Excavations Below St. Peter's Basilica

1) Here's a website (one of many) that describes the St Peter's Scavi tour in more detail than we can post here due to text limits on posts:

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/rome/scavi_tour.htm

2) I can't recall any negative reviews here, from people who have done it. People who have find it a unique and special experience, for those who are motivated to go to the time and effort of arranging it.

Here are reviews of the St Peter's Scavi tours previously posted on this site

click here for links to prior reviews

3) And here's the Vatican website describing the rules and procedures, you may have already found this site

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/institutions_connected/uffscavi/documents/rc_ic_uffscavi_doc_gen-information_20040112_en.html

I visited the excavations (scavi) below St. Peter's a couple of years ago and would highly recommend it. It is not something that most tourists experience and was the highlight of our trip. Even if you are not a particularly religious person, it will be a unique experience. You will walk on the very dirt from 60 A.D., see pagan tombs, crypts for rich pagan families, as well as walk up part of Vatican Hill to where St. Peter's bones are kept. (At least they think they are his bones but they cannot be sure, of course.)It is very warm and humid down there. But I did not feel claustrophobic.

As for hearing back from the Vatican, I made my request well in advance and got back the same "we'll let you know" response. I had all but given up hope when I received an email about 2 weeks before my departure date saying that I had gotten the reservations! I was so excited. Hope you get in--you will enjoy it.

I just sent in a request for a visit in mid December. Wondering if there is any chance of getting that since it's only 6 weeks off. Any opinions? Thanks

We also had a bit of difficulty getting Scavi tickets--it took a second try. It is very worthwhile but I guess that may depend on your guide--we had a great guide, a young American priest who was studying Cannon Law at the Vatican. We had twelve people in our group. According to our guide, the bones of St Peter are encased in a container(perhaps not the correct word) that was designed by NASA. The tour ended in the crypt where popes are intombed. Have a great trip to Rome!

Wow!! Talk about lucky. I sent my request to the Vatican for the excavations about 2 am this morning. When I checked my computer this afternoon, we had been approved for tickets. We had two day window December 14 and 15. So if you are headed there in December, don't hesitate to try even though it may seem late. Super excited!!

I also had a very quick reply, only a couple of days from when I submitted the request to when they processed my card and sent confirmation! We will be there end of Dec-early January, and are very excited about this tour. I'm a little concerned about the claustraphobia that has been mentioned...just how "tight" is the area? Anyone know?

Just wanted to say a big thank you to all who took time to reply. I got the confirmation email and we are all set for March 23. Soooo excited!!

If at first you don't succeed ...
I went ahead and submitted a second request for the scavi tour yesterday morning. By the afternoon I got the automated email reply. This morning I got the second email with ticket confirmation for 4 people on the same date range as my original request 5 weeks ago. Soooo excited! I Never imagine a 24 hour turn around was possible.

Happy Travels.

I just got confirmation for a request made a few days ago. I had read that the tour was 45 minutes in length, but the confirmation said one and a half hours. Can someone who has taken the tour tell me how long it lasts? Thanks!

The tour lasts about and hour and a half. You are requested not to bring large bags (backpacks) or purses. You must also dress appropriately-no shorts, sleeveless tops, or short skirts0jeans are OK.

The tour lasts about 1.5 hours. You must take your confirmation to the Swiss guard shack to the left of the basilica in order to be let into the scavi office. Make sure to check all large bags as they won't be allowed into the tour. There is a baggage check area to the right of the basilica. You are not allowed to take any photos inside. You must also dress appropriately or they won't let you inside. Also, they don't allow children under the age of 15 to go on the tour. If you are very claustrophobic you could have problems, but I never have had any problems. I am slightly claustrophobic but the walkways are wide enough that it didn't bother me.

Donna

We really enjoyed the Scavi tour when we did it three years ago, one of the highlights of our trip. The entrance is to the left of St. Peter's when you are facing it, there was a Swiss Guard there that we had to show our email confirmation to, you are supposed to arrive about 15 minutes before the tour time. The tour took about 1.5 hours and we were left off at the tomb of John Paul II below the basilica. We may try to do this tour again on our next trip.

We just received confirmation for 5 tickets for our family in April, but my son is 12 - so now I know he isn't allowed to go. Does anyone know anything about this rule of no one under age 15?

Sorry, but they don't make exceptions to this rule. You may want to email them back to see if you can get another time and have your party split up and see it at two different times, this way one can stay with your son while the others go on the tour and then switch. They will usually try to accommodate you to the best of their ability, but I would do it as soon as possible. Otherwise you will have to cancel your tour.

Donna

Thanks, Donna, I think we'll do that.

So glad I found this! I don't think they had this in '92, when I was last in Italy. I'm going Oct 2010, and will definitely add this to my itinerary.

Question: If I allott an entire full day to the Vatican and St. Peter's, will this 1.5 hr Scavi tour fit into that day?

Thanks.

Myriam,

It really depends on if you can get a reservation for the scavi tour or not. They are hard to get depending on the time of year and not everyone gets one. You would have to plan around your scavi tour time when seeing the museums and basilica but it is possible to see all three sites on the same day. Just be aware that it will be a very long day. When requesting the scavi tour make sure to give them as many dates as you can to better your chance of getting a tour. If you get a tour you can then book entrance tickets or a tour of the vatican museums. Since the basilica is open later than both the scavi and museums you can do that in the evening if you need to.

Just prepare for a long day, get there early and take your time.

Donna

Thanks, Donna! Hopefully it will work out.