tickitaly.com - news and announcements
August 2010 - more Venice tours
We continue to add extra tours of Venice - choose from a selection of gondola and boat tours along the waterways and canals of Venice.
August 2010 - boat tour of the canals of Venice
We are (finally) delighted to be offering boat tours in Venice. The first of these is a guided tour, in English, of the Grand Canal as well as some of the more hidden waterways of the fascinating city of Venice. Venice - Grand Canal boat trips.
August 2010 - after dark tours of the Colosseum, Rome
For late summer 2010 you have a rare opportunity to visit the Roman Colosseum as part of a night tour in the company of an archaelogist. The tours take place on Saturday nights, and include a special exhibition about the gladiators and the Roman games as well as a visit to previously closed underground sections of the Colosseum. Rome Colosseum after-dark guided tours.
European Heritage Days, 25th and 26th September 2010
This year the 'Giornate Europea del patrimonio' (European Heritage Days) fall on the weekend of the 25th and 26th of September. If you happen to be visiting at that time then tickets for the following are issued free of charge by the Italian State. If you are visiting during this period please note that you still have to make a booking, and both tickitaly and the museum charge a booking fee - it is the actual TICKET that is free of charge.
Rome: Colosseum, Colosseum tours, Rome cards and the Borghese Gallery; Florence: The Academy, Uffizi, Bergello, Boboli gardens, Medici Chapel and the Pitti Palace galleries; Venice: Venice Academy; Milan: Last Supper, Brera Gallery.
This special pricing applies to EVERYONE, irrespective of nationality, so please don't worry about being European, American or whatever - you DO qualify for this special pricing.
May 2010 - Leonardo da Vinci exhibition in Milan - 'Codice Atlantico'
You may be one of the lucky ones for whom we had availability for viewing the Last Supper; if yes then this show may be icing on the cake ... if no then it may be some consolation, a Leonardo fix during your visit to Milan. Click here to read about the Codice Atlantico exhibition, the largest ever collection of works by Leonardo da Vinci.
Spring 2010 - volcano cancellations
We have a page here detailing what we can and cannot do as regards cancellations and refunds as a result of flight problems caused by the Icelandic volcano eruption.
May 2010 - another Vatican tour.
In the face of ever increasing demand, we are now adding another three hour Vatican tour - the 'Art and Faith' tour. This is only available on Saturday mornings and places a greater emphasis on various Vatican art galleries - notably the 'Pio-Christian' gallery, as well as taking in St Peters and the Sistine Chapel.
April 2010 - visit the rooftops of Milan Cathedral.
There can be few who visit Milan without snapping a few shots of the fabulously Gothic Duomo; what many probably do not realise is that the roof is entirely made of - and supported by - stone, and is open to visitors. Enjoy the fabulous views and amazing stonework and statuary - pre-book your tickets and ascend in a specially reserved lift (elevator).
March 2010 - two new Milan tours.
We are now offering two fascinating excursions for visitors to Milan. The first is a 'Milan by night' tour, discovering the haunts of the beautiful people and then a magical illuminated private coach tour of the city. The second tour is a day excursion to the beautiful Lake Como and the lakeside town of Bellagio.
February 2010 - dates announced for the 'Culture Week' 2010.
Please note that between the 16th and 25th of April 2010 it is the 'Settimana della Cultura', an annual event that sees all Italian State museums waive their entrance fees. If you are visiting during this period please note that you still have to make a booking, and both tickitaly and the museum charge a booking fee - it is the actual ticket that is free of charge.
February 2010 - 'Nuptial Art' exhibition, Florence
From June the 8th until November the 1st 2010, the Academy Gallery - home to Michelangelo's David - plays host to an exhibition entitled 'Virtu D'Amore, Pittura Nuziale Nel Quattrocento Fiorentino'. This is an exhibition of 'Nuptial Art', largely headboards and decorated bedroom chests, that highlights the importance of love, marriage, husband and wife and family in Renaissance Florence - click here for some further information.
February 2010 - Caravaggio exhibition, Florence
From May the 22nd until October the 17th 2010, to mark the 4th centennial of Caravaggio's death, Florence is home to a major exhibition of his work and his followers - 'Caravaggio e Caravaggeschi a Firenze'. The exhibition is spread across two galleries - the Uffizi and the Palatine Gallery (at the Pitti Palace), and we have some further information on this page.
January 2010 - Pitti Palace and Boboli gardens, Florence
In terms of sheer size, the Pitti Pallace is the largest gallery in Florence. In reality it contains numerous and varied galleries, and we are now selling two tickets for these attractions. The first is a combined ticket for the Palatine Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art, the second a ticket for the Boboli gardens and three other galleries - porcelain, silver and costume.
January 2010 - The Bargello National Museum, Florence
You've visited the Uffizi and still find your appetite for Renaissance art unsated? Next stop would be the Bargello National Museum then - the Uffizi has the paintings, the Bargello has the sculpture.
January 2010 - The Medici Chapels, Florence
View the Medici family tombs and some of Michelangelo's finest sculptures. Also see some of the most, ermm, ornate marble and semi-precious stone decoration you're ever likely to come across. Reserve tickets to visit the Medici Chapels in Florence.
January 2010 - Brancacci Chapel, Florence
Home to some of the most breathtaking frescoes of the Renaissance, the Brancacci Chapel forms part of the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine. Booking to see the cycle of frescoes by Masaccio and his one time teacher, Masolino, is mandatory, so plan well ahead if you want to see this unique piece of Florence's history.
January 2010 - Palazzo Vecchio, Florence
To remedy the fact that one of the most photographed buildings in Florence - the Palazzo Vecchio - receives so very few actual visitors, we are now able to offer assorted tours of the Palazzo Vecchio, varied and interesting ways to get to know more of this fine building, its history and its treasure trove of art.
December 2009 - guided tours of the Colosseum, Rome
Another new tour in Rome, this time a guided tour of the Roman Colosseum. A forty five minute guided tour of this most unmissable of sights, the Colosseum tour is available at various times throughout the morning and early afternoon.
December 2009 - tours of the Borghese Gallery, Rome
'One of the most beautiful museums in Italy, if not the world ...'
along with standard tickets for the Borghese Gallery in Rome, tickitaly are now offering guided tours of the Gallery (English language only). Tours last roughly two hours and start at either 09.00 or 11.00 in the morning. Group size will not be more than 25 people. Click here to reserve a guided tour of the Borghese Gallery in Rome.
October 2009 - tours of the Vatican gardens
The Vatican gardens cover an enormous area and are now open to visitors as part of an official two hour guided tour; once the tour is over visitors are free to explore the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel at their own pace - entrance is included in the price of the Vatican garden tour.
September 2009 - 2 hour guided tours of the Vatican
Our three hour Vatican tour has been very popular for some time now, as have our private Vatican tours and straightforward Vatican tickets. We are now pleased to be offering a shorter (two as opposed to three hour) guided tour of the Vatican, the essential difference being that this one does not include St Peters. Click here for details.
June 2009 - guided tours of the Uffizi and the Accademia Gallery, Florence
This year tickitaly.com have partnered with a long-established Florentine tour operator in order to offer Uffizi and Accademia (home to Michelangelo's statue of David) guided tours. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, you may prefer to opt for a guided tour as a preference - there is, after all, a very great deal to see across the numerous rooms and corridors of the Uffizi, and a great deal to learn about David! Secondly, it's a further attempt to minimise the number of 'sorry, fully booked' messages that we have to send out in response to summertime Uffizi and Accademia availability requests. Oh, and don't forget - no queuing! Should you be interested in a guide tour of both galleries, we also offer a saving on a combined-tour ticket, with another option being a combined tour plus lunch.
April 2009 - walking and bus tour plus visit to view Last Supper, Milan
As part of our ongoing effort to get more independent travellers in to view the Last Supper in Milan, we have teamed up with a tour operator to offer a full morning (or afternoon) package that includes both a walking and bus tour of Milan, together with a guaranteed visit to view the Last Supper - click here for more details.
