visit scavi vatican

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Request tickets for the Scavi Tour

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The Vatican Scavi Tour that goes through the excavations below Saint Peter’s Basilica is one of the most exclusive tours in all of Rome. Only 250 people are allowed through each day – compare that to the 30,000 that visit the Vatican Museums!

Your tour will be in a small group with a maximum of about 12 people and last around 90 minutes. The grand finale is a visit to the actual tomb of Saint Peter, where, by peering around a corner, you will see the bones of the Prince of the Apostles.

Reservations should be made well in advance of your visit to Rome, in fact, it should be the first thing you do!

The process is quite simple, however, it’s best to list a range of dates that you can visit and stay flexible.

How to request tickets to the Scavi

To request tickets, email the Scavi office at [email protected] Don’t email me , I can’t help you.

In your email, please provide:

• The exact number of participants;
• The name of each participant;
• Your preferred language;
• All possible dates you are available – spell out the month: 01 January 2021;
• Provide an email address for the main contact.

They don’t care about any fluff, like how badly you want the tour or how you only just found out about it or that you’ve heard how great it is.

If your request is granted, you’ll be required to pay by credit card within 10 days. The Scavi office will send a link to pay online.

Important to note

A visit to the Scavi below Saint Peter’s Basilica not only takes you into a very sacred place, but also a highly secure area. As such, there are rules.

Only ages 15 and up are allowed.

Appropriate dress is required. No shorts. No short skirts. Shoulders covered. Even in the summer heat, don’t risk it.

No large bags. Normal sized backpacks and purses will go through security screening, but are allowed – usually.

You should bring your Passport in case they check ID. It’s never happened for me, but it’s better to be safe.

You should arrive 10-15 minutes early. No exceptions.

Once inside, no photos are allowed.

It is warm, humid, and cramped in the Scavi. If you are claustrophobic, well, you should visit anyway. Just know it might be a bit uncomfortable.

Tickets for the Scavi can sell out many months in advance. If you are unable to get tickets, and you are flexible, you can show up the day you want to go and ask if there are any cancellations.

Also watch for groups. Groups pay way in advance and often have cancellations. If the group leader is nice, you may be able to join. It happens. Stay positive.

Price Tickets are €13. Price includes your guide.

Opening times Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (due to the Papal Audience ) Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Scavi is closed on Sundays, Wednesday mornings until 1 PM, and the usually the following Vatican holidays:

January: 1 and 6 (Epiphany)

February: 11 (Lateran Treaty)

March: 13 (Election of the Holy Father), 19 (Saint Joseph’s Feast Day)

April: 23 (Name-day of the Holy Father)

May: 1 (Saint Joseph the Carpenter)

June: 15 (Corpus Domini), 29 (Feast Day of SS. Peter and Paul)

August: 14, 15, 16 (Ferragosto)

November: 1 (All Saints), 2 (All Soul’s Day)

December: 8 (Immaculate Conception), 24, 25, 26, 27 (Christmas) and 31 (Te Deum)

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Hidden Vatican: the “Scavi” and how to visit them

• November 7, 2022
• Catacombs , Churches , Rome 101 , The city center , Vatican Area

As you plan your tra vel to Rome, you’ll have surely considered devoting part of your trip to the exploration of the Vatican area : St. Peter’s Basilica , with the Vatican Museums and – of course – the Sistine Chapel .

This is on every tourist’s “must do”, after all, and there’s little deviation from the rule. At the very most, some more travelled people might want to add experiences that are a little out of the ordinary, such as the train daytrip to Castel Gandolfo and the Papal palace there, or the ascent to St. Peter’s dome .

A surprising small number of visitors, however, know that St. Peter’s itself can also be visited… from below . Meaning, not everyone remembers that there’s a whole underground level under the basilica that is accessible (even though with a few limitations). That part of the Vatican is called “Scavi” (“Excavations”) and this post wants to share some information on it!

What are the Vatican’s “Scavi”, anyway?

Oversimplifying for the sake of brevity – and with many apologies to the historians reading this: you may already be aware that the current Basilica you see at St. Peter’s has not always looked like that. The building of the original church had been ordered by none other than emperor Constantine , who had also decided to flatten the Colle Vaticano hill that used to be where the basilica is now located.

That hill, while not one of the original seven hills of Rome, is as important because emperor Nero used it as a location to martyr some of the first Christians – among them, St. Peter .

Those killed there, along as other Romans who were not Christian, were all buried in a necropolis which ended underground when Constantine ordered, indeed, to build St. Peter’s in its stead. The “Scavi” are the part of that same necropolis, which includes St. Peter’s tomb, and that have been excavated since around 1939.

Scavi: not a chance discovery

Contrary to belief, the Scavi area has always been well-known , both by the Vatican residents and by Romans at large. So much so that when Pope Pius XII asked to be buried as close as possible to St. Peter’s tomb , the request was at first deemed impossible to fulfill, because the area below the basilica was considered too cramped to move around.

When contractors started working on it by trying to lower the existing underground floor to create more space, they soon discovered Roman tombs, shrines, buildings and more. Parts of the necropolis can never be excavated, so as not to pose a threat to the stability of the basilica above it. What you get to visit is, however, a significant portion of it.

How to visit the Scavi?

Visits to the Scavi can only happen through the Vatican offices themselves , as they authorize the amount of people allowed to walk through the area. Only up to 250 people can visit each day, divided into groups of 12, who are not allowed to explore on their own but are accompanied by a guide .

This is the official website for booking your visit, which also contains a “virtual guide” on the findings below the church and gives you a rough idea of what to expect down there (particularly useful in the even you’re claustrophobic and need more information before booking!).

Things to know before you book

• Visits to the Scavi are 1h 30 minutes – short enough for you to be able to still make it to the Vatican Museums right after, for instance, so plan your tours accordingly!
• Access is not allowed to kids under 15 – again, plan accordingly if you’re travelling with children.
• It goes without saying that your attire should be the same as when visiting a church – the tomb of St. Peter is here, after all. Even if you’re not religious and interested in the history behind it, try to be respectful to those who are, or those who work there (read something more about this here ).
• On top of not being recommended to those suffering from claustrophobia , the Scavi area is not suitable to those tourists with a walking disability – obviously, it is an archaeological area and even though works have been carried out to make it more accessible, surfaces can be slippery, uneven or there might be steps or other obstacles.
• Ancient Rome
• Archaeology in Rome
• Scavi necropolis
• St. Peter's Basilica
• Things to do in Rome
• tourist tips
• Underground
• Vatican City
• What to do in Rome

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Taking the Vatican Scavi tour: Visiting St. Peter’s tomb

Apr 22, 2018

The Vatican Scavi Tour, or a tour of the Vatican Necropolis, is one of the most exclusive tours in Rome, Italy, and maybe even in Europe! This is because they only let around 250 people in each day (compared with the more than 30,000 who visit the Vatican each day). You can only visit Ufficio Scavi (the Vatican Office of Excavations, or the Tomb of St. Peter, or the Vatican Necropolis) on a tour, and your tour guide will take you through the streets beneath St. Peter’s Basilica where a large number of early Christians were buried.

