Our guide Arabella was really, really good! Unfortunately some people had booked the tour without realising it's in English. This took some experience away from us because the guide did her best to translate a bit for the others too. We suggest that the website highlights the language of the tour more clearly.

The booking system was easy and everything worked well. All the companies offering the tour and tickets seem to have the same system so it’s all very slick. For some reason our group had been split into two so we had two guides. This initially caused some confusion with the organisation of everyone. The disappointing thing was it meant that instead of having 15 minutes with one group and one guide in the actual refectory, there were the two groups and two guides who were talking simultaneously. It would have been better for one guide to address the entire group. Consequently it was very distracting having another guide chattering away and in my view spoilt the experience. ‘Get your Guide’ should maybe not have booked so many people in for one time slot or should have just allocated one guide.

Yes, you could see it by yourself, in the 15 minutes allowed in the presence of the fresco. But unless you took serious art study, you will never see beyond the big picture. All the details explained, all the stories, the context, the history, are worth every penny and minute of your time. The visit continues in 2 more rooms, with explanations.