rate this review. Thank you.
Recommended:
Yes
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ms_block
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