Has anyone had a problem visiting The Vatican while kilted?

**Geoff Withnell** · 18th May 16, 05:50 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Why so surprised? You asked for advice on an international website, surely its hardly surprising that some of the answers and advice that is given runs contrary to what you might have expected. The very fact that you asked in the first place, implies that you knew that probably there might be differing views on the matter in question and you have done what any thinking person does and ask.The problem comes when you ask questions to an international community is that wholly unexpected answers are almost bound to crop up and make you think. Is that a bad thing? Of course not. Life would be very much easier all round if we all thought the same way, but we don't and that's why you asked.

Life might indeed be easier, but much more boring!

**Jock Scot** · 18th May 16, 06:01 AM

Originally Posted by Geoff Withnell

Life might indeed be easier, but much more boring!

Quite so, but boring does have a few merits on occasion!

**JohntheBiker** · 18th May 16, 06:14 AM

This was as close as I was prepared to go in wearing a kilt to visit the Vatican (St. Peter's, Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, etc.):

When in Rome...

**jthk** · 18th May 16, 06:47 AM

It's occurred to me that using the expression, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." in this situation isn't as valid as I had originally thought. If this were the case, then I wouldn't wear a kilt anywhere except for very specific occasions in very specific locations. Immediately, that limits the opportunities for me to wear a kilt to a handful or less per year.

Which is, I suspect, exactly what some of XMARKS members do! And fair play to them ... I have chosen a different path but I respect them and their choices.

Regards,
Jonathan

**Jock Scot** · 18th May 16, 07:01 AM

Originally Posted by jthk

It's occurred to me that using the expression, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." in this situation isn't as valid as I had originally thought. If this were the case, then I wouldn't wear a kilt anywhere except for very specific occasions in very specific locations. Immediately, that limits the opportunities for me to wear a kilt to a handful or less per year.

Which is, I suspect, exactly what some of XMARKS members do! And fair play to them ... I have chosen a different path but I respect them and their choices.

Regards,
Jonathan

-------------and you would only wear the kilt above the Highland Line of Scotland.

**JohntheBiker** · 18th May 16, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

-------------and you would only wear the kilt above the Highland Line of Scotland.

While I have worn a kilt above the Highland Line in Scotland, I probably wouldn't do so again unless attending a function or activity that warranted a kilt. While I enjoy wearing a kilt and do so regularly, I also believe in dressing appropriate to the place and occasion.

However, if you feel moved to wear a kilt and aren't breaking any dress rules, then you should do so with confidence and style.

**SPS tools** · 18th May 16, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

On a very brief and incomplete look at the posts, post 10 does give direct experience of a visit to the Vatican. Just saying.

Jock, my apologies for misinterpreting the above as, "... incomplete look at the posts, 10 ..." By glossing over the double use of 'post', I took the numeric as a count of relevant posts, instead of identifying a specific post.

**SPS tools** · 18th May 16, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by Kylahullu

Well, something I have been wondering while reading this thread. The official Vatican pages informs:
...
Link here
...

Thank you, Kylahullu. This is the most helpful post of this thread, to date. The official link was quite interesting.

**Alan H** · 19th May 16, 11:22 AM

I thought the twenty fourth and a half Vatican Council of 1744 both banned the wearing of kilts on Tuesdays, south of the Alps AND wrote that "Guide for tourist attire when visiting the Holy See" web page.

Is the Pope a Brit? A Scot? A Hottentot? Does he wear a kilt? NOT.
Actually I think he's Argentinian. This sounds like a poem.

I've never been to the Vatican, I hope you enjoy your visit. I have no personal experience to relate, but heaven knows, I have an opinion, which looks like this.

It's gonna kill you to wear pants for a day? Look, the Vatican and the museums and the Pope are all about religion. Kilts are about clothes. Clothes are not religion. Go thou, and buy a pair of pants. Or wait until you're in Italy, and buy a pair, there.

And finally.....

What the heck is wrong with being a tourist? I go somewhere, I spend wads of money in the locals monuments, festivals, hotels, restaurants, gewgaw stores, and museums. This is a BAD thing? I don't think there's anything wrong with being a tourist. I'm perfectly happy to have tourists visit the San Francisco Bay Area. What's wrong is being an arrogant jerk.

**Father Bill** · 19th May 16, 11:37 AM

Lord, I love you Alan! You're a wildman!

Nothing wrong being a tourist, but it may indeed mark you out as a guy with money in his pockets and therefore a "mark" for pickpockets, and while you're right about being an arrogant jerk, the problem is that many tourists are just that, and that tars the rest of us.