February 2009 - visit the 'secret' Palazzo Vecchio, Florence
An interestingly different tour, this one ... step back in time and admire some of the most recently restored (and previously closed to the public) rooms and passages of Florence's splendid town hall (Palazzo Vecchio). Florence 'secret' Palazzo Vecchio.
February 2009 - Bicycle tours of Italian cities
We're now able to offer cruiser-bike tours in Rome, Florence and Pisa. Hire one of these fun and practical bicycles for a morning or afternoon and, accompanied by an audio guide, discover the delights of these excting Italian cities in a new and invigorating way.
Choose to head off in your own unaccompanied group, or choose to have one of our experienced tour guides ride along with you and enhance your tour.
February 2009 - Segway tours of Italian cities
An exciting/less tiring way (delete as appropriate!) to take a tour of Milan, Rome, Florence or Pisa - on a Segway tour in Italy. Enjoy an introductory training session and then head off to explore the byways of Italy on your very own head-turning chariot!
January 2009 - Brera Art Gallery, Milan (Pinacoteca di Brera)
Unlikely to be stealing the not-to-be-missed crown from Da Vinci's The Last Supper anytime soon, nevertheless well worth a few hours is a visit to the most important art gallery in Milan, the Pinacoteca di Brera. We are now selling tickets for the Brera Art Gallery, and have an information page here.
Florence, Uffizi Gallery exhibition 2009 - 'Splendour and Reason', art in 18th century Florence
An exhibition showcasing post-Medici artistic Florence, the 120 pieces on show span the whole of the eighteenth century and range from paintings and sclupture through to furnishings and decorative objects.
'Splendour and reason' runs from May until September 2009 at the Uffizi Gallery, Florence.
Florence Galleria dell'Accademia 2009 exhibition
Click here for details on the 2009 Robert Mapplethorpe exhibition, running from May until September 2009.
The exhibition brings together 91 photographs by the artist (plus works by some of his key contemporaries and influences) and looks for common ground between the forms in his work and those of the Florentine masters, Michelangelo and David first and foremost.
Winter 2008 - Vatican tickets - direct entry, no tour
We are now able to sell Vatican tickets that allow independent entry to the Vatican (Museums, St Peters, Sistine Chapel) ... no longer will you need to join a group tour - click here for details.
Last Supper, Milan, tours 2008/2009
As in previous years, we're putting our popular pre-booked tours of Da Vinci's Last Supper 'on hold' until the Spring of next year. Look for dates for 2009 to begin appearing at the end of January. In the meantime, for those visiting 'off season', we, of course, continue to offer advance reservation for viewing the Last Supper via our 'standard' tickets.
New to us this year is an experiment with block-booking groups of these standard tickets in order that we may continue to be able to offer a limited amount of guaranteed-entrance places, even when not running tours. View our page on standard Last Supper ticket reservation for dates.
Ca Rezzonico, Venice, Until 22nd September 2008
Michel Marieschi exhibition - for Venetian painters there was one great source of subject above all others - there are few cities more iconic than Venice, a quite unique city floating on its wooden piles above the lagoon, its canals tight with gondolas and sailing ships. And so, as Venetian artists embraced the realism of 18th century art, they took especially keenly to one artistic genre of landscape - the 'veduta'.
It simply means 'view' and the most famous Venetian exponent was Canaletto of course, along with Francesco Guardi. Far less known, is Michele Marieschi, sometimes also just called Michiel, but the current exhibition at Venice's Ca' Rezzonico aims to rectify that.
Galleria dell' Accademia, Florence, June - December 2008
Giovanni da Milano exhibition - an interesting complement to the 'Giotto's Legacy' exhibition running at the Uffizi, the Galleria dell’Accademia's exhibition of the works of Giovanni da Milano throws further light on the 'Ice Age' in Renaissance art, between the death of Giotto in the 1340s and the first flowering of the true Renaissance, toward the end of the century.
