Sep 03

The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel by Night | Unusual Top Quality Rome Tour

By ItalyTravelista Italy, Italy Museums, Rome, Rome Museums, Rome Nightlife, Vatican, Vatican Museums 1 Comment »

nancy aiello tour vatican by night illuminated The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel by Night | Unusual Top Quality Rome Tour

The 2010 edition of The Vatican Museums by Night will continue on September and October 2010 every Friday from 7.00 pm to 11.00 pm. Book your Vatican by night tickets early to avoid disappointment!

The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with more than four million visitors every year, more than 7 kilometers of alleys and more than 1400 rooms to tour host one of the most incredible collections of art and masterpieces in the world enjoyed by independent travelers and families with kids alike. The Vatican Museums are among the greatest museums in the world displaying works from an immense collection going back to ancient Rome times built up over the last 5 centuries by the Holy See starting with Pope Julius II who founded the Vatican Museums in the 16th century.

Rome visitors every Friday night on September and October 2010 have this truly memorable opportunity to enjoy the 2010 edition of the Vatican afterhours tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.

By touring the Vatican by night visitors are able to admire not only the breathtaking collections that include the Upper Galleries of the Vatican Museums (Candelabra, Tapestries and Maps), the Raphael rooms and the Sistine Chapel but will also have access to the Egyptian Museum, the memorable Pio-Clementino Museum and it’s Octagonal Courtyard home to some of the best Vatican’s classical statuary.

That’s just the beginning with more good news for October 2010 with the exceptional events «Che c’è di bello» that blend music, theater, cultural and art exhibitions. To attend these Vatican by night events tickets must be reserved in advance through the Vatican State official website or by contacting our VIP Vatican consultants that will be glad to design a one of a kind Vatican by night itinerary customized just for our guests in Rome.

These memorable artistic and cultural shows will start at around 8,30 PM and last for about an hour leaving then plenty of time to continue the tour of the Vatican and will be performed at some stunning Vatican venues such as the Terrazze della Pinacoteca, with its breathtaking views over the St. Peter’s Dome, the Gregorian Profane Museum, Raphael Loggia, the Cortile della Pigna (courtyard of the pine cone), part of the much older Cortile del Belvedere, and also in the so called Braccio Nuovo, a masterpiece of Rome neoclassical architecture.

Here below please find the detailed Vatican events scheduled for October 2010:

  • Friday October 1st «Arte della leggerezza e leggerezza nell’arte” with music by Barber, Grieg, Debussy and Milhaud (Terrazze della Pinacoteca)
  • Friday October 8th : « Spes mea cara. Omaggio a Maria» with Maestro Luca Salerno (Salone di Raffaello)
  • Friday October 15th «Australian Night» meetings with the aboriginal Australian culture and a show performed by Australians aborigines with an introduction by Nereda White (Terrazze della Pinacoteca enhanced by a visit to Missionary Ethnological Museum
  • Friday October 22nd Traditional Russian music conducted by the Moscow’s Cathedral Choir (Cortile della Pigna-Propilei enhanced by a visit to the Icons’ Room in The Vatican Pinacoteca museum)
  • Friday October 29th Il Bel Canto at the Museum with music from Verdi’s Il Trovatore

Would you like to tour the Vatican Museums with Nancy Aiello Tours? Please, contact Nancy Aiello Tours to learn more about our fun and comprehensive private guided Vatican City tour designed just for you and your party. Professional Italy tour planning company Nancy Aiello Tours provides private guided Vatican and Rome tours, Florence tours, Venice private excursions with English, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, French, German and Russian speaking qualified licensed Vatican touristic guides.

For your private guided tours of Italy contact Nancy Aiello Tours at info@nancyaiellotours.com

Ciao from Rome:-)

Nancy Aiello

ItalyTravelista.com

Join ItalyTravelista on Twitter

© Copyright 2010, Nancy Aiello Tours

Since 1997 Nancy Aiello Tours specializes in personalized private guided Vatican, Rome & Italy Tours for Leisure & Business Travelers including underground Rome and her hidden treasures.

New articles are published on our site weekly, sometimes daily. To keep up to date with our news, tips and current events, please sign up for ItalyTravelista free RSS feed.

If you are interested in publishing a version of this article please contact Nancy Aiello Tours.

