roman necropolis

This was the highlight of visit to Rome. Underneath the Vatican, there is a virtually intact Roman Necropolis. We were lucky enough to have a very animated archeologist for a guide and she was enthusiastic and full of knowledge. You go through some quite small passageways, but you are rewarded with the sight of the Roman Necropolis just as it was before Constantine covered it in earth so he could build a church on top. The area that is reputed to be St Peter's tomb stands in stark plain contrast to the ornate garish basilica above.

This tour takes you underneath St. Peter's to explore the archaeological origins of the Vatican. My guide was knowledgable and well spoken, and the site itself was very interesting. Towards the end of the visit you see what you are told are St. Peter's bones (believe what you will ;) ).Words of wisdom:-Only get your heart set on doing this if you are planning your trip to Rome a significant time in advance, as the tours will fill up rapidly and are limited due to space constraints and a desire to preserve the space. Frustrating to many, but should be understandable for all. A good rule of thumb is to contact the office 6 months in advance, longer if possible (website: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/institutions_connected/uffscavi/documents/rc_ic_uffscavi_doc_gen-information_20090216_en.html).-It is very hot, humid, and cramped in the actual site. Keep this is mind if you have claustrophobia or are prone to lightheadedness; one member of our group had to leave and wait in St. Peter's square.-The entrance is difficult to find for some. Face St. Peter's and follow the colonnade along the left (you want to be outside the colonnade). This will lead you, more or less, to the right area you need to be in. The best course from here is to ask the official looking people for help; if they can help you, they will!

Our tour of the Scavi (or the Necropolis) was one of the most fascinating things we did while in Rome. This tour gives you a glimpse into what the area where St. Peter's Basilica now stands looked like during the days of ancient Rome. You will also see the supposed tomb of St. Peter himself. Its so very intriguing. As other reviews mention, you must contact the Excavations Office in Rome and request tickets well in advance. Only approximately 250 people are admitted for tours of the Necropolis and the tomb of St. Peter per day. The tour is underground. The walkways are narrow and the atmospheric conditions are warm and humid. If you are claustrophobic or have breathing problems, do not take this tour. Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and was determined to make sure everyone in our group had an amazing experience. Our safety was also her #1 concern, so we felt completely safe while on the tour, while also feeling like we were getting a VIP experience. Arrive early, as the Scavi Office can be tricky to find. Don't miss out on this tour. A must-do while you're in Rome!

The Scavi tour was my favorite tour in Rome. This tour involves walking underneath of St. Peters Basilica. You walk among the original foundations of St. Peters Basilica, see tombs, as well as see the original place St. Peter was buried. The architecture is absolutely amazing. Above your heads you see ventilation grates. On the top side of the ventilation grates you see tourists walking around St. Peters Basilica. While on the tour you get a sence how old everything is around you, and how it was realtively untouched from the period of time St. Peters was built until the 1970's. The tour starts to the left of St. Peters thru the columns. You need to go through security before going to the Scavi office to pick up your tickets. Each tour has a maximum of 12 tourists. There are two English speaking tours each day. You should book your tickets 2-3 months in advance.

This was fascinating. The necropolis reminded me of the cemeteries in New Orleans with the elaborate family mausoleums, only this one is now all underground. Learning about the search for St. Peter's tomb and seeing the real thing (not the extravagant modern version in the crypt) was quite special. Tip: if you arrive for you tour at the line by the Swiss Guard checkpoint, and there is a non-moving crowd, this may be a group that arrived too early for their tour. We eventually realized no one else was speaking English and our tour was about to start, so I got the guard's attention and he let us through in time.

Planned on being in Rome over the Christmas holiday and thought we would go to midnight mass. Got tickets, but then the reality set in in regard to the crowds. We also planned on going to Germany and decided we preferred to be in Munich at Christmas more than Rome. A bit saddened, but then someone on the Tripadvisor forum asked me if I knew about the Necropolis tour under St Peter’s. He sent the link and of course I have seen a video about it. Luckily we got tickets. They only take small groups and have limited access.We made it to Rome, and our tour was at 11:00. Got their early and had to wait a bit to go through the gate monitored by the Vatican Guards. They were very cordial and the time finally came. We went to the area to get our tickets after showing our confirmation. We were lead to an area we met a middle aged woman. I’m unsure if she was a nun or just a tour guide. She took us into a room to show us a model of the area. The guide was extremely knowledgeable about everything, but she had little enthusiasm. It was like she was reading everything from a book in a monotone voice. I pray all the guides are not like her.Once she opened the sealed glass doors, you noticed the warm moistness hitting your face. It was very moist and warm compared to outside. There is plenty walking to see everything so make sure you wear comfortable shoes and clothes. It was cold outside, but in the Necropolis I had to take my coat off to keep from perspiring!(GRIN)We saw so many wonderful things and the colors some of the tombs are painted, is amazing! One of the last things you will see at the end is the area where Saint Peter's remains are interred. We exited through an area many of the Popes were buried and you will remember the glass doors opening and the cool fresh air hitting your face! It was refreshing after the long walk in the warm damp Necropolis. We came out in St Peter’s Basilica at the end of the tour. I would have given the tour 5 stars, if the guide would have been better. It is a wonderful place but her monotone voice was a real let down to a wonderful place!!

