are there any dress codes that we need to be aware of while visiting the churches or vatican?....im worried that tank tops,shorts, and flip flops (the usual tourist attire) might be considered disrepectful

quote:

Originally posted by tina3rs:
I'm worried that tank tops, shorts, and flip flops (the usual tourist attire) might be considered disrepectful.

So much so, in fact, that they won't permit you to enter. The guideline is, cover shoulders, knees and midriff. Remember that a church may seem like museum (and very often is), but it's also still a place of worship.

You might want to reconsider the flip-flops (not as common as you might think). Your poor feet won't last a day on all that marble!

thanks for the input

Same dress requirement in churches holds true for men and adolescent boys. No shorts or sleeveless shirts. You don't want to bring your family to St. Peter's only to be turned away because someone is underdressed.

This past September, I saw an attractive young woman pulled out of line to St. Peters because she had too much shoulder showing. She sure looked good to me though

In September two years ago we saw a beautiful young woman who had plastic wrapped around her so that she could go into St. Peters. Rules are rules

i have also seen people who wanted to enter a church (and were not dressed "by the rules") come up with some remarkable fascimiles to clothing... flags, tablecloths...
one lady actually had several large paper napkins tucked under the straps of her sleeveless top covering her shoulders. this happened at the duomo in florence and i was surprised that she was allowed in because she just looked ridiculous....but her shoulders were certainly covered!

that is sooo funny...thanks for the info on the guys dress also....i guess i will tell my husband to wear jeans that day.. we will def remember to dress appropriately....

Tina3rs,

Please, do your feet a great favor and select different shoes to tour in...flip-flops will definately be uncomfortable! A good pair of Puma's will do the trick though. Sounds like you'll be in Rome during the warm season...nice cotton skirts (long or short), T's with short sleeves and sneakers will not only be comfortable but stylish too. Also, bring something as a wrap...could be a nice cotton shawl or pareo for the shoulders. You'll use it a lot, I guarantee it.

your absolutely right..thanks for the advice

I was in Rome last week and marveled at the many Asian women selling big scarves on the streets around St. Peter's. I could not figure it out until someone said, "Well, there's the dress code for the Basilica" and continued that while they might not do too much business in early March, once the weather warms up, they sell many, many scarves to tourists unaware of the dress code.

In summer I would also reconsider jeans. While cetrainly practical in cooler weather, in summer they are usually too much. Better to orient yorself towards a lighter weight cotton cloth for the husband's trousers, large enough not to cling to the skin and allow some air circulation. Especially if you are not tanned and don't want to tan, long pants or a longish skirt, as long and either is lightweight and wide enough to allow air in, are both cooler and more protective from the sun than shorts or miniskirts.

AmyW: the bulk of those asian women are Chinese immigrants, and their business is not directed to tourists only: they sell scarves to everyone, and March is when Italian women start to think about dirching the winter wool scarves in favor of lightweight Chinese silk ones.

I recently found this site. It's pretty comprehensive about the Vatican and we figured we may as well use Vatican rules for all churches just to be safe http://www.stuardtclarkesrome.com/vatican.htm

quote:

Originally posted by karinka:
I recently found this site. It's pretty comprehensive about the Vatican and we figured we may as well use Vatican rules for all churches just to be safe http://www.stuardtclarkesrome.com/vatican.htm

I think this site's recommendation against sleeveless blouses on women may be a little restrictive. While I also carried a lightweight sweater last summer when we visited churches, I was not refused entrance to any church, including St. Peter's, while wearing a sleeveless blouse.

Geralyn

quote:

im worried that tank tops,shorts, and flip flops (the usual tourist attire) might be considered disrepectful

I always feel that "comfortable" does not have to mean "ugly".

There is light, comfortable clothes, that can be aesthetically pleasing as well. A t-shirt or a tank-top with bra-straps sticking out, is not the only solution to a "tourist attire on a sumemer day". T-shirts and tank-tops do look like "under-garments". There are plenty of light blouses or nice looking shirts that can be comfy and suited for the weather.

Same for shoes. No, one does not have to wear stilletto heals. But one does not have to wear ugly sneakers or gym-shoes in the middle of beautiful Rome, Florence, Venice, etc... There are MANY soft-souled, flat shoes, that are both, comfortable AND! attractive.

And a little make-up never hurts......
After all, we are in Italy, not in a barn.....

