I have heard on the rick steves app that you can reserve in advance a tour of the crypt in the Vatican where Saint Peter is said to be buried. I have heard that it is hard to get tickets and you also need to reserve it months in advance. I understand that you need to do it through the Vatican website, but that is all I know. If anyone can give me more detailed instructions on what I need to do to see if I can reserve a spot, I would really appreciate it.
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
This tour is very hard to get on because they only take 200 or so people down there a day. You must be at least 15 years old to go on the tour. They will not make any exceptions to this rule. You must also dress appropriately or they won't let you inside (no knees or shoulders showing). You can request a tour by emailing [email protected] Be sure to include all the dates you're available to increase your chances. List the names of everyone who wants to take the tour as well as the language you need. You will receive an automatic response when they get your email. You will only hear from them if you get put on a tour. Only contact them once as there are only two people who take care of reservations and they get thousands per month. Donna
Posted by
San Jose, CA
1994 posts
And it's easy to arrange, as long as you start soon enough. It can sometimes take a while to hear back, but I've found the system works well. Just send your request as soon as you know your dates in Rome. And you'll find information on the vatican.va website, searching under 'scavi'
Posted by
Austin
973 posts
It's a really neat historical tour- subterranean and very warm . Allow enough time to find the departure point,use the restroom before the tour,buy the postcards or books before the tour because you will not go back to the starting point. We went 2 years ago thanks to reading about it on this forum.
Posted by
Washington, DC
872 posts
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/institutions_connected/uffscavi/documents/rc_ic_uffscavi_doc_gen-information_20090216_en.html
Follow that link and it will give you directions on how to get tickets. Did it in June and thought it was great. Give yourself plenty of time to find the entrance the day of the tour (it is outside the security area to get into Vatican City with a separate security checkpoint. Do dress as directed as we saw two sets of ticket holders turned away for showing knees!
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
Just as a clarification, Vatican city does not have any checkpoints that you must go through to enter. You can freely walk in and out of Vatican city as you wish. There are security check points to get into areas such as St. Peter's basilica and the Vatican museums. For the entrance to the scavi you will want to walk behind the colonnade on the left hand side as you are facing the basilica. Follow the outside of the colonnade around til you see the metal detectors people are going through. Just opposite of them is a portable type building. It is here you check in for the tour. They will direct you to the waiting area for the tour. Donna