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Vatican Tour & Colosseum Disruptions: When Plans Fall Apart

  • Writer: assetimages
    assetimages
  • Jun 20
  • 6 min read

Updated: Oct 3

Itinerary:



Good Friday - Via Crucis

For those in Rome on Good Friday in 2025, which falls on April 18, Pope Francis himself leads a service at the Vatican Basilica at 5 PM attended by the highest-ranking church officials, including cardinals and bishops. Via Crucis ceremony at 9 PM. Pope Francis leads a torchlit procession from the Colosseum to the historic Palatine Hill from 2100-2330

Along this evocative route, the procession pauses at each of the 14 Stations of the Cross, marked by the glow of crosses illuminating the night sky. At each station, heartfelt prayers are offered. This procession around the Colosseum emerged during the 18th century in honour of Christian martyrs who were killed


There are no tickets required. The Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill will close at 13.00 on Friday, with last entry at midday. The Via Crucis will also lead to road closures and bus detours in the area around the Colosseum on Friday as well as the closure of the Colosseo subway station from 13.00. The nearest Metro B stations open will be Circo Massimo and Cavour.


Intricate frescoes on a chapel ceiling depict biblical scenes with vibrant colors and dynamic figures, creating a dramatic, spiritual atmosphere.
The Sistine chapel, located in Vatican City, is a world renowned masterpiece of Renaissance art and religious significance. Famous for Michelangelo's breathtaking frescoes, including the iconic Creation of Adam, this architectural gem draws millions of visitors annually. As the site of papal conclaves, the Sistine chapel is not only an artistic treasure but also a cornerstone of Catholic tradition.

Vatican City & Colosseum: When Easter Plans Fall Apart


Booking the Viator Small Group Tour for the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica at 8:00 AM was meant to help avoid the crowds. But a day before, the facilitator informed us our tour had been moved to 9:30 AM. Initially, I welcomed the extra sleep and breakfast time, but I had a lingering concern—tours claim to bypass lines, yet they often have their own queue. By the time we arrived with our group, the entrance was already packed, though surprisingly, the wait was relatively short.


Having visited these sites multiple times, this tour was really for Darwin’s experience—I wouldn’t have gone through the Vatican Museums again by choice. My only goal was to enter St. Peter’s Basilica. What caught me off guard was how much the museum layout had changed since my last visit, at least 15 years ago. The rooms felt more cramped, and the pathways between them were disorganized, making the entire experience feel claustrophobic and far less structured than I remembered.


The Sistine Chapel Shift


Entering the Sistine Chapel, the change was immediately noticeable. Before, visitors entered from the Transenna, where crowd control ensured only a limited number of people at a time, maintaining a strict atmosphere—no photography, no talking, and a clear sense of discipline. Now, you are led into a cluster in the middle of the Sancta Sanctorium, with people talking loudly, taking photos and videos despite security attempting—unsuccessfully—to enforce the rules. With the way things were organized, enforcing the rules was impossible. Darwin and I took photos without any effort to be discreet, which begs the question whether this more relaxed approach was truly what the Vatican intended. The once solemn, structured environment had completely disappeared.


St. Peter’s Basilica Was… Optional?


Despite the disjointed tour, I kept my focus on the real goal—visiting St. Peter’s Basilica and, hopefully, walking through the Holy Doors, especially since it was a jubilee year. But as we wrapped up the Vatican Museums, our guide casually started saying his farewells.


Wait—wasn’t St. Peter’s Basilica included?


Thankfully, another tour member spoke up just as I was processing what was happening. That’s when the guide revealed the Basilica visit was “optional.” But our tour title clearly listed St. Peter’s Basilica, so why would it be optional? Several of us pointed this out, even showing our tickets. Then came the real issue—it was Good Friday, and the Basilica had closed at noon.


This was never mentioned.


My frustration was palpable. The guide shrugged, saying we “shouldn’t have been charged” or “should have been refunded.” But that didn’t change the fact that this stop was a key reason why I had structured Rome as our home base. Learning last-minute that it wasn’t happening made the experience disappointing.


Colosseum & Roman Forum? Nope.


Compounding the frustration, Get Your Guide had informed me days prior that our Colosseum and Roman Forum Tour had been canceled due to Easter celebrations. Since it was Good Friday, I had checked with the tour company in advance to confirm that the tour would still take place. They assured me it would proceed without issue. That didn't happen.


Plan B was simple: If we couldn’t enter, we’d get as close as possible and at least take in the exterior views. By mid-afternoon, we took a taxi from Vatican City to the Colosseum, only to encounter street barricades blocking access two to three blocks away. The entire area was shut down for Via Crucis, the Good Friday procession.


Darwin, unfazed, simply said, “At least we have tickets!”


Are you kidding me?!


Through gritted teeth, I reminded him our tour had been canceled.


After a while, we noticed Carabinieri officers letting small groups through, likely in preparation for Via Crucis. It seemed like a chance to at least get closer to the Colosseum’s exterior, so we attempted to ask the police for clarification. Language barriers made communication difficult, but after observing others moving forward, we decided to try our luck.


Security was strictly checking bags, blocking large backpacks and oversized bags from entering. I could probably get through, but Darwin’s bag seemed too big. Then came the surprise restriction—umbrellas were completely banned, with no clear explanation.


I had a small costly umbrella, while Darwin had a long cane-style umbrella he had purchased in Siena for €10-15. I told him I was willing to give up mine if it meant he’d get his chance—to see it up close, to have the experience that mattered to him. After lingering at the checkpoint, Darwin made the choice—the opportunity was right there, but in the end, the umbrella won.


Aimless Wandering & A Lack of Initiative


At this point, I deferred to Darwin. Since Plan B had failed, I let him decide what to do. And what did he choose? Wandering aimlessly through random streets near the Colosseum, with no direction and no purpose. After 10-15 minutes of walking, he decided we should head back to Piazza Navona, where we had already spent the last two nights.


Back at Piazza Navona, Darwin suggested exploring new streets. That seemed fine—until I realized we were looping back to the piazza over and over. After another 15-20 minutes of circles, we finally just settled, watching street performers with their short routines. And that’s where we sat—for over an hour. Yet, I didn’t complain, because it was his turn to come up with a plan.


Just a heads-up—there are plenty of independent vendors wandering around the Piazza, selling trinkets. I’m not sure how it is in other parts of Rome, but in Piazza Navona, they’re everywhere, and they’re not shy about approaching you. Some will persist even if you politely decline. The best option is to just walk away—thankfully, they won’t follow you. But if you’re sitting in one place, you become an open target, and they won’t hesitate to keep trying.


However, after over an hour without a word from him on next steps—nearing 8 PM—I finally had to prompt him, keeping my tone as upbeat as possible: “What should we do now?” Only then did he respond, “Oh, let’s go to dinner.”


I let out a silent sigh, frustration echoing in my head as I screamed internally.


Reflections on Purposeful Travel


My friends and I prefer traveling with intention—whether it’s relaxing by the beach, savoring a meal, or immersing ourselves in a piazza. Wandering aimlessly for hours feels wasteful, and lingering without direction is not appealing.


After years of traveling together, our routine has remained the same—seek out meaningful experiences. Darwin has been part of this process from the start, yet he is weighed down by passivity, treating travel partnering as a luxury rather than an obligation.


With only a day and a half left, I had to keep a positive mindset and hold it together—ending the trip without unravelling.


📍 Follow along for more recommendations and insights into Italy’s most captivating destinations!

 
 
 

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