Visiting the Vatican: Everything you need to know

You will also be within feet of the room the Vatican believes St. Peter was buried, and will show you what they believe are his bones (although there is of course different opinions on whether they are him or not).

You will hear a history of early Christians in Rome and how they lived. Whether you are Catholic, or Christian, the history itself makes the tour completely worth it.

How to apply for the Vatican Scavi Tour

Scheduling the Vatican Ufficio Scavi tour Rome is not the easiest thing. To sign up, you will need to email the Vatican and let them know what days you will be in town. You should do this a minimum of a few months in advance of your trip, because these tours fill up in advance. They will email you back with a time and date for your tour — and you have very little choice at that moment. In our case, the date we were assigned was a different day than we were hoping for, but we made it work.

Reserve your Vatican Scavi tour tickets here.

Important vatican scavi tour tips:.

When you receive your email back from the Office of Excavations (Ufficio Scavi) you need to reply with a confirmation, as well as going through their online system to purchase your tickets.

As far as I know, you cannot negotiate a different date. Once they assign you a date, you either accept or you don’t — but assume the date they sent you for your Ufficio Scavi tour is the only one they have available within your time frame.

If you are instead looking to visit The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, learn more about reserving your Vatican Museum tickets here .

Ufficio Scavi Office

To find the Scavi office, go to the left side of St. Peter’s Square when facing St. Peter’s Basilica. There is a security line there that they will send you through, and then you will find a Swiss Guard member who will direct you to Ufficio Scavi.

Recommended: The 10 Best Attractions in Vatican City

Important: Do not let anyone tell you that you need to go through the security line for St. Peter’s Basilica. You do not need to. The red star below will show you where you need to go through security to reach Ufficio Scavi.

There should be no other people (or very few people) in line at this security checkpoint, because the only people using it are those that have a confirmation for the Scavi tour.

You should show up to the office at least 15 minutes ahead of your appointment. Be prepared for your tour to last around 1.5 hours.

A few things to know about the Ufficio Scavi Tour:

• You cannot take photos on the Vatican Necropolis tour, so do not plan this if you are hoping for a great photo opportunity.
• The tour is underground beneath some very old buildings. Because of this, it can get very humid and therefore very hot. We went on a day when there was nonstop rain, so the fact that we were soaked on top of the fact that it was humid made for a fairly uncomfortable tour.

When you leave the tour, you will end up in a hall of popes — this is something the public has access to. But don’t mistake it for the actual tour location, because the tour itself will be one of the most amazing experiences of your life.

Learn more about visiting the Vatican, including the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and St. Peter’s Dome

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How to Book the Vatican City Scavi Tour And View St. Peter’s Remains

January 12, 2017 By //  by  Halef 2 Comments

Do you want to see the “secret” part of Vatican City containing the remains of St. Peter? Have you ever heard of the Vatican City Scavi Tour?

If you’re going to visit Vatican City, it’s something you really need to consider doing.

Vatican City is a city-state within a 2-mile long wall. The city started from humble beginnings. St. Peter’s Basilica, the focal point of the city, was built to honor the eponymous Apostle, who was crucified and buried in the Vatican Hill necropolis around the 1st century.

If you’re lucky enough to be able to book a the Vatican City Scavi Tour, you’ll get to view the remains of St. Peter.

It will be one of the most memorable parts of your visit.

When Christianity became the official religion of Rome in the 4th century, Emperor Constantine began the construction of the church.

The site was later expanded and built up over the next 17 centuries.

Millions of people visit St. Peter’s to see the upper Basilica. A few thousand visit the majestic Vatican Museum.

It houses one of the most impressive and expensive art collection per square foot in the world.

What most people don’t know is that you can do more than just visit the impressive church and Museum.

Travelers “in the know” will actually sign up for a special visit to the original necropolis level of the Basilica, where the 4th century ground once stood, to see the remains of St. Peter.

Booking the Vatican City Scavi Tour requires you’ll deal with a bit of Vatican bureaucracy and it might test your patience, but trust me, it is worth the effort.

This post will help you get it all set up.

The Vatican City Scavi Tour

Scavi (excavation), refers to the Vatican City archeology project that explores the excavation underneath St. Peter’s Basilica. It started in the 1940s, when they were expanding the underground area to bury deceased popes.

During that excavation, the original necropolis site was discovered, along with bone fragments believed to be those of St. Peter’s himself.

This belief is based on knowledge of the temple from the Emperor Constantine’s era and a marking that translates as “Peter is here.”

Here’s the catch:

Most people don’t even know this important and unique tour exists, and access is extremely limited: only 250 people may visit in any given day.

Also, it’s important to note that your ticket to the Vatican Museum does not include the Vatican City Scavi Tour.

You must request it separately, with permission granted by Vatican City.

How to reserve the Vatican City Scavi tour

If you want to see St. Peter’s remains for yourself, there is only one way to visit the site. You must contact the Ufficio Scavi (Excavation Office) directly. 

Fabbrica di San Pietro , an organization within the Vatican, appointed to overlook the excavation project, runs this office.

To book the Vatican City Scavi Tour, email [email protected] or fax them at +39 06 69873017 to request access. You can also visit the Excavations Office in person (see below for directions).

Required information for booking the Scavi Tour

• Number and names of participants
• Language requested
• Possible dates for your visit (the time is assigned by the Excavations Office).
• E-mail address, fax number, or postal address

If they approve your Scavi tour, the office will reply to you and give you a specific date and time. You’ll need to confirm your acceptance, at which time they’ll issue you a confirmation number.

Bring this number with you when you visit.

You must show it to the Swiss Guard to be allowed inside the Vatican compound.

Things to know before registering

Here is some important information you need to know:

Request the Scavi tour far in advance

I can’t stress enough how limited this tour is. There are only 250 people allowed each day in groups of about 12. So request your Vatican City Scavi tour months in advance and be flexible – give at least a couple of dates.

I requested my June visit way back in February and barely made it.

This is first come, first served. The office will reject your request if there are no spots on your requested date.

Confirmations and changes

You may visit the Ufficio Scavi when you’re in Rome to confirm your appointment prior to your appointed date.

If you need to change your date or the time of your visit, they will only do it in the unlikely event someone canceled.

Registering large groups

You must list the names of every single visitor. If you’re with an organization (universities, parishes, cultural associations, agencies, and other groups), tell them the name

Minimum age to enter the Vatican necropolis

To visit, you must be at least 15 years old to go on the Scavi Tour.

They do not make exceptions. If you get there and you are “going to be 15 tomorrow,” you will not get in.

Disability accommodation

Sadly, there is no accommodation for wheelchairs or people with physical disabilities.

If you have a severe case of claustrophobia or any dust/humidity allergies, this tour may not be suitable for you.

Scavi tour Cost

For an individual ticket, including the contribution for the guide, the cost is 13€ (approximately $16.50).

They do not give discounts for any reason.

