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Original poster

Rome - clothing

22 replies

Icecoldtulip · 05/04/2024 14:45

Hi. We are headed to Rome soon and we haven’t booked much as playing it by ear and seeing where the days take us.

just wondering which sights have a dress code of covering above the knees. (We will be wearing shorts most days) so will need to plan this. Assume it’s just Vatican City? Assume we will be fine for colosseum for example as it’s not religious?

OP posts:
user1486915549 · 05/04/2024 14:59

We go to Rome every year for a week in May. We have had everything from blazing sun to pretty cold so don’t assume it will be warm enough for shorts.
You would need to be covered for all church visits. I always carry a scarf to cover my shoulders too.

Original poster
Icecoldtulip · 05/04/2024 15:16

Thanks. If it’s not warm enough we’ll be fine but don’t want to boil in trousers if it’s hot in case we want to go in somewhere and can’t. We’ve booked the colosseum so know we can wear shorts that day if it’s hot - looks like it will be but not sure what to do the other days. Maybe just skip the religious places if need be.

OP posts:
SudExpress · 05/04/2024 16:05

A lot of churches will ask for covered shoulders and no short shorts.Not all of them though.

That's about it really. St Peter's itself will give you a shawl if you don't have anything.

If you're going soon, it's not really that hot yet.

Original poster
Icecoldtulip · 05/04/2024 16:08

Yeah we kind of hope it’s trousers weather as then we can just go anywhere but if it is warm we will want to wear shorts which will limit us a bit. I think our shorts are almost knee length but might not be long enough.

OP posts:
LIZS · 05/04/2024 16:12

Most churches, but long shorts are often ok. They usually have paper wraps for those who are too exposed.

Getuppa · 05/04/2024 16:14

At St Peter's they'll give you a floaty blue scarf to wrap around your shoulders or waist. People in our tour group had knee length shorts on and that was no problem.

Getuppa · 05/04/2024 16:15

Maybe just skip the religious places if need be

That would be a huge mistake. The religious places are breathtaking. Except the Sistine Chapel. I was extremely underwhelmed

CJ0374 · 05/04/2024 16:16

I realise not your question, but wear comfy shoes. There are cobbles everywhere! We went off season pre-covid and the queues were fine. Once you know where you want to go though, you might want to buy tickets beforehand online- incase you do get really long queues.

Original poster
Icecoldtulip · 05/04/2024 16:26

Yes trainers are on the agenda. Thank you. Will try not to skip the religious buildings as it would be a shame but I guess it won’t be hot all the time so can plan to do them in a cooler day.

which would you say were the best, in your opinion.

OP posts:
Original poster
Icecoldtulip · 09/04/2024 08:06

Any tips for the best religious buildings? Do we need actual passports to visit Vatican City or will a picture do? We haven’t booked tickets so prob won’t get any now but thinking about it. Even if we can’t go in is it worth looking around outside?

OP posts:
Original poster
Icecoldtulip · 09/04/2024 08:07

Any tips for the best religious buildings? Do we need actual passports to visit Vatican City or will a picture do? We haven’t booked tickets so prob won’t get any now but thinking about it. Even if we can’t go in is it worth looking around outside?

OP posts:
abricotine · 09/04/2024 08:25

Hmm, playing it by ear isn’t wise for Rome. Especially at a super popular time of year. You’ll find yourself waiting in very long queues you could have skipped. Book one big site a day in advance and then smaller sites can flex around it. You don’t need a passport for Vatican City.

LIZS · 09/04/2024 08:32

No passport for Vatican. You would need to book for the museum, which leads to the Sistine chapel but not St Peters.

BathTangle · 09/04/2024 08:33

Vatican city boundary is just a painted line on the ground in the middle of St Peter's Square... no actual border at all 😀.
My top tip for St Peter's if you don't want to queue is to get there before 7am when it opens. I did this last Saturday and was through security at 7am and into a virtually empty church: it was breathtaking! We went up to the cupola at 7.30 and were enjoying the view at 8am. By 8.30am the queue to get in to the church was the entire way round the square, so probably 2 hours or so of queueing before you even get in.

BathTangle · 09/04/2024 08:35

Also check out the various Rome threads on the MN travel board which are full of good tips about booking things.

LIZS · 09/04/2024 08:40

For other churches just drop in as you pass an open door. Some will have paintings in a chapel for which you pay a fee. Iirc there is at least one with Roman remains in the crypt, might be the one the Bocca della Verita (Santa Maria in Cosmedin) or Basilica San Clemente. Pantheon is also worth a visit to admire the inviisible structure which holds it up.

TizerorFizz · 09/04/2024 09:05

@LIZS An invisible structure really cannot be seen! The very early concrete roof is interesting! It’s supported by the brick and concrete load bearing walls and in turn the foundations. Like all domed roofs. It’s an amazing building given its age. Www.archeoroma.com has a great description.

TizerorFizz · 09/04/2024 09:08

On the subject of shorts, aren’t longer skirts quite cool? Or light cotton wider trousers as alternates to shorts. I never wear shorts these days.

BathTangle · 09/04/2024 09:34

TizerorFizz · 09/04/2024 09:08

On the subject of shorts, aren’t longer skirts quite cool? Or light cotton wider trousers as alternates to shorts. I never wear shorts these days.

Yes to this. Last weekend was 25 degrees plus and most women were wearing floaty dresses or long wide trousers.

SudExpress · 09/04/2024 10:39

https://m.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani-mobile/it.html

Vatican museum tickets official website.

Book a time slot (iirc you have to anyway) It will definitely be busier than St Peter's itself, especially once you're on the way through to the Sistine chapel itself. (another thing to be aware of is that in the SC (more so than St P's itself) the guards will tell you off and actually escort you out if they feel you're making too much noise. St Peter's has volunteer staff, the SC has armed guards. (or did in August last year)

You don't need tickets for St. Peter's and tbh, there are so many turnstiles that even if the queue looks daunting, you get in quite quickly. Last time we were there (a Friday morning) we happened upon a cardinal's funeral which was quite interesting to witness.

Musei Vaticani – Sito ufficiale

Benvenuti nei Musei che custodiscono l’immensa collezione d’arte raccolta dai papi a partire dal XVI secolo

https://m.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani-mobile/it.html

WoodBurningStov · 09/04/2024 10:42

Religious places like legs and shoulders to be covered so take a large shawl and you'll be fine

Wear comfy trainers

coolmum123 · 09/04/2024 10:47

We booked our Vatican tour online and then rocked up. If you can buy tickets online I would highly recommend that as you then skip the queues. we did that with the Colosseum too.
Id pack for all seasons. We have been when its poured down with rain all day every day and when its been boiling hot! The heat literally bounces off the stone which makes it even hotter. Also book restaurants if you can as they get booked up too.

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