Getting out of Sistine Chapel & Vatican Museums through a shortcut, I went into St.Peter's Basilica. As you enter there are 3 doors - a queue to climb the dome. Quite amusingly the queue to get tickets to go to the dome hardly had about 10 people!!! Beside this was the door to go to the Vatican Grottoes which has free entry about which I'll talk about later. The other door was ofcourse the entry into St.Peter's Basilica!!! The original St.Peter's Basilica was built by Emperor Constantine in 318-322 CE. Later in 1506-1626, the present structure was constructed.
To Get There:
Nearest Metro Station: Vatican
Entry to Basilica and Grottoes: Free
Ticket to climb dome: €6:00 by stairs; €8.00 by elevator
Timings:
Basilica: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM (7:00PM in summers)
Cupola (Dome): 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (6:00PM in summers)
Grottoes: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM (6:00PM in summers)
Ticket to climb dome: €6:00 by stairs; €8.00 by elevator
Timings:
Basilica: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM (7:00PM in summers)
Cupola (Dome): 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (6:00PM in summers)
Grottoes: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM (6:00PM in summers)
Here are some tips:
It is not possible to book the Cupola ticket online.
Dress appropriately - no sleeveless and covered till below knee. If not, the security sends you to get a cover-up. Disposable cover-ups are available all over the city (which just looks like disposable surgical gowns made of non-wovens and they just look disgusting!).
Dress appropriately - no sleeveless and covered till below knee. If not, the security sends you to get a cover-up. Disposable cover-ups are available all over the city (which just looks like disposable surgical gowns made of non-wovens and they just look disgusting!).
The best way to explore Rome is by taking the 1 day transport pass. Though Vatican is a separate nation and not a part of Rome, don't worry, for all practical purposes, the Roman Visa and this transport pass is enough to access Vatican.
Water costs soooo much! Half a litre of water costs 2 Euros anywhere here. Wherever you're staying, try to fill up your bottles there before you set your foot out.