Tour Italy at Your Own Pace with Nancy Aiello Tours

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Oct 19

Travel to Rome | A Day at the Vatican | Vatican Tips

By ItalyTravelista Italy, Rome Museums, Rome Travel Tips, Travel Italy, Vatican, Vatican Museums 2 Comments »

Travel to Rome | A Day at the Vatican | Vatican Tips

A Day at the Vatican | Tour Saint Peter 's Square

A tour of Rome is not complete without a day at the Vatican to visit the Holy See, explore St. Peter’s Basilica the world largest Christian church and tour the Vatican Museums the most impressive collection of fine art.


The Vatican City is one of most fascinating areas in Rome with an appeal that is quite unique. In the very small Vatican State visitors and devoted Catholics will appreciate an impressive collection of artistic and cultural treasures starting from St. Peter’s Square, one of the greatest architectural masterpieces of all time, one of the many open-air museums in Rome!

Designed by Bernini and built between 1656 and 1667, Saint Peter’s Square features two gigantic semicircles each comprising four rows of Doric columns totaling 284 columns adorned by 140 statues of Saints. In the middle of St. Peter’s Square is the famous Egyptian obelisk brought to Rome to grace Nero’s circus and erected in its current location by Pope Sixtus V in 1586. There are also two beautiful 17th century fountains adorning each side of the Holy Square. Between the obelisk and each fountain you’ll see a circular stone that marks the focal points of an ellipse and standing on one of these points, it appears to comprise a single row of columns. The backdrop to all this is St. Peter’s Basilica one of the most visited Rome’s landmarks.

Travel to Rome | A Day at the Vatican | Vatican Tips

Bernini's Saint Peter's Square | Vatican City a Must See When in Rome

The construction of the Basilica of Saint Peter began under Pope Julius II in 1506 and was completed in 1612. The imposing Church was built on top of a former 4th century basilica erected by the Emperor Constantine on the spot where the legend says the apostle Peter was crucified and buried. The dome was designed by Michelangelo and the church, the largest church in the world, covers an area of 23,000 m² (5.7 acres).


St. Peter’s Basilica is a magnet for art lovers featuring Bernini’s majestic canopy in the nave, Maderno’s magnificent Chapel of the Confession, the Pieta by Michelangelo, the Clementine Chapel by della Porta and the stunning tomb of Clement XIII by Canova, just to name a few of the famous masterpieces on display.


But a Vatican tour would not be complete without a tour of the Vatican Museums and the breathtaking Sistine Chapel ceiling, painted by Michelangelo.

Visitors will be impressed by the Egyptian and the Etruscan Museums, the Papal Apartments painted by Raphael and the Pinacoteca gallery that houses masterpieces by Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio and more Raphael. A visit to Saint Angel’s Castle, built by Emperor Hadrian in 135 AD, is a great way to round off a tour of the Vatican City.

Travel to Rome | A Day at the Vatican | Vatican Tips

Saint Angel's Castle | A nice walk from the Vatican

Vatican Travel Tips:

  • Vatican Museums Tickets can be purchased online at the Official Vatican Website
  • Vatican Dress Code For both ladies and men, knees and shoulders must be covered. No shorts of any kind are allowed
  • Wear comfy shoes. Sensible shoes are essential if you are to attempt the ascent of the Dome, as the 320 marble stairs after you emerge from the lift are very slippery
  • Days closed The Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays, except the last Sunday of the month when entrance is free of charge. Expect large crowds then. St. Peter’s Basilica is also closed every Wednesday morning when the Papal Audience is scheduled
  • Papal Audience Papal Audience is held every Wednesday and the free of charge Papal Audience Tickets should be booked well in advance
  • Dear Visitor Please Note: Don’t set your expectations to high! It’s a public ceremony and you won’t be able to talk to His Holiness, take pictures of your kids with the Pope or handshake with the Holy Father
  • More Vatican Tips and info can be found at my previous Vatican post here

Pizzeria and Restaurants near the Vatican

Trattoria Micci | Euro 30 |

Pizzeria la Pratolina | Euro 25 |

Pizzeria Giacomelli | Euro 25 | Via Faà di Bruno 25 Prati |

Osteria dell’Angelo | Euro 25 | Via Giovanni Bettolo 24 Prati |

Osteria Centouno | Euro 28 |

Cafes, Pizza to Go and Bars near the Vatican

Mondo Arancina | Pizza and arancini rice balls |

Pizzarium | Excellent Pizza to go |

Caffè Antonini | Good sandwiches and excellent Cappuccino | Via Sabotino 25 | Prati |

Franchi | Delicious deli very close to the Vatican City | Take Away |

Piacere e Passione | Excellent coffeeshop with food |

Would you like to share your Italy travel tips with us? Please write us your comment and we will be happy to post it! Buon Viaggio!

