What is actually closed on a Sunday re Vatican?

[anniversay/grad trip]

We will be in Rome on a Sunday (June 6th/2010) and sadly, we have heard that the Vatican is closed on Sundays. Does that include ST Peter's Basilica too? What will we be able to see. Rome In Limo has quoted a Rome tour to us for a private tour but it states that the afternoon will be spent at the Vatican. We have been to Rome before and seen both, so spending an entire afternoon at ST Peter's/Sistine Chapel alone (although beautiful) is not something we want to do...suggestions?

[ab0si]

The Vatican Museum (which includes the Sistine Chapel will be closed. The Basilica will be open -- unless something special is going on

[euro cruiser]

Only the basilica, the treasury museum, and the dome will be open on a Sunday afternoon. If you're up for the climb, the dome is spectacular.

 

Otherwise, have you been to Castel Sant' Angelo? It's just down the street from Piazza San Pietro, on the river, and it's fascinating. The web site is only in Italian, but if you can't read the language you can get a sense of the place from the pictures: http://www.castelsantangelo.com/index.asp

 

You could ask your driver to take you up the Giancolo hill, to the park where lots of Roman families go on a Sunday afternoon, or to the Villa Borgheses and Pincio, another popular spot for families.

 

One place missed by almost all Americans, as far as I can tell, is Palazzo Quirinale, the Italian equivalent of the White House. It is only open to the public on Sunday mornings, so your timing is great for this. You can tour many of the public rooms, and there is a concert of some type most weeks at about noon on Sundays. The one we attended lasted about an hour and was in a magnificent room, the Pauline Chapel. You can see the list of scheduled concerts here: http://www.quirinale.it/qrnw/statico/artecultura/concerti/concerti-paolina.htm

[Poconolady]

Also on Sunday, the Pope appears in his chamber window to wave to the crowd. St Peters Square is packed for this and it is very interesting to see all of the different impromptu groups gathered from around the world. I think that it happens about 11AM, but check the Vatican schedule to be sure.

[D4]

Also on Sunday, the Pope appears in his chamber window to wave to the crowd. St Peters Square is packed for this and it is very interesting to see all of the different impromptu groups gathered from around the world. I think that it happens about 11AM, but check the Vatican schedule to be sure.

 

Before planning on seeing the Pope in June, check his schedule. I believe he spends the summer at his residence outside of Rome.