St Peters Basilica

Thanks to all for the reply....The information will be well used.
katie

Ther is no charge. It is free.

As mentioned, no fee to enter into the church or into the crypt below. There is a separate tour, booked ahead of time and a fee, of the archeological digs under the church, and there is a fee to go up to the cupola.

The small fee to go up the cupola is well worth it. The view looking down is amazing (well the whole place is pretty amazing). When you come out at the top you realize that what looks like paintings from the floor are really fantastic mosaics. The view from the roof is terrific. Oh, and I don't care if it's cold when you go eat some gelato!

The charge to go upt to the cupola is worth it as is the charge to climb the campanille in Florence. Great views. I would also suggest the scavi tour underneath the basilica but as you may alreayd know, you need to reserve this tour well in advance with the vatican office. definately intriging and worth seeing.