The day of your Scavi visit – things to know

Here’s what you need to know on the day of your Scavi Tour:

Entrance to the Excavations Office

You may only enter through the gates located on the Via Paolo VI. This is outside the Colonnade, just to the south (left), near the entrance to the General Audience Hall)

Bring your confirmation number

You must bring this number, and list of the members of your group (if applicable) to show the Swiss Guards.

If you don’t have it, you can’t go in.

Although they are friendly, they are definitely very strict about allowing access to Vatican territory.

Scavi tour Arrival time

Arrive at least 10 minutes before your visit. They won’t allow you in if you are late.

I highly recommend arriving even 30 minutes beforehand.

Dress code for the Scavi tour

This is a sacred place. As is the case in all of the Vatican, even in the top-level of the Basilica and the Museum, they don’t allow shorts or anything above your knees.

No tank tops/straps that show shoulders.

No exceptions. They will turn you away.

No large bags

Leave larger bags, backpacks and cameras at your hotel. Although there are a few lockers and places where you can leave some smaller bags, they won’t allow any bags or big cameras inside the excavation area.

Scavi tours are arranged by language

These are highly trained individuals who are more than happy to answer your burning questions.

The guided tour lasts about an hour and a half.

Check out other cool things to do in Vatican City.

Scavi tour Contact information

Vatican City Scavi TourExcavations Office (Ufficio Scavi) 00120 Vatican City State

Tel.:   +  39 06 69 885 318 Fax:   +  39 06 69 873 017

Monday – Friday:  9:00 – 18:00 Saturday:  9:00 – 17:00

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Halef moved from Indonesia to the US nearly two decades ago to go to college here. He hasn’t looked back. He’s been to over forty countries and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. He’s a Landscape Architect in Atlanta, GA.

Reader Interactions

January 13, 2017 at 2:54 pm

Love this post! I had no idea about this and will definitely plan for this on my next trip to Rome. I love secret tours like this so thanks for a great post!

January 13, 2017 at 3:00 pm

Thank you! Feel free to share. 🙂 It’s a wonderful tour that not many people know about. A shame, really, as it’s one of the more interesting things in Vatican City!

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Home » Vatican City Area Attractions » Vatican Necropolis Info & Hours

Vatican Necropolis Info & Hours

The Vatican Necropolis stands nearly 32 feet below St. Peter’s Basilica, under the Vatican Grottoes, and must not be confused with the Necropolis of Via Triumphalis an underground cemetery of members of the poorer classes, located between the Vatican City and Castel Sant’Angelo .

The Vatican Necropolis under St. Peter’s is also known in Italian as the “Scavi” of St. Peter’s , because of the excavations sponsored by the Vatican that occurred between 1939 and 1949 under Pius XII.

This necropolis is especially known for being the early burial place of St. Peter the Apostle and for housing what are believed to be his remains. The Highlight of the visit are the (alleged) remains of St. Peter Apostle.

Visit to the Vatican Necropolis under the St Peter’s Basilica (or Tour of the Scavi) must be arranged directly with the Excavations Office. Early reservation is highly recommended due to the limited number of people admitted at a time. Groups size vary from 10 to 15 people. The tour lasts 1,5 hours and is accessible only by people older than 15 years old.

Keep reading the “How to visit” section for info, price, and reservation!

Visit St. Peter’s Basilica after the Scavi Tour skipping the line

At the end of Scavi Tour the guide will allow you to pass straight into the Popes’ Tombs Area (Vatican Grottoes). From there you can walk by the entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica. You will see the steps of the Basilica on your left as you walk toward the exit. Make a left turn up the steps and enter the Basilica. This way you will bypass all the people waiting in line to see the church.

How to Visit

How to reach.

• St. Peter’s Scavi Facts
• St. Peter’s Scavi FAQ
• What’s Nearby

Attraction Overview

1 plan your visit in advance.

– Early reservation is highly recommended due to the limited number of people admitted at a time. Groups size vary from 10 to 15 people. The tour lasts 1,5 hours.

2 RESERVATION

Reservations must be made in writing only by fax or email [email protected] . The request must contain compulsorily the following information: 1. Exact number of participants; 2. Names of participants; 3. Language requested; 4. Possible dates *when the Excavations Office can assign your visit (the time will be determined by the Office). *please always write in full the name of the month (e.g.: from 01 January 2013 to 08 January 2013) 5. E-mail address, or fax number, or a complete postal address

3 DRESS CODE AND INFO BEFORE VISITING

The day of your visit you should arrive at the Excavations Office at least 10 minutes before the scheduled time. The Excavations Office is located on the Via Paolo VI (outside of the Colonnade, just to the south [left], near the entrance to the General Audience Hall.) Upon arrival, present the Swiss Guards with your letter of confirmation received from the Office which indicates the scheduled time of your visit.

Clothing should be appropriate for a sacred place: long trousers/slacks/jeans for men; dresses that reach below the knees or long trousers/slacks/jeans for women; shoulders must be covered for all.

Luggage, large bags, backpacks and cameras are not allowed inside. There’s a deposit available and is free of charge.

OPENING HOURS

Closed On Sunday and Vatican Holidays (1st and 6 January / December: 8; from 24 to 27; 31st / February 11 / March 13 and 19 / 17 to 23 April / May 1st and 29 / June 19 and 29 / from 14 to 16 August / 1 and 2 November /

Opening Hours

Monday-Friday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Saturday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm NOTE: Normally, the last visit start at 15:30 (16:15 April to September)

TICKETS INFO

The cost of the individual ticket, including the contribution for the Guide, is 13€ (approximately $ 16.50 USD)* No reductions in price will be given for any reason.

Requests may be submitted in written form by fax +39 06 69873017, or by visiting the Excavations Office in person (using the south [left] entrance, just outside of the Colonnade).

ACCESSIBILITY

Wheelchair Accessibility Service: The site is not accessible.

Reservation: Fax +39 06 69873017 Email: [email protected]

Info: +39 06 69 885 318

1 CLOSEST BUS STOPS TO ST. PETER’S SCAVI

Bus lines (stop “cavalleggeri/san pietro”):.

34 46 64 98 109F 881 916 982

Metro Station:

Address: 00120 Città del Vaticano, Rome, Italy Get directions from Google Maps

Meeting point for the Scavi Tour: The day of your visit you should arrive at the Excavations Office at least 10 minutes before the scheduled time. The Excavations Office is located on the Via Paolo VI (outside of the Colonnade, just to the south [left], near the entrance to the General Audience Hall.) Upon arrival, present the Swiss Guards with your letter of confirmation received from the Office which indicates the scheduled time of your visit..

Vatican Necropoli

St. peter’s scavi: unveiling the necropolis under the basilica.

It all started when Pope Pius XI asked to be buried as close as possible to the Tomb of St. Peter Apostle under St. Peter’s Basilica.

Works to enlarge the burial chamber of the Pope brought to life an entire necropolis. When the archaeologists started digging they discovered a double line of burial buildings, laying on one slope of the Vatican Hill. You must think about this necropolis as an open-air cemetery, hence very different from the catacombs. Read More…

Scavi of St. Peter FAQ

Are you wondering something about this landmark in Rome? Go to our Q&A section and post your question. It will be answered by an official Rome tour guide!

