This Is How T+L's Editor in Chief Sees the Best Sights in Italy Without the Crowds — and How You Can, Too

"Open late on Friday and Saturday evenings from April through October (until about 10:30 p.m.), after-hours visits offer a far more relaxed way to experience the complex, with far shorter lines and beautiful amber light at sunset. A guided evening tour that picks you up at the hotel and arrives by about 7:30 lets you breeze through the entrance, enjoy an Aperol Spritz at the open-air café in the Cortile della Pigna, and benefit from a guide who uses diagrams to explain papal history and point out Italy’s regions in the Gallery of Maps. Highlights mentioned include the deep reds of the Raphael tapestries, the gilded frescoes lining the Gallery of Maps, and the ability to sit and properly take in the blues of Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment — all experienced at a gentler pace that works well for families and those who prefer to avoid daytime crowds." - Jacqui Gifford Jacqui Gifford As the editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure, Jacqui Gifford is always on the next plane. She constantly scouts for new hotels, shops, and restaurants to give readers the latest news and trends, and frequently appears as an expert guest on television networks, including NBC, CBS, ABC, CNBC, and MSNBC. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines