Vatican/Vatican City

[chachalaca]

It's me again with more questions!

Do any of you have experience with the evening tours?

There are so many tour options and combos and I am paralyzed! Do we go during the day? Take advantage of the evening tours? What parts of the city are a "must see"? What's the best chance for lingering a bit in the Sistine Chapel?

This is my first time to Rome and we'll have our 18 year old nephew with us. What are your suggestions to make this memorable and as easy as possible given the throngs of tourists in June?

Do you know there's a 1500 euro option of a semi private tour? I would hope that was conducted by the Pope himself! This is NOT one of the tours I'm looking at, however.

Thank you all. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate everyone's time and input.
Laura

 

[Pauline]

I have heard there are smaller evening tours and I would look into that.

Otherwise it is a long wait in a long line, then huge crowds shuffling through the museum to get to the Sistine Chapel (you have to go through the whole museum to get to it). Then a mass of people in the Sistine Chapel with a nun barking at you to be quiet (brought back my catholic school memories). Worth it still to see it, but would be nice to see it more easily.

Does Tony from 3 Millennium tours offer anything?

 

[chachalaca]

I will check on Tony! Thank you, Pauline.

 

[Rebecca]

I haven't done an evening tour, but I've been to the museums when they have Friday night evening hours. Granted, it wasn't our first visit (which was a daytime tour with Tony), but it was a great way to see the museums and the chapel. We reserved and paid online and waited only a few minutes to get in. We took the first entry and found the light was gorgeous at that time of night in the Sistine.

 

[Pauline]

Here is the link to Tony's tour company: http://threemillennia.com/

He was a regular on ST (maybe still is) when he first started the company.

 

[SusanSeattle]

And if you want some reading for before you see the ceiling, check out:
hhttp://www.amazon.com/Michelangelo-...&keywords=michaelangelo+and+the+popes+ceiling

It's a little long, but fascinating. I just read it for my book club & we all enjoyed it.

 

[chachalaca]

Thanks!