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Duration: 3 hours

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Best Time to Visit: Winter: 10.30 pm – 4.00 pm / Summer: 8:30 am – 2:30 pm

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Tickets: not needed

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Best Time to Visit: 2.30 pm - 6.30 pm

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Best Time to Visit: 2.00pm - 6.00pm

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St. Peter’s Scavi: Unveiling the Necropolis under the Basilica

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Visiting the Vatican - Top tips you need to know!

By Elyssa Bernard

November 21, 2023

Planning on visiting the Vatican when you come to Rome?

Here's everything you need to know!

Visiting the Vatican - everything you need to know

Here is what you really need to know about visiting the Vatican:

• When to go ? (what time of year and time of day)
• What to see ? (St. Peters Basilica and the Vatican Museums, and much more!)
• Which should you visit first, the Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel) or Saint Peter's Basilica ?
• How to skip the lines for Saint Peter's Basilica ?
• How to get tickets/skip the line to the Vatican museums ?
• Can you just visit the Sistine Chapel ? 
• Can you see the Sistine Chapel without crowds ?
• How do you visit the Vatican Gardens ?
• How do you visit St Peter's tomb ?
• How to plan all your Vatican visits for your trip ?
• How to get to the Vatican ?
• Where to eat near the Vatican ?

The first time I came to Rome as an adult, I missed seeing the Sistine Chapel because I had no idea the Vatican Museums closed at 2pm (long before smartphones and Google, ahem.) 

It must have been a Free Sunday, when the Vatican Museums are open and free but with reduced hours.

Now that I live here, I go often to Saint Peter's Basilica , Saint Peter's Square , and the Vatican Museums .

I also helped thousands of our guests plan their visits in the 17 years we ran our B&B .

Based on years of first-hand experience, I know how to tell you what to do and what not to do.

You can avoid a stressful visit to the Vatican by reading my tips first!

QUICK FACTS ABOUT VISITING VATICAN CITY

• You don't need a passport.
• Vatican City is a separate state from Italy, with just over 500 residents.
• The two main places to visit are Saint Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums (where the Sistine Chapel is.)
• The pope is head of Vatican City.
• The pope's church is not Saint Peter's Basilica. It is Saint John in Lateran.
• You can visit the Vatican, and you can stay nearby, but you cannot sleep inside the Vatican.

Visiting the Vatican - When to go

• There really is no "best day" for visiting Vatican City, i.e. when there are fewer people. The Vatican is Rome's most popular tourist destination and is pretty much always busy. You might consider Tuesday or Thursday as your best bets. Dates around a weekend can be a bit busier, and on Wednesday there is (usually) the Papal Audience , meaning even more crowds.
• In the mornings, many tour groups show up, including those offering early skip-the-line access. Also, people in general come early to try to "beat the line," so you may find the Vatican Museums much more crowded in the early morning than you expect, and  slightly less crowded in mid-afternoon.
• St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums tend to be even more crowded on Saturdays , when Rome fills up with weekend visitors.
• The Vatican Museum is closed Sundays, except for the last Sunday of every month , when they are free . This is the most crowded day you can imagine for visiting the Vatican Museums .
• On Wednesdays (except for  July , when the pope generally takes a break ), the pope holds an audience at St Peter's Basilica . In warmer months, it will be in Saint Peter's Square . In colder months, or if it's raining , it will be in an auditorium-type hall just to the left of the basilica. This means that the whole area will be packed due to all the people who attend the papal audience , many of whom visit the Vatican Museums after the audience.
• If you do visit Vatican City on a Wednesday , know that St Peter's Basilica will be closed until the papal audience is over (around 12-1pm.)
• As for time of year, winter low season months are best if you want to be more relaxed and find smaller crowds . This means most of December ( except  December 8 , and Christmas through the Epiphany, January 6 ), January and February . Believe it or not, it's just as crowded at to visit Vatican City between Christmas and January 6 as it is during summer.
• Here's  how and when to include visiting the Vatican in a 3-day itinerary in Rome .

IMPORTANT TIP :

To visit St Peters Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, you must be properly dressed : no bare knees, midriffs or shoulders.

Sandals and jeans are fine.

Be careful when wearing knee-length shorts and skirts; the opinions of the Vatican guards as to what is acceptable may vary.

You may wish to bring a sarong or wear the kinds of shorts that have attachable legs, such as hiking trousers .

In a pinch, you will find plenty of vendors just outside the Vatican, who sell t-shirts or scarves.

No matter what season you visit Rome, here are 4 things never to leave at home:

Disclosure: If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may receive a small commission - at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my site!

Visiting the Vatican - What to see?

The main things to see when visiting the Vatican are  Saint Peter’s Basilica  and the  Vatican Museums .

You can see one and not the other, although v isiting both in a single day is very do-able.

Looking for Michelangelo's masterpieces?

Michelangelo’s Pietà is inside Saint Peter's Basilica.

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel is inside the Vatican Museums.

Just try not to plan any other big visit like another museum or archeological site like the Coloseum  for the day you visit the Vatican, as you will be pretty exhausted.

Do you really want to visit the Vatican and Colosseum in one day? Here's how!

Or take the stress out of it by taking this "Rome in a Day" Tour with Vatican, Colosseum & Historic Center.

To get the most out of your visit to the Colosseum, take a VIP Colosseum Underground Tour with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill.

St Peter's Basilica

Saint Peter’s Basilica  is a Renaissance-era church and by many standards, the world’s largest. 

The Vatican is a basilica but not a cathedral, as it does not have its own bishop.

The main cathedral of the “Bishop of Rome”, as the pope is called, is San Giovanni in Laterano , or Saint John in Lateran .

But the pope is head of Vatican City , where he resides.

It's a little confusing isn't it?

Anyway, just think of the Vatican as a huge church, with a lot to see inside.

Click here to read more about what exactly the Vatican is.

Click here to visit my dedicated page all about Saint Peter's Basilica and its history, and things to see and do there.

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St Peter's Dome

It's very much worth  visiting the basilica's dome , but you should know it can get a little crowded up there, and there are a LOT of steps.

The first level is 231 steps, but there is an elevator option. ( Someone in a wheelchair or with walking difficulties can take the lift to this first level.)

The second portion is another 320 steps, with no elevator option.

The dome gets narrower as you go up, so you will be climbing this part single file, and with the roof slanting over your head.

I say this as someone with a close relative with vertigo: you may want to avoid climbing the dome at the Vatican if you suffer from vertigo or claustrophobia.

But if none of that is an issue, then do it!

You'll love the views from up there, both of the church and of the surrounding city.

Visit my dedicated page all about Saint Peter's dome and how to climb it.

Michelangelo’s Pieta

My favorite piece of art inside of  St Peter's Basilica  is Michelangelo’s Pietà .

Actually, it may be my favorite piece of art in the world.

An exaggeration?

I can't help it...just look at it:

It’s on your right as soon as you walk inside Saint Peter's Basilica.

When I visited it with my mom, she cried, saying “look at her face, it’s just about a mother’s love for her child."