Ciao from Rome:-)

Nancy Aiello

ItalyTravelista.com

Join me on Twitter!

© Copyright 2009, Nancy Aiello Tours

Since 1997 Nancy Aiello Tours, based in Rome, specializes in Tailor-Made Private Guided Vatican, Rome & Italy Tours for Leisure & Business Travelers.

New articles are published on our site weekly, sometimes daily. To keep up to date with our news, tips and current events, please sign up for ItalyTravelista free RSS feed.

If you are interested in publishing a version of this article on your website please contact us for consent and further info.

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Aug 23

Rome Walking Tour | Tour the Vatican State

By ItalyTravelista Italy, Rome Travel Tips, Rome Walking Tours, Vatican, Vatican Museums 3 Comments »

Rome Walking Tour | Tour the Vatican State

Vatican City: St. Peter Square

When in Rome Visit the Vatican City at Your Own Pace!

Visiting the Vatican City is a Must for most travelers and visitors traveling to Rome. The Vatican is one of the most interesting and breathtakingly beautiful place in the world: St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’ Square.
Here is my Vatican State 101 to help guests and visitors to enjoy the Vatican City and its treasures worry-free.
The Vatican City, one of the most sacred places in Christendom, attests to a great history and a formidable spiritual venture. A unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces lie within the boundaries of this small state. At its centre is St Peter’s Basilica, with its double colonnade and a circular piazza in front and bordered by palaces and gardens. The Basilica, erected over the tomb of St Peter the Apostle, is the largest Christian religious building in the world, the fruit of the combined genius of Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini and Maderno.
Vatican City, officially the State of the Vatican City, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, the capital city of Italy. At approximately 44 hectares (110 acres or 0.44 km2), and with a population of around 900, it is the smallest country in the world by both area and population. In 1984, the Vatican was added by UNESCO to the List of World Heritage Sites; it is the only one to consist of an entire country.
The Vatican State has three entrances, under the surveillance of the Swiss Guards: the Bronze Door (to the right of Saint Peter), the Vault of the Bells (to the left of Saint Peter), and Saint Anne’s Gate (Via di Porta Angelica).

Rome Walking Tour | Tour the Vatican State

Saint Peter Basilica

Saint Peter Basilica

The Most Visited Basilica in the world adorned with Artistic Treasures.
The Basilica is open from 7 AM till 7 PM. Inside the Basilica you can visit:

Holy Vatican Grotto (Tombs of the Popes)-Entrance from the right transept.Opening hours: 8 AM to 5 PM

Historic-Artistic Museum (Treasure Saint Peter)
Opening hours: 8 AM to 5.40 PM. Tickets: € 6

The Dome: Entrance from the portico.
Opening hours: 8 AM to 4.45 PM. Tickets: € 7 including lift ride, € 4 without lift.

Audience with the Pope

Every Wednesday at 10.30 AM the Pope gives a general Audience in Saint Peter Square or in the Paul VI hall. During the summer months the Papal Audience takes place in Castel Gandolfo located in the beautiful hills of the Roman Castles (Castelli Romani).
To attend the Papal Audience a request must be presented, well in advance (5-7 days for individuals, 12-15 days for groups) to the Papal House Prefecture (fax. no. +39 0669885863), specifying name, date of preference, hotel in Rome, and for groups number of participants. Individuals may pick up the ticket for the audience at the Bronze Door of the Vatican City.

The Tomb of Saint Peter and the Necropolis also known as Scavi

To visit the excavations or Scavi under the Basilica of Saint Peter, you must present a written request, at least 15 days in advance but during peak season 30 days in advance, to the Vatican Excavations Office (scavi@fsp.va), specifying name and number of visitors, language, date of preference and address. The requests may be sent by fax or e-mail in a form directly at the Office (which is to the right past of the Bells).
Opening hours: 8 AM to 5 PM, closed on Religious Holidays. Tickets: € 10 including a guide for approx. 2 hrs tour.

