My family has a reservation for the Scavi tour, but my 12-year old and his uncle will need to find something else to do while we're there because of the 15-year old requirement. Can you recommend other nearby sites for them to see while we're in the 90 minute tour? Also, would the papal tombs be a possible meeting place after we're done since that's where our tour ends? Can they get into that area without going through the tour?
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
Yes they can enter the grottos from St. Peters basilica. You will end the scavi in the grottos and they can meet you there. After that you can return to the basilica if you wish.
Donna
Posted by
OP
Ely, MN, USA
274 posts
So does that mean they go through the regular lines to get into St. Peter's Basilica first?
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
Yes, they must go through the security line to get into the basilica. Depending on the time of day it shouldn't take more than half an hour.
Donna
Posted by
Mpls, MN
1003 posts
Your son may enjoy visiting Castel Sant'Angelo--Hadrian's tomb turned castle and papal refuge. It is the huge round castle straight out from St. Peter's Square down Via Conciliazione street. It is connected to the Vatican by an elevated corridor and plays a part in the Dan Brown novel. I hadn't read but the rest of my family had before we visited. There are wonderful views of Rome from the top too.
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
A fun thing your son might like to do is a scavenger hunt. There are tons of things in the basilica to see. Make a list of sites and facts for him to find out while he is waiting for your group. Questions like- How big are the gold letters that run around the top of the basilica? How high is the baldacchino and what is it made of? Who carved the Pieta? I would make a list of things for him to "find" and give it to him just before you split up. It will keep him occupied and he will learn a few fun facts about the basilica without even knowing it.
Let me know if you need help making a list.
Donna
Posted by
Morrison, CO, USA
891 posts
Donna has a great idea!
Posted by
OP
Ely, MN, USA
274 posts
One more clarification, please.... So if we're meeting at the papal tombs and they have already gone through the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica, can we enter the Basilica from where we are at the tombs? Or do we have to leave and enter somewhere else? (Sorry for my confusion!)
Posted by
Mpls, MN
1003 posts
Hi Cindy--If I remember from when we were last here in 2006, which was after John Paul II had died, they had switched the entrance to the crypt to outside the church near where you get in line to go to the dome and I thought we had to exit the church after leaving the crypt. We exited and came out on the left side of the church (left side meaning when looking at the church from St. Peter's Square) and I remember passing by some of the Swiss Guard. The time before when we were here the entrance to the crypt was inside the church and I also thought when we exited we were out of the church.
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
After the Pope died they did change the exit to the tour for a while because of everyone going to the grottos to see the burial site. They have changed it back and you now exit into the grottos again.
Donna