Geralyn, your shoulders were covered and the blosuse wasn't low-necked, it was very much want most Italian women who ever bother to go to church (less than 30% of the Italians) wear in summer. Spaghetti straps are a completely different matter. Also, much dipends omn who's guarding the church on the specific day of your visit: some priests are far more liberal than others.
One summer I wasn't going on holiday so I took time to visit churches and monuments in Milano. My standard attire was either pants or a longish skirt and a t-shirt. When I happened to wear a tanik top, I brought a scarf. on two consecutive days, wearing the same tank top, scarf and skirt, I was denied entrance to a church and had a nice talk with a priest in another ending up notiging that I had not donned the scarf only after leaving.

MoscowGirl: actually the "underwear" look is what you try to achieve often when wearing a tank top. At least, that's my objective when I decide to wear one!

quote:

MoscowGirl: actually the "underwear" look is what you try to achieve often when wearing a tank top. At least, that's my objective when I decide to wear one!

ah! what is the world coming to...

In that case, as we say "if you're going to love, love a queen. if you're going to steal, steal a million".

La Perla.... http://www.laperla.com/home2.htm

I was definately turned away at the first check point of the Vatican wearing a nice, technically sleeveless top but with a little "flutter"cap at the shoulder. So my boyfriend gave me his extra T shirt he had in his backpack to pull on. Then we crawled along for 15-20 minutes in line and the next check point bumped him because he was wearing quite long hiking shorts. For the Vatican, I would definately follow the rules. It's not worth standing in line for nothing!

quote:

Originally posted by MoscowGirl:
La Perla.... http://www.laperla.com/home2.htm

I stopped by La Perla near San Bartolomeo to ask, does the body come with the lingerie, or at least the hair?

Neither does, unfortunately. *sigh*

Perhaps they sell church-scarves with their tank tops, though.

The gift I give my female relatives who are travelling to "catholic countries" and places with "dress code".

Weight: 17 oz.
Size when folded: slightly bigger than portable umbrella
Color: too many to chose from
Suites all sizes, shapes and forms.

http://www.orienttrend.com/cgi-bin/mivavm?Merchant2/mer...-01&Category_Code=OT

Those are really beautiful, but I would think rather hot to wear in July/August.

quote:

Originally posted by Alice Twain:
Geralyn, your shoulders were covered and the blosuse wasn't low-necked, it was very much want most Italian women who ever bother to go to church (less than 30% of the Italians) wear in summer. Spaghetti straps are a completely different matter.

Yeah, Alice, I did think that the fact that it was an actual "button-up" blouse, with no chest showing probably has everything to do with it. But I do consider this blouse "sleeveless" and I do think my shoulders were showing. So I just wanted to show an example of the type of sleeveless blouse that might be acceptable for visiting churches. As I review all of our photos, it seems as if I was wearing this blouse (or the same one in a green stripe) every time we visited a major church.

As for the kids (13 & 16 yrs old): they wore long pants at St. Peter's, but sometimes wore shorts (long) at other churches, including the Duomo in FLorence, and had no problems.

Geralyn

Geralyn, is your son holding a Bob's Big Boy? What is THAT all about?

Thanks for asking, Shannon! I was wondering about that myself. Is he related to Travelocity's gnome?

quote:

Originally posted by Sheena:
Those are really beautiful, but I would think rather hot to wear in July/August.

That’s a good point. August and July are quite hot, and neither me nor my relatives had a chance to “test” this attire during these months.

However, the foto/advertisement of the item is quite deceiving. It makes the poncho look like it is warm and for cold climate. In fact it is not. We bought it thinking it will keep you warm, but it did not. It’s synthetic and thin.

The idea was to have something “dressy” in case we decide to go to a better restaurant wearing casual day-time clothes, without having to stop and change.

By simply carrying it in our purses “just in case”, we found it to be useful in churches, even on warm days (May, June, September). The Churches are often much colder inside, because of marble and stone, and the best part….. this poncho gets you in.

It makes a nice “throw” if you meet people and they invite you home (and you’re wearing day-time tourist stuff), or in a night-spot you did not plan attending.

And my grand-mother said it hides her stomak after an evening meal, and keep her warm during summer months traveling, when evening becomes colder. And my younger cousins love the “punkier” black and red versions, and they are 19 and 16….

This is just an idea guys….. to take a light wrap that fits in a purse. You never know what might happen…. A fist-full of extra fabrique can’t kill your purse that much….. and it’s only $35.00.