Hi all! I am going to Rome in June and was lucky enough to get admission into the Vatican Scavi or Excavations. If anyone has any personal experiences, tips, they can share, I would be grateful to get to read them. Having never before been to Italy, I am hoping all goes well and I get to the Scavi on time for my tour. I am thinking of taking a taxi, just to play it safe. The hotel I booked is not near the Vatican, which now in retrospect I wish I would have booked closer, but whatever. So please, share ideas, tips, stories, Thanks! :)
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
This was a topic here just recently. Try typing "scavi" in the search window and see what you get. Good luck. (We have our reservations for May. You do have to reserve far in advance.) And don't feel bad about not getting a hotel near the Vatican - that's kind of a boring neighborhood and Rome is so concentrated that you're better off staying somewhere else. Also, cabs are fairly cheap in Rome, so if you're really far away, you might just choose to take a cab.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC
49 posts
Hi Heather, My husband and I went on the Scavi tour last summer. We had a great time. The tour is very interesting. My recommendations would be to make sure you adhere to the Vatican dress code (one of the ladies on my tour took off her sweater at one point and was reprimanded by the tour guide because her dress showed her bare shoulders). It might not be fun for those who have difficulty in small, coded in spaces. Wear comfortable shoes because you'll be on your feet a while. We took the subway and then walked to the Vatican and arrived early as suggested by the reservations and had no difficulty. I hope you have a great time! Tanya
Posted by
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
101 posts
I just got to experience the Scavi Tour in February and it was fantastic. My first piece of advice - make sure you double check the tour time. I thought it was 10:55am so we walked up to the Swiss Guard around 10:45am and he said it was close enough and let us through. It turned out our tour was for 10:30am and we were lucky enough that they stayed behind to wait for us! It will be hot in June but as a previous poster mentioned, you will need to dress respectively. The underground is climate controlled with 95% humidity so it can get quite warm. You will come out through the grottos so you can tour the Pope's tombs for free instead of buying another ticket to see it. Hope you enjoy!
Posted by
Eureka, IL
65 posts
Heather,
My wife and I did this tour in January 2010and it was Great. As others have said dress appropriately and sturdy shoes. The ground was uneven, there are small stairs, and sometimes a little damp. I don't know your background but I would study up on Peter and early church history. In every experience I have had travelling the more I know before I go the more enjoyable it is when I am there. If you enjoy this tour there is also a new underground tour of the Colloseum. I would recommend St Clement Church and the Crypt churches with the bones of Christians all rearanged. There is also the Prison where Peter and Paul were imprisoned. Have a Great trip.