Necropolis tickets

Sounds like you are looking for the Scavi tour. You need to go to that site and request tickets. They can be difficult to get because the tours are limited. We did the tour several years back and loved it. You really need to request tickets well in advance to get them. If you can provide alternate dates in case your first choice not available. There are age restrictions for children.

You cannot book the scavi tour under St. Peters online. You can only book the underground tour of the Via Triumphalis, which includes entry to the museums. To book the scavi under St. Peters you must email or fax your request. They are very strict about the amount of people who get to visit and no one under 15 is allowed on the tour. You can find the information on how to book at the Vatican website.

Donna

It's a wonderful tour. Parts are purely historical, and fascinating history it is. The final stop at the supposed tomb of Peter is breathtakingly emotional. Especially if you are Catholic. It's close, tight and damp but oh so worth it!

Yes, the scavi, the necropolis via triumphalis, is the tour we want. I've been on the Vatican website, searched out the info, and it says to book directly or email. I emailed to the address they give, and it came back no longer working. When I try to book directly, it always adds the Vatican admission. I'm frustrated and want to book it ahead to make sure we get in!

You need to get to the "Excavations office" page on the Vatican Website. Here is a link. It gives you instructions on how to request tickets through email. After you send the email, you will receive a confirmation. Then they will email you if they have open spots- this can take weeks to months. Good luck!

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/institutions_connected/uffscavi/documents/rc_ic_uffscavi_doc_gen-information_20090216_en.html

You cannot purchase just the tour of the Via Triumphalis. It comes with entry to the museums. There is no way around this. It's a package deal. If you want to take the tour book it for a different day than your museums tour and go in later that day to visit sites not covered on the museums tour.

Once your museums tour is over you won't be allowed back into the museums to visit other rooms not covered on the tour. This is because the tours end in the basilica and not in the museums. You ticket is not good for re-entry once you leave the museums and continue on to the basilica so if there are other rooms you want to see you can visit them after the Triumphalis tour.

Kristen, I don't believe the OP is talking about the scavi tour under the basilica, I believe she is talking about the Via Triumphalis tour with is different and comes with entry into the museums.

Donna

Oh, I see now. Well, to the OP- consider taking the Scavi tour too!

Wow, I thought the scavi tour and via triumphalis were the same. What is the difference?

The Scavi tour (which is also sometimes referred to as the Necropolis tour, hence the confusion) is the tour underneath the basilica where St. Peter is buried. They only let in a couple of hundred people a day and you have to do a guided your. So you must request tickets in advance via the link I gave you. The Necropolis via Triumphalis is an area of newly excavated ruins that has been open for about a year. But I haven't been on the tour so I can't give more specifics than that.

Thank you, Kristen. It was the Scavi tour to which I was referring. I am going to try the link you gave me. Cross your fingers; we've really been wanting to see it!!

If you're talking about the scavi tour it won't include anything other than the tour. It's very hard to get on and they don't take anyone under 15 years old. You must book in advance and are allowed to take only the smallest of bags with you into the excavation. It does not include tickets into the vatican museums which is why I think you're talking about the via triumphalis tour.

The difference in the tours is that the Scavi tour takes place under St. Peter's basilica. It is where they believe to have found the remains of St. Peter. They only take about 250 people down a day to see this. The tour is very hard to get on and is booked months in advance. You cannot book this tour online. You must email or fax them for a reservation.

The via triumphalis tour is not a newer excavation. I took this tour about 8 years ago. For some reason, about three years ago they stopped doing the tour but then opened it again about 18 months ago. It's a great tour that takes you to an ancient cemetery (just like the scavi tour) but it doesn't contain the remains of St. Peter and the location is under one of the parking lots behind the Vatican buildings. This tour included entry to the museums and can be booked online, which is why I'm still confused about which tour the OP really wants to see. It sounds like she tried to book the Via triumphalis tour but perhaps, may want the scavi tour instead.

Donna

I think the key is the St. Peter's grave part. That is the key identifier of the Scavi tour. I provided the link above on how to request tickets if that is what she is interested in.

Looks like you've got the scoop.

I emailed in for a mid-July tour two weeks ago and they emailed back the following day with specifics for the tour. Good Luck! :)

Anderson, did they email you a confirmation of your request or an actual reservation? To be clear to the OP- they will email a confirmation that they received your request right away. How long it takes to get the actual reservation is variable. My confirmation took 6 weeks. The more open you are with your dates, the better chance you have of getting on the tour.

They first email was a confirmation email of the requested tour date I had asked for. Imbedded within that email was a designated time they had assigned for the tour, along with a reservation link. I clicked on the link to accept date, time, and cost. (13,00 Euros per person) As I had requested two people for the tour, the total cost was 26,00 Euros. Once I reserved the tour and paid, they immediately sent back an additional confirmation email they stated payment was received and also listed out required criteria for the tour. Suitable dress, etc. Hope this helps! :)

Wow, that was a fast confirmation for the Scavi tour. I waited almost two months to receive mine. It was a very interesting experience and we built the rest of our day at the Vatican around our tour time.
Cynthia

Our confirmation was fast also, but I did this first and gave every available date we had to insure a reservation. Then other tours and activities were scheduled around this one.