So glad I did my research and booked this. I was lucky enough to book and in the same week they had availability (out of season) but I think it would be wise to email months in advance. Our tour guide was very informative and passionate, and was happy to answer any questions and tried her best to interact with everyone. Such a fantastic opportunity that not everyone gets to see at the Vatican. It was warm down there in February so can't imagine how warm it will be in the summer months. Make sure you dress in layers! I'd advise giving yourself plenty of time to find where you need to be as it isn't we'll sign posted, and ask staff for directions. The good thing is that once you are through security (just a small truck!) , after the tour you go straight up into the basilica and avoid the huge line for security the usual way. Worth 13 euros for sure!

We had a brilliant young American tourguide who led us on the 1.5hr guide in the Necropolis beneath St. Peter's Basilica. The ruins are incredible and the history behind it even more fascinating. Would definitely recommend anyone in Vatican city to do this tour, but you've to book in advance at least 2weeks (depending time of year). Also to note that it's quite humid and stuffy underground but is completely manageable for the average person. Well worth the money!

The Scavi Tour will take you, along with a small group of 12 or so well under St. Peters Basilica into the old burial site for the ancient Romans, who, according to Roman law could not bury their dead inside Rome's City wall. Eventually, over time (Emperor Constantine). the current and existing St. Peters Basilica was constructed over top of the then covered over burial site and the supposed crave site of St. Peter himself.So, as you start the tour you are on the top or most recent grounds of the cemetery and as you travel deeper into the Necropolis you are traveling back in time to the era when many of the early Roman citizens were buried. As mentioned above it is said that the remains of St. Peter were buried in the Necropolis but this is disputed by some archaeologists and church historians who disagree.The guides who take you into the Necropolis are extremely well versed in all of its history and an English tour is easily arranged. The tour takes most of two hours to complete and is not for the claustrophobic as there are some very narrow and confined spaces.Tickets MUST be pre purchased well in advance of when you want to visit, usually two or even three months in advance. Even then it is sometimes hard to get a spot. You need to email the Scavi office and they will send you the booking information request form. You send this in and wait for them to send you a return email. Then, if lucky you given a confirmation or asked to pick another time. Be patient and you will eventually succeed in getting a reservation. Now having said all this if your trip to Rome is just a few weeks away it is still worth a try to get a reservation. So an email to the Scavi office may still get you a ticket. We didn't find out about the Scavi tour until just before we were to travel to Rome (I think three weeks prior to our departure) but we sent in the request anyway and were lucky and obtained a reservation. Granted we visited in September when the crowds a smaller.Tip: When you arrive at the Vatican head towards the front of the Basilica and veer off to the left. Just after you pass a bank of offices and washrooms head to the left again (past the exit point for people leaving the Basilica) and show your reservation to the Swiss Guards who guard the entrance to the Scavi and other offices. The office is easy to locate and once inside everything will proceed quickly.Now when you leave the Scavi tour you are treated to a BONUS. You are able to enter directly into St. Peters Basilica and bypass the normally huge long lines to get in. So for 15 dollars or so you can enjoy a fabulous tour and then direct entrance into the Basilica. This is a unique and not to be missed part of the Basilica that not many visitors will see.

We booked this tour 3 months in advance. It was easy to do on the web. After you get confirmation, go to the secure online payment site to pay. Print off your confirmation and proof of payment and bring it with you. Walk to the gray metal gates to the left of the Basilica's entrance where there are 2 swiss guards. They have a separate security truck there and there is no need to wait in the long security line for the Basilica itself. We got there 20 minutes before our scheduled tour which was plenty of time. At 15 minutes before, they check your paper, let you pass through the gates and then go to the scavi office to get your official tickets. We had an archaeologist guide. She was Italian, but spoke English. Her accent was pretty strong, so we had to concentrate to understand her sometimes. She was also very knowledgeable and passionate about the topic.The tour lasts about 1 1/2 hours. It's very interesting and informative. Seeing the origins of the Basilica and learning the history add so much to the visit of the Basilica. To be right where the 'tomb' of Peter is and look up at the dome through the floor, to walk beside and inside the original church, and to see Pegan tombs, frescos, mosaics and other mausoleums that were once completely covered by dirt and only recently excavated is beyond fascinating. You end in the chapel and exit into the grotto where many other popes are buried. Then you can continue your visit of the Basilica and/or the Dome from there. This is, by far, the best and only way to visit the Basilica. I would do it all over again in a heart beat.This is not a tour for young children, handicapped or claustrophobic people. The halls and stairways are very small and narrow. It's humid and warm.

