Sistine Chapel And Vatican Museums Disabled Access

Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums
Disabled Access

www.sagetraveling.com/Sistine-Chapel-Vatican-Disabled-Access

Sistine Chapel Disabled Access at the Vatican
Visiting Vatican City in a wheelchair consists of two parts:
1) Visiting the Vatican Museums, Raphael Rooms, and Sistine Chapel
2) Visiting the St. Peter’s Basilica.

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The two parts are not connected by step-free access so wheelchair
visitors will need to take a 0.6 mile (1.0 km) external route along
a sidewalk to get between the two.
• The route is downhill going from the Vatican Museums to St. Peter’s
Basilica.
• Consequently handicapped accessible Sistine Chapel visits should
occur before visiting St. Peter’s Basilica. Both areas are generally less
crowded in the afternoons than in the mornings.


• The Vatican Museums have a ramp at the entrance and elevators
to get between the floors.
• The normal visitor’s route involves a few flights of stairs, and disabled
visitors are allowed to go backwards along parts of the tour route and
through roped off areas to avoid the steps.


The official policy is that Vatican Sistine Chapel handicapped
visitors are free only if they present documentation of their
disability. (In many European countries people are issued documents
from the federal government describing the percent of their disability.)


• In actuality visitors with visible disabilities (such as using a
wheelchair) and their companion are usually given free
admission.
• Rental wheelchairs are available in the lobby. Sistine Chapel
handicapped accessible guided tours can be booked in advance.


• We gave the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel a 5 Star Sage
Accessibility Rating because there is step-free access throughout
via ramps, elevators, and wheelchair lifts.
• Additionally the floors are smooth and the ramps have a similar slope
as those required by US and UK accessibility standards.


Accessible route from entrance through Vatican Museums and
Raphael Rooms to Sistine Chapel (total route to the Sistine Chapel
and back to the entrance is 1.0 mile or 1.6 km).


• There is a curb cut on the street followed by a ramp (shown in
the image on the right) to get to the entrance of the Vatican
Museums.
• The revolving door has a push/pull door located immediately to the
right.


• An elevator straight ahead of you takes you down to the
accessible restroom.
• Ask the staff member working the coat check for a key to the disabled
restroom.


• A different elevator (located to the right of the entrance) takes
you up to the Vatican Museums.
• At the ticket check, disabled visitors can stay to the right to bypass
the turnstiles.


• After you go up the elevator, you will go up a ramp that goes by
Michelangelo’s double spiral staircase (shown in the photo on
the left).
• When you get up the ramp, there will be a courtyard straight in front
of you (shown in the image on the right).
• The Vatican Museums will be to your right and the Papal Apartments
and Sistine Chapel will be to your left.
• Most people visit the Vatican Museums first.


• The Vatican Museums contain a great art collection.
• Disabled access at the Vatican Museums is step-free and over a
smooth floor (shown in the image below).


• After visiting the art in the Vatican Museums, ask a staff member
how you can get to the Sistine Chapel.
• You will be escorted behind a roped off area to proceed in the opposite
direction of the normal tour route (photo of the long hall shown on the
left).
• The floor is smooth and flat.
• Some staff members will only allow one companion to accompany you.
• Other staff members will allow your entire group to accompany you.


• An elevator halfway down the corridor leads down to the
Raphael Rooms.
• It is home to the School of Athens (one of my favorites!) shown on
the left.
• The Raphael Rooms are very crowded and you will be going against
the flow of traffic on the way in.


• Rental wheelchairs are available for Vatican Museums.
• Some of them are stored near the top of the wheelchair lift.


• Reaching the Sistine Chapel requires walking down this flight of
stairs or using the Sistine Chapel wheelchair lift.
• A staff member is present to operate it for you.


• After you get down the lift, a narrow hallway leads to the Sistine
Chapel.
• You will be going against the flow of traffic.
• Staff members can hold back tourists so you can get through.
• Sistine Chapel wheelchair access is via the ramp shown on the right.


• Another small wheelchair ramp in the Sistine Chapel is found in
the middle of the room.
• Parts of the floor are mosaic and the entire area is smooth.
• Photographs and talking loudly are forbidden but if you’re discreet
you can take a picture of Michangelo’s ceiling painted over a 4 year
period (shown in the lower left).


• After visiting the Sistine Chapel, guided tours are permitted to
take a shortcut down a flight of stairs to St. Peter's Basilica.
• Disabled visitors and Vatican accessible guided tour participants will
need to back-track to exit at the Vatican Museums entrance and use
the step-free route to St. Peter's Basilica.


We look forward to making your accessible dream vacation a reality!

Call Us: 1-888-645-7920

Contact us at info@sagetraveling.com

www.sagetraveling.com/Sistine-Chapel-Vatican-Disabled-Access

Sistine Chapel And Vatican Museums Disabled Access

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