Unfortunately, someone wielding an axe once attacked it, and it’s now behind glass.

But you can still see it very well.

And take note of Mary’s face.

It’s really special when you see it in person.

Michelangelo Tidbit :

This was one of Michelangelo’s first major works.

He made it when he was only 22.

He was not sure people would know he did it, so he snuck in late one night and carved his name (Michelangelo Buonarroti) on Mary’s sash.

The Pietà is the only sculpture Michelangelo ever signed (or needed to sign.)

Vatican Grottoes - The Tombs of the Popes

Inside Saint Peter's Basilica, you can go down one level and see the area where some of the popes are buried.

Saint Peter is said to be entombed just underneath the church .

This is why many popes are also buried here. 

It's quite interesting to visit the popes' tombs , called the Vatican Grottoes   - there is a lot of history down there.

Don't worry, it's not dark or claustrophobic.

On the contrary, it's a huge open space full of light and lots to see (no photos allowed.)

To visit the Vatican Grottoes, get up close to Bernini's Baldachin and look for the entrance nearby.

It's free to visit the Vatican Grottoes.

You should make sure you are done visiting the basilica or have a plan to go back up, because the normal route through the grottoes has you exit the basilica entirely.

Not to be confused with St. Peter's tomb

When people talk about visiting the Vatican grottoes, they are referring to a place where you can see the tombs of many popes (as I wrote above.)

But this is not the same as visiting the  Vatican Necropolis , where St. Peter is said to be buried.

A  visit to Saint Peter’s tomb , also referred to as a scavi  visit, is a special and wonderful thing to do, and I highly recommend it. (" Scavi " means "excavations".)

It is a delicate archeological site, and they only take 250 people in per day, in 12-person tours at a time, so you must  book way in advance . (No photos allowed.)

NEW FOR 2024!

The archeological area of the Vatican Necropolis of Via Triumphalis is now open for visitors.

This is an ancient Roman burial site that is within the Vatican walls and before now was very difficult to get access to.

You can only enter as part of an official Vatican tour group, and tickets need to be purchased through the official website .

This is an entirely separate visit, so you will not have access to either St Peter's Basilica or the Vatican Museums.

Click here to watch my YouTube video about it and see what it's like!

The Vatican Museums

The second major site to visit at the Vatican is the Vatican Museums.

This is the part about Vatican City that will take most of your time and energy.

The Vatican Museum contains the world’s largest private art collection (and just imagine that much of the art they own is not even on display!)

They are called "museums" and not just singular "museum" because the museums were started in 1506 and have been added to many times over the centuries.

They now occupy many different buildings all connected to on another.

That's one reason there is so much to see!

You will see a lot of art inside the Vatican Museums, including paintings, sculptures, ancient artifacts, and much more.

I think the number one thing people want to see when they visit is the Sistine Chapel.

For more about the Vatican Museums and Sistine chapel, visit my dedicated pages:

• Visiting the Sistine Chapel
• Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel
• Visiting the Vatican Museums
• Vatican Museums Must Sees
• Vatican Museums Tickets
• Vatican Museums Tours
• Vatican Secret Rooms

More things you will see at the Vatican:

Besides the two main sites - the museums (Sistine Chapel) and the basilica, there are more things you will see when you visit Vatican City.

Look for these as you walk around:

St. Peter's Square

It would be easy to take Saint Peter's Square, Piazza San Pietro in Italian, for granted.

After all, if you're beelining to get into the basilica, you might be focused on the security queues and wondering how long you will have to wait.

But St. Peter's Square, also called Vatican Square, is worth visiting and enjoying by itself.

It's the only part of Vatican City you can visit without any tickets or queuing.

If you have very limited time , you may even decide that this is about as much as you want to see of Vatican City, since everything else involves queues and/or tickets plus an involved visit inside.

Click here to visit my page all about St. Peter's Square, its history, and what to see.

The Swiss Guard

You might spy one or more of the Swiss Guard at the gate to Vatican City.

The Swiss Guard wear different outfits depending on their duties, but they are all dressed in costumes originally designed in the early 1500s (although not by Michelangelo, an urban myth.)

The Swiss Guard have a specific duty to guard the pope's life and Saint Peter's Basilica.

They are the world's smallest army and they are very well trained.

You will not see the Swiss Guard at the Vatican Museums.

There, you will see Vatican Museums guards who dress in more modern attire.

The Leonine Walls

In the 9th century, Pope Leo IV had defensive walls built around Vatican City following the sacking by raiders of Old St. Peter's Basilica in 846.

You can still see those walls today in and around the Vatican, especially if you visit the Vatican Gardens .

You can also see parts of these walls surrounding Saint Peter's Square on the side where the security gates are, and along the way from the Vatican to nearby Castel Sant'Angelo .

Click here to read a more detailed yet brief history of the Vatican.

For more Vatican history, check out these dedicated pages:

The Vatican Post Office

Don't miss a visit to the Vatican Post Office if you want to mail any postcards. 

It's easier and more efficient than going to the Italian Post Office, and your mail will get there faster!

There is also a Vatican mailbox up on the roof ( Saint Peter's Dome ), and usually another post office in Saint Peter's Square .

More sites you can visit in Vatican City

Besides Saint Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums, there are some more sites you can visit in Vatican City.

You have to pay for these (and for the scavi and gardens, you must book in advance.)

You will find more details about each one on their respective dedicated pages:

• Saint Peter's Tomb (Vatican Necropolis or Scavi )
• Saint Peter's Dome
• Vatican Gardens

Which to see first - The Vatican Museums/Sistine Chapel, or St. Peter's Basilica?

If you book a tour of the Vatican, usually this means taking a guided tour of the Vatican Museums , which ends with the Sistine Chapel .

Some tours include taking the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel into St Peters Basilica.

There has been some back and forth recently about whether the shortcut is available or not, but for now, it is once again the case that  you can only take the shortcut  from the Sistine Chapel to  St Peter's Basilica  if you are on a tour that  INCLUDES  the basilica.

The Vatican can, and does, change their mind frequently on this matter, so if it is important to you to be able to take this shortcut, I recommend booking a tour that ends in St Peter's Basilica to be on the safe side.

If you are on a tour that ends in the Basilica the decision is made for you.

But if you are taking a Vatican Museums tour that does not include the Basilica, or if you are visiting the Vatican Museums on your own, you'll have to decide what order to visit the museums and the basilica in, assuming you want to visit both on the same day, which many people do.

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How long does it take to visit the Vatican Museums?

To  visit the Vatican Museums  (where the Sistine Chapel is),  you need a purchase a ticket  (unless you  come on the Free Sunday .)

Once inside, even if you go quickly, you will need about 2 hours for this this visit.

If you are not able to take the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel to Saint Peter's basilica, you will exit the museums where you entered them.

This is about a 15-20 minute walk from Saint Peter's Square and the entrance to the basilica.

Click here to see a map of Vatican City and how far apart the entrances of the Museums and the Basilica are  (it opens in a new window.)

St Peter's Basilica Shortcut

You can only take the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel to St Peter's Basilica if you are on a tour that INCLUDES the basilica.

