Dress code vatican rome

[Misthios]

Having a bit of a battle with teenage DD. We are going to Rome soon and have a tour booked of the Vatican museums, also intending seeing St Peter's Square and the Basilica. Have read online that the dress code (knee length trousers/skirt and no bare shoulders, no cleavage, no backless) is strictly enforced. DD of course thinks this is completely unreasonable and doesn't see why she has to pack a pair of jeans or something as "they won't enforce it anyway".

My point of view is that it's not worth the risk of being refused admission for want of a non-strappy top and a pair of jeans. Anyone been recently and can advise?

Id definitely have a hard conversation about respect. Actually I wouldn't explain it as a their house their rules thing.

If someone has something deeply precious to them, you don't have to understand why its precious or even agree with it being precious. You wouldnt go smash it for the hell of it.

@OpusGiemuJavlo According to religious thinking, it’s not just the pope’s house, it’s god’s house (at least St Peter’s and the Sistine chapel are). Similar thinking would apply to synagogues and mosques.
As far as I know rules also apply to men, so no shorts, string vests etc.

I’m 22 so probably not massively far off your daughter’s age and went to Rome last September. I packed three maxi dresses and a scarf to wear as a pashmina and I was so glad I wasn’t in shorts every day. In addition to the Vatican and the Pantheon (which also has a dress code of shoulders/above the knee covered), there were churches we stumbled across spontaneously which we went into and whilst these did not have a formal dress code, I would have felt out of place if my legs and shoulders were not covered.

I know you said that your Dd wouldn’t be interested in going to any other churches but I honestly think one of the joys of visiting Rome is having the option of doing so. I appreciate your Dd probably wants to look instagrammable but maxi dresses or a maxi skirt and top (with a scarf to cover the shoulders where necessary) can be really pretty. I think if I were you I’d offer to take her shopping and let her pick out one or two maxi dresses and a scarf (or linen trousers and a top of that’s her preference) which she likes and would be happy to wear.

Was fully enforced 5 years ago when I went, we took midi length dresses and wraps for our shoulders

The expression is literally "when in Rome" I mean come on, you are going into the Pope's house? It is enforced yes, like the women on MN who make people take their shoes off at the door "His house, his rules". Would she go in a mosque dressed inappropriately? A Buddhist temple? I'd be very frank and tell her I would not take her if she was not going to dress in the required way because I'd be embarrassed of how rude and lacking in basic social skills she is.

I wore knee length shorts and Tshirt. Took a pashmina to cover shoulders

If she's that stubborn, say she'll have to wait outside.

I went to Rome last August. It was 40°C most days. I wore baggy t-shirts & long culottes or skirts. Stuff my then 16yo wouldn't be seen dead in. I did ask her, do you want to go inside the Vatican and she pulled a face. Does your DD REALLY want to go inside or is it to please you? We're not a religious family and DD find all the iconography a bit distasteful so we got the photo of us outside then moved on.

Can I recommend the Santa Maria Della Vittoria. A stunning church housing The Ecstasy of St Theresa by Bernini. An absolute gem of a place which was the highlight of my Rome visit

We have a breakthrough. She "supposes" that she could wear her white linen trousers.

Last time I was in Rome it was over 40 degrees. Linen was a godsend.

Same.

It's actually hard to even describe that sort of heat in Rome. It's totally different to 40 degrees on the beach. Those old buildings absorb the sun and it feels like you're being baked in an oven.

Having spent a July in Madrid as a student I know what you're saying.

We were there in September. The dress code is only for the Sistine chapel and the basilica. A scarf or shawl over bare shoulders will suffice and I don’t think short shorts would be ok.

We spent a week in 40c in Rome. Having something to quickly cover your shoulders with so you can duck into cool peaceful churches for 5 minutes breather from the heat and crowds is a God send.

She’ll cotton on after a day or two.

I remember being about 16 and getting in a right hump about having to wear my mum’s anorak in a church in Italy. Fox knows why she was carrying an anorak in the Italian summer heat!
however, I get it now and am happy to cover up. Wore a knee length dress and covered shoulders with lightweight cardigan when visiting St Peter’s. Think my daughter wore leggings. However we kind of regretted going inside as we had to queue outside in the full sun for ages to go thorough the security checks and we felt slightly ill from it and were covered in sweat. I would probably choose to see if from outside if I were to go again in high summer.

Yes. I had a bit of a mind melt and forgot when I went and wore a strappy top. Had to buy a massively over priced t-shirt from one of the tourist tat people.

They do enforce it, so do factor it in when packing.

However don't make her wear jeans! She will boil!

Lightweight trousers, cropped trousers or a dress/skirt that is knee length or longer will be much more comfortable.

Shoulders and midriff need to be covered. No low cut tops with obvious cleavage.

I would take a sarong in your bag to cover shoulders so you don't have to wear sleeves but wear longer bottoms.

The rules apply to men too so I have no issue following them.

You won't get refused entry just required to buy a paper shawl before you enter.

The same applies to most religious sites in Italy, including the pantheon.

They do enforce it but also offer light disposable paper sheets to tie as skirts or over shoulders. Most churches in Italy are strict about dress-code.

It’s definitely ‘a thing’ in Italy, and many other countries, to show respect for their religion and traditions.
If your daughter prefers to think that she knows it all then she must expect to be stopped from entering a church etc unless she covers up.

She will be pissed off when she gets inside and sees effigies of some guy nailed up wearing little more than a wraparound nappy.
One rule for hot-and-bothered tourists, another for convicted criminals/saviours!

If it's a church / cathedral where you pay to enter then they normally have the little diagrams outside to indicate what is and isn't acceptable . Flip flops should be fine (although I don't see them as being very comfortable for sightseeing) and generally longer length shorts if worn with a T shirt which covers your shoulders. Mostly it's just a sign of respect though even if the dress code isn't specified . I normally carry a light sarong-type wrap in my bag just in case .