The Vatican Gardens

The Papal Vatican Gardens have been a place of quiet and meditation for the Popes ever since 1279 when Nicholas III moved his residence back to the Vatican from the Lateran Palace and enclosed this cultivated area with walls. Today these walls are no longer standings owing to the site’s transformation at the beginning of the 16th century. Two new courtyards were created: the Belvedere and the “Pigna” or Pine Cone.
The Vatican Gardens in Vatican City are urban gardens and parks which cover approximately 20 hectares (49 acres) which is most of the Vatican Hill.

Rome Walking Tour | Tour the Vatican State

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel

The Vatican Museums contain masterpieces of painting, sculpture and other works of art collected by the Popes through the centuries. The Museums include several monumental works of art, such as the Sistine Chapel, the Chapel of Beato Angelico, the Papal Raphael Rooms and Loggia and the Borgia Apartment. As of 2008, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel were visited by 4,441,734 people so book your tickets on-line in advance by visiting the Holy See Official Website www.vatican.va
The entrance is from Via Vaticano, a short walk from piazza Risorgimento or the Ottaviano Metro Station.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday-9 AM to 4 PM, closes at 6 PM, 2 hours longer than last year!
Closed on Sundays, except for the last Sunday of the month when the visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel is free of charge-9 AM to 12.30 AM- closes at 2 PM and on Religious Holidays.
Tickets: Adult € 14, Kids € 8.

Rome Walking Tour | Tour the Vatican State

Vatican Museums Visit after Sunset

NEW! Visit the Vatican Museums after Sunset

Every Friday in September and October 2009 the Vatican Museums will be open to visitors from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm (last entrance at 9:30 pm).
Visitors will be able to admire important collections, following an itinerary that includes the Upper Galleries of the Vatican Museums (Candelabra, Tapestries and Maps) the Papal Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel.
Booking online is mandatory.

Historical Museums of the Vatican City
The Historical Museums of the Vatican City is located in the Noble Apartment of the Lateran Apostle Palace. Entrance from the hall of St. John in the Lateran Basilica in Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano.
Closed on Sunday and on Religious Holidays.
Tickets: € 5, or you may use your ticket from the Vatican Museums within 5 days of its issue.

Rome Walking Tour | Tour the Vatican State

Vatican Dress Code

Vatican Dress Code

A dress code is enforced for entry into St. Peter’s Basilica and Churches in general in Italy. The code is based upon what is considered “modest” and “appropriate” dress for visiting a Catholic church, and visitors are reminded that, although St. Peter’s is an architectural and artistic monument, it is first a place of worship and prayer. The dress code forbids:

  • hats for lay men inside the Basilica
  • shorts/skirts above the knees
  • sleeveless shirts
  • shirts exposing the navel
  • shirts for women that expose cleavage
  • shirts which contain profanity

Rome Walking Tour | Tour the Vatican State

Relax after a long day at the Vatican!

Restaurants & Pizzerie & Ice Cream near the Vatican State


Ristorante Da Benito e Gilberto
Ristorante La Veranda dell’Hotel Columbus
Trattoria Micci
Ristorante Da Cesare
Ristorante Dal Toscano
Gelateria Old Bridge
L’isola della Pizza

Enjoy your Vatican visit and please, let me know if I missed anything or if you want to share with us any Vatican tip or insight!

Ciao from Rome:-)


Nancy Aiello

NancyAielloTours.com
ItalyTravelista.com
Twitter.com/ItalyTravelista

© Copyright 2009, Nancy Aiello Tours

Since 1997 Nancy Aiello Tours, based in Rome, specializes in Tailor-Made Private Guided Vatican, Rome & Italy Tours for Leisure & Business Travelers.

New articles are published on our site weekly. To keep up to date with our news, tips and current events, please sign up for our free RSS feed.


If you are interested in publishing a version of this article on your website please contact us for consent and further info.

Rome Walking Tour | Tour the Vatican State

Tour the Vatican City | The Outstanding Saint Peter's Basilica

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