The shortcut is open from 9:30 am - 5 or 5:30PM, and it's ONLY accessible to tour companies or private guides that you book OUTSIDE the Vatican Museums website.

The Vatican Museums does not have any ticket or tour that includes the shortcut.

This means that you won't have access to the shortcut during the  KeyMaster tour , the  Extra Time tour , or any other tour that does not specifically include the basilica.

If you book any tour of the Vatican Museums, you can check the details to see if it finishes in the  Sistine Chapel  or the basilica.

Click here to view a map of Vatican City  (it will open in a new page.)

How long does it take to visit Saint Peter's Basilica?

A visit inside Saint Peter's Basilica could take anywhere from 1-2 hours, not including the time you spend in line waiting to go through security (assuming you go through security in the front and do not take the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel.)

To visit Saint Peter's Basilica, you do not need (nor can you buy) tickets, as it's free to go inside.

But you do have to wait in the line for security, which is airport-style - there is an x-ray machine to put your items in and you will walk through a metal detector.

And that can cause the queues to get pretty long.

Lately, the lines to get into Saint Peter's Basilica have been so long, they are looping back again around the square.

Wondering which tour to take of the Vatican Museums?

Visit my page about Vatican Museum tours to find out all the options!

If you book a Vatican Museums tour that does not allow you access to the Basilica, and/or you want to visit the Basilica separately, even on a different day, I'd suggest getting to Saint Peter's Basilica when it opens at 7 AM (if you want to avoid the line).

The lines are longest from about 10 AM - 5 PM, and in high season can be long throughout the day, even from 7 AM until closing!

Skipping the lines at Saint Peter's Basilica

The easiest way to skip the lines at Saint Peter's Basilica is to visit it using the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel (which currently is only available on booked museum tours that end in Saint Peter's Basilica).

There has been some back and forth recently about whether the shortcut is available or not, but for now, it is once again the case that  you can only take the shortcut  from  the Sistine Chapel to  St Peter's Basilica  if you are on a tour that  INCLUDES  the basilica.

As of now, you cannot do this  unless you are on a tour .

If you only plan to visit Saint Peter's Basilica , and not the museums, or you decide to visit these two sites separately, you can avoid the queues by following the tips in my video above:

• Come when it opens at 7 AM
• Come in Low Season
• Book a visit to Saint Peter's tomb
• Use the Pilgrims' entrance - reserved for prayer or attending mass or confession

Wondering where the bathrooms are at the Vatican?

Find out here .

Brief History of Vatican City eBook

The history of the Vatican stretches back thousands of years, and to know everything about this incredible micro-state would take a lifetime to learn.

With this eBook, discover the brief history of Vatican City - where it got its name, who built the basilica, where the Popes are buried and more!

Topics covered include:

• Details about the Vatican's origin , going back to the time of Ancient Rome
• The role important artists such as Michelangelo played in the creation of the Vatican as we know it today 
• How the Vatican came to be an independent city state within the boundaries of Rome

What else is included in this Brief History of Vatican City e-book?

• 50+ pages of information covering all areas of the Vatican's history
• Dozens of stunning and original photos showcasing the Vatican
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Skipping the line to get into the Vatican Museums

This may be the number 1 question I get about visiting Rome - How to skip the line for the Vatican Museums?

It's quite simple:

• You can pre-purchase tickets to the Vatican Museums through the Vatican's website . This means that you will not have to stand in the line waiting to buy tickets. You will, however, have to wait in a very short line of others like you, who have pre-booked tickets and have to pick them up. (The tickets you purchase in advance are more of a voucher, and they must be converted into physical paper tickets to enter the museums.) You also still need to go through security as everyone does. So you do not entirely skip the line, but your line will be much shorter.
• You can pre-purchase tickets to the Vatican Museums through a ticket reseller . There is usually a small surcharge for this but it can be worth it due to 1) Ease of use and/or 2) the possibility of finding tickets available here when tickets are not available on the Vatican Museums' website.
• You can purchase an Omnia Pass  or Turbo Pass .  These will also get you a tour with a guide from the Vatican Museums, as above. It’s not as simple as it sounds and you will need to be careful to understand what you are getting into. Click here to go to my page about the Roma Pass and Omnia Pass  or to this page about other Rome City Passes for more details about these passes.
• You can  book a tour of the Vatican Museums , either with a tour company or with the Vatican Museums themselves.  Your entry tickets are included in the tour, so you only have to go through the security line.
• If you book a visit to the Vatican Gardens , skip-the-line tickets to the Vatican Museums are included!
• I do not recommend this at all, but if you have not booked tickets, and they are sold out online, and you find yourself arriving at the Vatican Museums, you will ALWAYS find touts selling you a skip-the-line ticket or tour. I don't recommend it because you cannot be sure they are legit, and if they are, you have no idea what kind of tour you are getting. I also just can't stand, in principle, to be so bombarded by these guys every time I am within a mile of Vatican City. But it can be a good option if it's your last recourse and the lines are crazy long. Just be aware that  only licensed tour guides may give tours inside Vatican City .

Visiting the Vatican Museums with a Guide

Most Vatican City tourism consists primarily of a visit inside the Vatican Museums, which always includes  the Sistine Chapel .

Some tours also include a visit or even a tour inside Saint Peter's Basilica.

You may expect a guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Basilica to last roughly three hours total.

To find out about the many different kinds of tours you can book, visit my page about Vatican Museum Tours , which breaks down your options between group tours, early access tours, semi-private tours and more.

Can you just see the Sistine Chapel?

No, you cannot just see the Sistine Chapel .

To see the Sistine Chapel , you must go through the entire Vatican Museums, which can take at least 2 hours if you tour it and see the highlights .

The Sistine Chapel is at the very end. 

That said, if you are interested in an "Express Tour" of the Sistine Chapel, you can book this tour that skips the line then beelines to the Sistine Chapel and finishes in Saint Peter's Basilica .

This tour is only 1 hour and 45 minutes and does not include a tour of the rest of the Vatican Museums.

You do still have to walk through them, but the focus of the tour will be the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter's Basilica.

(If you are really pressed for time, you could peel off once you get to the basilica and just not finish the tour.)

is it worth taking the time to explore the museums?

I really do believe that visiting the Vatican museums  is absolutely worth doing in its entirety, even if you really only wanted to see the Sistine Chapel.

The  rest of the museums   are truly wonderful.

You have the Raphael rooms, the maps gallery, the floor-to-ceiling tapestries, papal apartments, Etruscan art, and  so much more.

Click here to visit my page about the top 10 Vatican Museums must-sees.

I highly suggest  taking a tour  to visit the museums. 

They will take care of getting your tickets.

But if you go your own without a tour, you could get the audio guide, or follow my instructions here for the best way to visit the Vatican Museums .

And you will have to book your tickets on your own .

If you are heading to the Vatican in the morning, as I said above, I suggest you visit Saint Peter’s Basilica first, and the museums later, because the queues for Saint Peter's Basilica have gotten so long (sometimes it's a 1-2 hour wait to get in!)

