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Vatican Grottos & St. Peter's Basilica AFTER Scavi/Necropolis tour

Posted by (Loveland, CO) on

First the good news: I was able to secure a confirmation for a Scavi/Necropolis tour in early June. I am very excited that we'll be able to see this area!

However, I have read several online articles about what comes immediately after the Scavi/Necropolis tour ends. Some articles indicate that we'll be left on our own to go up one level to explore the Vatican Grottos on our own. Is that true?

If so, when we're done with that, will we be able to just walk up the one more level to the main floor of St. Peter's Basilica without standing in another line?

Any insight that you can provide will be aappreciated! TIA

Posted by
25 posts

We will be there later in June after our VFR tour and have this booked as well. My understanding is that the tour ends in the Papal tombs, and you can just go up the stairs directly into the Basilica.

Posted by
8124 posts

I believe it has changed over the years, and I heard they were looking to change ticketing and the tour again, but have not seen anything. Years ago, when we took the tour, you exited into the grotto, and then could take a set of steps up into the basilica. But as the other poster mentioned, later tours exited into the Basilica from the chapel. Either way, you should not need to exit completely and go back through security to enter the basilica.

Have to add, they have opened a new necropolis. This one is not under St. Peters, but under a parking garage within the city walls. It is called the Necropolis of the Via Triumphalis, accessible from outside the walls, via the Porta di Santa Rosa. I think right now it is only available by guided tour.

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