Rome - Scavi, Sistene & Basilica

[BarbMatt]

Hi

Going to Rome in Oct with RCCL and want to see St. Peter's Basillica, Sistene Chapel, and the SCAVI.

I think I'll book a private tour with Angles Rome for St. Pete's and Sistene.

 

About the SCAVI - I'll email the vatican (as per their directions on their site) but how do I pay and pick up tickets? I don't understand the website really - it doesn't seem clear. Do I have to have these picked up in advance? Do they mail them to me? Do I pick up that day? What do they send me in terms of confirmation? Time, cost, meeting place?

Please let me know as much info as possible as I feel it's very difficult planning this from so far away. Plus - I don't have contact info in Rome if I'm coming from a cruise ship. What do I put down for contact info then??

Thanks : )

 

RCCL Western Med Oct 21, 2006

[Hlitner]

We did the Vatican Scavi tour a few years ago and it was an interesting hour tour. My wife would say it really wasn't worth the trouble, but that being said, I am glad we had the experience. We e-mailed the Vatican on June 4,2002 about a month before our trip and gave them a series of days that we would be available in Rome (we also specified English tours). We received a confirmation of our request the following day. On June 7 we received an e-mail from the Vatican telling us that we were on a 3pm tour on July 4 and we should report 10 min before our appointed time to the Swiss guard located at the left side of St Peters. This was in 2002 and the cost was 9 Euros per person which we paid at the Scavi Office just prior to the tour (they are limited to groups of 10). We had to show a copy of the e-mail to the Swiss guard in order to get past the gate,..and than it was a short walk to the Scavi Office (we were escorted by a Swiss guard). They also specified that everyone on the tour must be at least 15 years old, and that we had to check all belongings (cameras, purses,etc) at the baggage check office located on the right side of St Peters (this was a royal pain since it was all the way on the other side of the basilica). They also required that we confirm a few days prior to the tour via e-mail, fax or phone or they would cancel the reservation (we sent an e-mail). Hope this helps answer your question. The tour does take you along some catwalks and paths under St Peters and just being there turned out to be a bigger thrill than the tour. You really need some luck to get the tour since they only conduct a few English speaking tours per day..and they do not do this every day. My feeling is that your chances are increased by being a very small group (we were just 2) because they only take 10. Several folks on our tour had also had an audience with the Pope earlier that week,,, so I guess we really lucked-out since we had no contacts...references, etc. As to your contact info, I would just tell them the truth...i.e. that you are on a cruise ship in Civitavecchia.

 

Hank