If you decide to go to the Vatican Museums first, just make sure to leave enough time to stand in line to visit Saint Peter's so that you get inside while there is still some daylight, so you can enjoy the sun coming through all the stained glass.

Here's a great Vatican Highlights Tour with St. Peter’s Dome Climb

Can you see the Sistine Chapel without the crowds?

Perhaps the easiest way to see the Sistine Chapel with fewer crowds is to come in really low season .

But we hardly have a low season anymore in Rome, and even when we do, somehow the Vatican is always still crowded.

So how can you see the Sistine Chapel without the crowds?

It is possible!

With the below tours, you will have a VIP, exclusive experience, and you'll get to enjoy the Sistine Chapel almost alone :

Open the Vatican Museums with the Key Master

On this exclusive tour with Walks of Italy , you will have true VIP access to the Vatican museums - literally accompanying the guard who opens all the doors to get the museums ready for visits.

You will accompany the Vatican Museums Key Master as you walk through the museums, turning on the lights, even inside the Sistine Chapel!

Watch my video to see what it's like:

How to plan all your Vatican trips during your stay

The typical way of visiting the Vatican is to spend half a day seeing the  Vatican Museums  and  Saint Peter's Basilica .

These are both easy to fit into a typical  3-day visit to Rome .

The perfect 3-day itinerary in Rome

Trying to figure out how to organize your visit to Rome? I've got the perfect 3-day itinerary for first-time visitors (or those who have not been here in a while.) It works for a 2.5 day visit as well.

In my 3-day itinerary, you'll see all the major must-see Rome attractions like the Vatican , Colosseum , Trevi Fountain , Pantheon , Piazza Navona , Spanish Steps , Castel Sant'Angelo , and much more.

And if you have more time, or want suggestions for extra/other things to do, you'll find that there too.

Visit my page with the best 3-day itinerary in Rome for first-timers .

I have found that often when people can get tickets to special things at the Vatican, like St Peters tomb (the Vatican Necropolis, or scavi ), the Papal Audience , or the Vatican Gardens , they often want to also visit the Vatican Museums on the same day.

Here's my advice for visiting Vatican City when you want to see more than just the Vatican Museums:

Including the Papal Audience

How to visit the vatican museums and attend the papal audience.

Papal Audience tickets  are not difficult to come by, and since it's "in the morning", many visitors assume it would be a good idea to go to the Vatican Museums right after the audience.

I don't agree.

If you are really short on time, then, you CAN go to the Vatican Museums after the Papal Audience.

It's just that this is going to make for a pretty exhausting day.

To go to the Papal audience, you need to get there by 8am to get a decent spot, let alone a seat.

The audience begins around 9:30 AM and finishes around noon.

You'll probably want to grab at least a snack or lunch somewhere in there .

This means going inside the museums from about 2 PM once you have made your way to the Vatican Museum entrance.

If you also visit St. Peter's Basilica after the museums (which is typical), that is a 3-4 hour visit.

And a very long day. (Also, if you want to climb the dome , you likely won't get there in time.)

My suggestion?

If you can break these visits up over two days, I would.

Attend the Papal Audience and then go inside Saint Peter's Basilica (and climb the dome if you want.)

Then on a separate day, visit the Vatican Museums and see the Sistine Chapel.

Including a visit to the Scavi (St Peter's tomb)

How to visit the vatican museums and also take a scavi tour.

At the end of the  scavi  tour (St. Peter's tomb), you wind up inside  Saint Peter's basilica .

So you will already see that.

You could also  climb St. Peter's dome  if you have time and energy.

Visiting the Vatican Museums takes easily 2.5 - 3 hours, and that does not include the time it takes GETTING there once you leave the basilica.

If you are coming to the museums from St. Peter's basilica, you need to factor in about 15-20 minutes' walk to the Vatican museums entrance.

This is after you've already done a 1.5 hour scavi tour, and spent time walking around one of the largest churches in the world.

So as you can see, adding the Vatican Museums makes it a pretty exhausting day.

If you need to do it all in one day, make sure to book your scavi tour first, then book your museums visit with at least 4 hours between visits.

Break this up over two days.

Book the scavi tour.

You have no control over when they will grant you tickets, so if you are lucky enough to get them, you can then book other things around that. 

Plan to see St. Peter's basilica (and climb the dome) on this day.

Then, book your Vatican Museums visit for another day. 

HOW TO VISIT ST PETERS TOMB, THE VATICAN MUSEUMS (SISTINE CHAPEL), AND ATTEND THE PAPAL AUDIENCE

You are definitely going to need two days.

First book the scavi visit  which is never on a Wednesday mornings anyway (the Papal Audience is on Wednesdays.)

Plan to  visit St Peter's Basilica  after that, since you will come out into the basilica after the tour anyway.

If you want to  climb St Peter's dome , you will do it on this day.

This is a pretty long and full day by itself.

Then, once you get your  Papal Audience tickets , book your tickets or tour of the Vatican Museums for after the audience (even if I said above I discourage doing all this in one day, at least if you don't include the basilica it's a little less tiring).

This will be a very full and long day also.

Ready to plan your trip?

Including a visit to the Vatican Gardens

If you want to visit the vatican gardens and visit the scavi (st. peter's tomb).

TWO Vatican Gardens

On this page, I'm referring to the gardens inside Vatican City , i.e. directly behind Saint Peter's Basilica.

There are ALSO papal gardens at the Pope's summer residence, the Apostolic palace at Castel Gandolfo.

To learn more about the gardens at Castel Gandolfo and how to visit them (it's easy!), visit my dedicated page here.

If you are able to get tickets to St. Peter's tomb ( scavi ) and also the Vatican Gardens , congratulations!

Here's how to include visiting the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's basilica as well.

First book the scavi visit .

Then book the Vatican Gardens tour on a different day, and plan to visit the Vatican Museums right after the gardens, as it's included in your ticket price with the gardens.

Visit St. Peter's Basilica after the scavi, again, on a different day from the Gardens/Museums.

If you want to do it all - visit the Vatican Museums, vatican gardens, papal audience, scavi tour and st peter's basilica and dome

How you plan your days fitting in these visits will depend on two things  - the Papal audience , which is always Wednesday morning 10am - 12pm (although you need to get there by no later than 8am); and the time of your scavi booking (which depends on the scavi office - you cannot control this).

Once you get those two bookings, the next difficult booking to get is for the Vatican Gardens . 

So book that one around the Papal Audience and scavi tour.

Note that tours of the Vatican Gardens are at 9am or 11am.

They are also not held on the morning of the Papal Audience.

I'd suggest you spread this over 3 days.

Or, to fit this into two (intense) days, try to do the scavi tour after the Papal audience, if you can get scavi tickets for the afternoon.

Then book the Vatican Gardens, Vatican Museums , and St. Peter's Basilica on a separate day.

(And climb St. Peter's dome once you are inside St. Peter's basilica if you like.)

How to Get to Vatican City

You have several options for how to get to the Vatican.

But the most important factor to consider is what you are visiting first.

Click here to see a Google map showing where the different entrances are for the Vatican Museums, Saint Peter's Square, and the scavi entrance . It will open in a new window.

