I was fortunate enough to land reservations for the Scavi Tour (I found the Ufficio Scavi very responsive!), but I am unclear as to whether the Scavi Tour includes the crypt with the tombs of the popes. Will we need to plan to tour the crypt on our own? Thanks.
Posted by
Austin, TX, USA
492 posts
When we did the Scavi tour it ended down at the tomb of Pope John Paul II, the Papal crypt area is free if your tour does not end down there. It does not take long to go around that area, we did that area on our own again this last trip and only spent maybe 30 minutes total down there.
Posted by
Seattle
922 posts
I took the tour about 6 years ago, so it may have changed, but I seem to remember that the tour ended at the crypt and we were free to see it on our own (in other words, no one guided us through the crypt but we could spend as much or as little time there as we wished). It's a terrific tour; I hope you enjoy it!
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
The tour still ends in the crypt. You can visit it then or when you enter the basilica you will have the opportunity to visit the crypts.
Donna
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
8075 posts
We just took the tour on Friday (Feb 26) and you do end up in the crypt, so you can see that very easily. I will also mention that for both the Crypt and the Scavi Tour, you exit via the Scavi Office entrance (the same one you start at) which allows you, as you go back through the gate, to enter St. Peters through which is essentially the exit (up the steps on the left side) avoiding the long entrance line. So an efficient sequence may be, The Scavi Tour, the Crypt, then St. Peters.
Posted by
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
49 posts
Last March, I had the exact same experience as the above responders. To anyone else reading this thread, the Scavi are not to be missed. It is still one of my fondest memories of Rome.
Posted by
McKinney, Texas, USA
9 posts
I also have Scavi reservation, mine are at 12noon. What are your plans for the rest of the day? Did you book a Vatican museum tour and what is your understanding of the "line skipping" when you do this? There is an offical tour at 2:30 in English on the same day, but I am unclear if this would be good timing or not.
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
The line skipping is really just what it says, you get to skip any line outside the museums. If you book a tour or buy entrance tickets online you are allowed to skip the line. In the afternoon this is not as big a deal but in the mornings it can save you up to 90 minutes worth of waiting.
Donna