Visiting these excavations is well worth planning ahead, whether or not you are Catholic or Christian. I've been on this tour at least ten times, and it never gets old. Your tour guide may be a nun or priest, an archaeologist, or an art historian. Each tour guide will give you a new perspective. The tour, which is about one to one and a half hours long, leaves you out at the Basilica, where you can go up to the dome and/or into the Basilica itself. To book, go to the Vatican's website. They will want to know when you will be in Rome, number of people in your party and preferred language. It may take a little while to hear back from them. If you do get a slot, send your payment in ASAP. I faxed them my credit card number; do not email it. On the day of the tour, wear church appropriate clothing and leave large bags behind or give extra time to check them first, which you can do in front of St. Peter's, on the lower right as you face the Basilica (bathrooms also here), after going through the security line. You will go through a separate security line to enter the excavations office to pick up your ticket, so leave enough time. If you get there too early, face the security officers' trailer, look over your left shoulder and you will see a cafe/bar/restaurant. As you descend through the layers of excavations, it will get warmer and more humid, so wear layers of clothes that you can remove. I was happy that I brought a paper fan (bought at the Museo Borghese gift shop). This is not appropriate for small children or those with mobility difficulties. Photos are not allowed, but you can buy a well-illustrated book in English in where you pick up your ticket.

The scavi tour is a tour of the graves and excavations underneath St. Peter's Basilica. The tour is very limited to the number of visitors permitted each day. Tours are no more than 15 people. When you sign up to purchase tickets, you will be asked what language you speak. The area where you will be walking is very humid and the terrain is tight and uneven. It is not for someone with limited mobility. You get a glimpse of what is purported to be St. Peter's grave. It can be quite difficult to make a reservation, so you should check availability well in advance. The website is uff.scavi@fabricsp.vaOur tour guide was excellent and very informative. We had been on the tour several years ago and our guide was a young priest who just walked us around and did not provide any history or factual information. At the end of the tour, you are left in the underground tombs of former popes and afterwards you can visit St. Peter's Basilica.They have changed the entrance to the scavi. Ask a security person to direct you to the entrance. Just show them your reservation. You do not wait in the long security line to enter St. Peter's Basilica. However, you do go through a mobile security entrance and large bags are (supposedly) not permitted - according to their instructions. However, we were the only ones in our group who DID NOT have large backpacks!!

This was one of the best things on our trip. Definitely book this in advance if you can.Logistics: To reserve a spot, you can email the Excavations Office (found on the Vatican website) and give them the dates you will be in Rome, number of people and the language. You do not get to pick the date or time; they will assign one to you. Also, children under 15 are not admitted, so if you are traveling in a group with children, you will need to switch off, which may mean you get assigned different days, as we were (it's worth it).To find the place, just go up the left side of the Collonade (facing St. Peter's), where it attaches to the basilica. There will be some Swiss Guards who will direct you to a small security checkpoint, and then you will wait by the excavation offices for your tour guide. Have your tickets with you.As for the tour itself - I was mainly interested in seeing the site of St. Peter's bones, but there was so much more than that. We learned a lot about the history of the area, and walked through what used to be an above ground necropolis with graves for pagans (and possibly some early Christians) that were covered over when the basilica was built here. It is an amazing look at life of that time, and it's interesting to think about the people, families and what they believed, and the way we are all seeking for meaning. These were more than just graves, but beautiful buildings where family and loved ones would come to honor their deceased and have festivals.The other part of the tour involves the site where the fist memorial to Peter was built, his initial grave and the present site of the bones under the current altar. It was amazing to be here and know that this was a place Christians have been coming to and honoring since the beginning, and the evolution of the site over time was really interesting. It definitely brings new meaning to the verse 'upon this rock I shall build my church' and helps highlight the importance of St. Peter's as a place of pilgrimage (even though it's not actually the 'head' church of the Catholic Church - St. John Lateran is).

this is one of the best kept secrets from tourist in Rome. Many tourist think they have visited the alleged tomb of St Peter when they walk down the stairs inside the Vatican building to visit the lower area of this building. Well they are missing the best part of the Tour,a trip to Rome in the first century AD. Underneath the Vatican,under even the original Contastine Basilica there's an ancient Roman cemetery and you can walk through it up to was is thought to be St Peters original tomb. You are actually going back 2000 years back to imperial Rome. You need to call or email with plenty of time as groups are small. You enter by a side door and go downstairs in time. Take a look at http://thecatholictraveler.com/expert/vatican-scavi-tour/Don't miss this.

We came to rome for a weekend away in November, I had booked tickets for the necropolis mainly because I'd seen it in angels and demons and it looked interesting.We were late arriving due to not knowing where the excavations office was, if you arrive in St. Peter's square you must go out to the left through the columns onto the street, we were then stuck behind hundreds of people waiting for a service with the pope so we had to push to the front and shout someone over to let us through! Once we were in our guide who was very good took us down the stairs. I was very worried at the time because I am slightly claustrophobic and don't do well standing in heat for long periods, however it was nowhere near as bad as I imagined not uncomfortable after first 5 mins (this could be different in summer when it's hotter outside).We saw lots of tombs that were like houses with doorways and even upstairs! At the end was the tomb of St. Peter (don't expect to see much) and the graffiti wall. The whole tour took about an hour it was truly fascinating and not to be missed!!