Will The Vatican Be Open on Republic Day, June 2?

[Marysunshine]

Trying to work out our itinerary for our two and a half days in Rome prioir to Cruise.

We want to see:

Vatican Gardens, Vatican Museums and Sisting Chapel

Trevi Fountain

Piazza Naravone

Spanish Steps

Colosseum

Forum

Palatine Hill

Pantheon

I think we can do it all IF the Vatican is open on Republic Day. I already know that the Colosseum/Forum etc. open very late due to the parade and the holiday. Does anyone know for sure what the story is???

[euro cruiser]

Yes Mary, the Vatican Museums will be open that day. From the museums web site (http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/z-Info/MV_Info_Orari.html), these are the only days they are closed:

 

Sunday (except the last Sunday of every month, free entrance from 9 am to 12.30 pm; the Museums close at 2 pm unless it coincides with Easter Sunday, the 29th of June (St. Peter and Paul), 25th and 26th of December (Christmas and St. Stephen).

 

Free entrance also the 27th of September (World day of Tourism)

 

January 1, 6

 

February 11

 

March 19

 

Easter Day and Easter Monday

 

May 1

 

June 29 (St. Peter and Paul)

 

August 14, 15

 

November 1

 

December 8 (Immaculate Conception),

 

December 25, 26

[euro cruiser]

Trying to work out our itinerary for our two and a half days in Rome prioir to Cruise.

We want to see:

Vatican Gardens, Vatican Museums and Sisting Chapel

Trevi Fountain

Piazza Naravone

Spanish Steps

Colosseum

Forum

Palatine Hill

Pantheon

Here is what I'd suggest. Your hotel is very close to the Roman Forum and the combination ticket for the Forum/Colosseum/Palatine Hill is a two day ticket, so go there on your first day for a while, then fit it in again the next day. For example, maybe wander around the Forum on your first afternoon, but save the Colosseum (or a tour of both) for your second day when you are rested.

 

I'd also get to the Spanish Steps on arrival day, as there's nothing to really think about or absorb there so if you're a little "travel fuzzy" it won't matter.

 

If you can get into your hotel room upon arrival, you may want to rest. If you can't get in, or are too excited to rest right away, head down to the Forum ticket office (just off Via dei Fori Imperiale, near the base of Via Cavour). If you walk through the Forum and exit at the Colosseum, you can cross the street and take the metro from the Colosseum Stop to the Spanish Steps (stop Spagna, requires a change of lines at Termini).

 

From the Spanish Steps it is an easy walk to the Trevi Fountain. If you are tired at this point, you won't be far from your hotel. If you want to continue, you can follow the pedestrian path from Trevi to the Pantheon.