Basilica / Scavi Tour

[FTLcruisers]

Has anyone taken a tour of the Basilica? We like to do more than walk around a place - we like to hear a narrative so we can learn about it too - but are just wondering if that is what we should do with the Basilica. We already have tickets for the Scavi Tour which will take us under the Basilica but have little information about what happens after the tour - do we then get a tour of the Basilica or do we wander on our own? Do we go out and find a guide? There are some websites that have tours of the Basilica but most include others things - either other churches or the Museum and Sistine Chapel - we have done those already and don't want to do them again.

[lambs2]

When you come up from the Scavi Tour you are, literally, in the middle of St. Peter's. There is no tour from that point on unless you have booked another one and then you would have to exit St. Peters to join it. Do some research on St. Peters before you get to Rome. You will find lots of sites with information to help you appreciate it more fully. Don't miss the magnificent monstrance located behind the tall velvet drapes on the right side as your back is to the main doors. Just make the sign of the cross for the guards there and they will let you in..to pray ONLY. No pictures can be taken, just like on the Scavi tour. BUT you are free to photogragh anything else you like in St. Peters, like Michelangelo's Pieta. (Sometimes there will be English tours going on and you can kind of "attach" yourself to the group..inconspicuously, to hear some details.)

[cruisemom42]

Rıck Steves, in his Rome book, has a good self-guıded tour through the Basilica. He also has a free podcast that you can download and play on your mp3 devıce ıf you prefer.