Borghese Gallery, Rome, May - September 2008
Correggio exhibition; an undisputed genius, and yet forgotten by the casual gallery goer - it's an injustice that Rome's Borghese Gallery aims to rectify with its 'Correggio and the Antique exhibition', which runs until 14 September 2008.
Amazingly, this is the first monograph exhibition devoted to Correggio and is the third of the 'Ten Great Exhibitions' mounted by Claudio Strinati, Special Superintendent of Rome Museums, alongside the Director of the Galleria Borghese, Anna Coliva.
Uffizi Gallery, Florence, June - November 2008
Giotto Exhibition - Giotto's Legacy: Art in Florence from 1340 to 1375 (L'eredita di Giotto: L'arte a Firenze tra il 1340 e il 1375) runs from 10 June to 8 December 2008 at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and brings to light some of the major but occasionally overlooked artists of the 14th century - the likes of Andrea Pisano, Maso di Banco and Andrea Orcagna.
April 2008 and Vatican Tours
Another year,
and still there are issues. In the past we used to recommend booking tours
in the morning - not so now. Several enormous tour operators have begun to
block-book the early morning tours, and are being allowed to do so; consequently,
the Vatican has started to shunt forward other early morning tours, sometimes
by one or two hours. They don't always do this, but if they do they'll do so
with total disregard to previously booked dates. Should this occur, and should
it affect one of our bookings, we will give notice, via email, at least 15-20
days before the tour date.
We are therefore now advising that you try to opt for afternoon tours, where
there is less chance of timings being shifted. Note we said less chance
- the Vatican does what the Vatican wants, and there can be no absolute guarantees.
Please also note that we would recommend avoiding Saturday if at all possible
- some level of queueing seems inevitable if the first few months of 2008 are
anything to go by.
February 2008 - Settimana della Cultura
Please note that between the 25th and 31st of
March 2008 it is the 'Settimana della Cultura', an annual event that
sees all Italian museums waive their entrance fees. If you are visiting
during this period please note that you still have to make a booking,
and both tickitaly and the museum charge a booking fee - it is the
actual ticket that is free of charge.
In effect this means that you
should book the complimentary ticket for all venues if your visit
falls between the 25th and 31st of
March 2008. This offer does not apply to
guided tours.
January 2008 - we have managed to obtain a limited number of guaranteed, pre-booked entrance places for viewing Da Vinci's Last Supper in Milan - details.
November 2007 - tickets for the 2008 Verona Opera Festival are now on sale.
From April 2007 we are pleased to be able to offer visits to the Vatican as part of a group tour. We've been arranging private Vatican tours for a while, but their exclusivity is naturally reflected in their price.
May 2007 - Please note that between the 12th and 20th of May 2007 it is the 'Settimana della Cultura', an annual event that sees all Italian museums waive their entrance fees. If you are visiting during this period please note that you still have to make a booking, and both tickitaly and the museum charge a booking fee - it is the actual ticket that is free of charge. In effect this means that you should book the complimentary ticket for all venues if your visit falls between the 12th and 20th of May 2007. This offer does not apply to guided tours.
December 2006 - The splendid and recently re-opened Torre dell'Orologio (Clock Tower) in Venice has, for a long time now, been closed and hidden behind scaffolding. We are now able to accept bookings for guided tours of this remarkable attraction.
March 2006 - tickitaly.com are now offering guided tours of the Vatican - the Vatican Museums, St. Peters, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Library and more. Click here for details.
For 2006 we are delighted to announce that tickitaly are now an official reseller for tickets for the Verona Opera Festival, as authorised by the Arena di Verona Fondazione.
Quick booking links:
Accademia tickets : Uffizi tickets : Uffizi guided tours : Colosseum tickets : Florence guided tours :
Vatican tickets : Vatican tours : Borghese tickets : Venice Museums : The Last Supper : Last Supper - tours : Verona Opera tickets
Florence tickets : Rome tickets : Venice tickets : Milan tickets : Verona Opera