How to get to the Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums entrance is on Viale Vaticano .

If you plan to take a taxi , just tell the driver "Vatican Museums".

Visiting the Vatican Museums and arriving by Metro

Otherwise, the most common way to get there is by Metro.

Rome's metro red line A has two stops, equidistant from the entrance to the museums (about a 10-12 minute walk): Ottaviano and Cipro .

The Ottaviano metro stop is the first one you will come to if you are coming from Rome's center.

When you emerge from the metro station, you just need to follow the crowd towards Vatican City.

Once you see Michelangelo's bastions (walls), follow them to the right and you will come to the entrance of the Vatican Museums.

If you are visiting the Vatican museums from the opposite direction, or if you forget to get off at Ottaviano, or, better yet, if you want to get off at the next stop to get some fabulous pizza by the slice from Bonci's Pizzarium, then you will get off at Cipro stop. 

However, from this stop, you cannot see the same stream of people, nor can you immediately see the Vatican City walls, so you will need to navigate a little bit to find the walls.

Once you see the walls, follow them until you come to the entrance.

Visiting the Vatican Museums and Arriving by Bus

Another option for arriving at the entrance of the Vatican museums is to take a bus or buses.

Many buses will get you pretty close to the entrance of the Vatican museums.

These include the 492, 49, 23, and the 81.

How to Get to Saint Peter's Basilica and Square

The entrance to St. Peter's Basilica is on Saint Peter's Square .

This is about a 15-20 minute walk from the Vatican Museums, so if you are not visiting the Vatican Museums (or not visiting them first), and want to go directly to the basilica, you can still take the metro, but make sure to get off at Ottaviano, not Cipro.

From Ottaviano metro stop, St. Peter's Square is about a 10-15 minute walk .

Follow the crowds, but at the walls, do not make a right towards the museums, just keep going straight. 

Buses that arrive closest to St. Peter's Square include the 40 and the 64.

How to get to the Scavi/St Peter's Tomb

If you are visiting the Vatican for an appointment to see St. Peter's tomb, the fastest and easiest way to arrive is by taxi .

They can drop you right in front of the entrance where you need to go, which is at the Swiss Guard, to the left of the basilica as you face it.

If you take a bus, get the 64, as it drops you about a block away.

To take the metro , make sure to get off at Ottaviano, and give yourself about 20 minutes' walking time from there to get the the entrance of St. Peter's tomb.

Where to Eat Near the Vatican

There is no place to eat inside St Peter's Basilica or in St Peter's Square (there is a tiny snack bar on the roof of the basilica, which you can only access if you climb the dome .)

There are some cafés and fast-food options inside the Vatican Museums.

There are also fun dining options you can book, and combine with your visit to the Museums.

Otherwise, visit my page about lots of options for eating breakfast, lunch, dinner and aperitivo near the Vatican . 

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Ultimate Vatican Experience: Sistine Chapel and Necropolis Scavi Tour

Rome, Italy

• Enjoy the luxury of a private tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
• Avoid long lines—skip-the-line tickets with prime access are included
• Get special small-group access to the Scavi (Underground)
• Hotel pickup is available from centrally-located hotels

What's Included

Departure & return, departure point, return details, what to expect, additional info.

• Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
• Not wheelchair accessible
• A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
• A moderate amount of walking is involved - comfortable shoes are recommended
• Please advise if anyone in your group has mobility issues
• Minimum age is 16 years
• During the visit of the underground burial visitors may be affected by the altered environmental conditions of temperature and humidity. Those who have special physical problems, subject to increase under these conditions, including claustrophobia, are advised not to access the visit.
• Most travelers can participate
• This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

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How To See St. Peter’s Tomb in Vatican City

Brandon Shaw Last Updated: November 3, 2022

Rome is full of incredible things to visit, but if you want something really exclusive, there’s only one place to go: the Vatican Scavi. Also known as the Vatican City Necropolis, The Tomb of the Dead, or St. Peter’s Tomb, the Scavi is famous for being the final resting place of one of Jesus’ 12 apostles, Peter. Here’s how you can see St. Peter’s Tomb.

Pro Tip:  Planning your visit to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you’re in the city. See our  guide to Vatican City  for more planning resources, our  top St. Peter’s Basilica tours  for a memorable trip, and  how to climb St. Peter’s Dome .

Visiting St. Peter’s Tomb: What We’ll Cover

If you want to see St. Peter’s Tomb, you’ll need to put a visit to the Vatican Scavi on your itinerary. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about St. Peter’s Tomb, where to see it, and how to get tickets.

What is the Vatican Necropolis?

• Where is St. Peter’s Tomb?
• How to get tickets
• How long is the Scavi / Necropolis tour?
• What are the Vatican Grottoes?

First off, let’s define the Greek word Necropolis. “Necro” means dead, and “Polis” means city. Put them together and you have the City of the Dead—or what we would call a cemetery today.

In Ancient Roman times, the area across the river (where the Vatican is today) was not a very hospitable part of the city. It was mostly low-lying, which meant flooding and malaria. This is one of the reasons why it was a popular area for cemeteries (necropoli). Recent excavations have found dozens of Mausolea in the area.

The necropolis wasn’t always underground. Originally, it was an open-air cemetery with tombs and mausolea. The mausoleums unearthed were initially labeled with the Greek alphabet letters Φ (phi), Χ (chi), and Ψ (Psi). Later, they were marked with Latin letters.

Where is St. Peter’s Tomb?

In the 1940s, as they were expanding the underground area to bury the popes who had died, they found the ancient necropolis and a significant piece of ancient graffiti, which translated as “Peter is here.”

As the story goes, St. Peter was crucified in Rome in A.D. 64 on the orders of Emperor Nero. Then, when Constantine became the first Roman emperor to embrace Christianity in the 4th century, he had a church built on the site of St. Peter’s grave—this was the original St. Peter’s Basilica. When Michelangelo designed the current Saint Peter’s Basilica, he centered the dome right over the spot where St. Peter’s grave was.

There is some debate as to whether the bones really are St. Peter’s. However, there are a few archaeologists today who are quite sure that bone fragments retrieved here belonged to the man himself.

If you search online for the Vatican Necropolis, you will often come across the word Scavi , which simply means excavations in Italian. After the above-mentioned excavations were complete, they decided to offer visits to the necropolis. As a result, the tour was called the Scavi Tour named after the excavations of the 1940s and this is where you’ll visit St. Peter’s Tomb.

How To Get Tickets To See St. Peter’s Tomb

The only way to get tickets for the Vatican Scavi is to email the Scavi Office directly, at [email protected]. You will need to provide the following in the email:

• The exact number of visitors (please remember that no children under 15 are allowed).
• The names and surnames of each visitor you need tickets for.
• Your preferred language for the tour.
• The dates you are available for a visit (the more you give, the more chance you have!).
• Your contact information.

It’s best to send the email as early as possible. In fact, the best time would be to send the email the moment you book your flights. It’s a VIP experience for a reason—only 250 people are allowed through each day! If you compare that to the 20,000 that visit the Vatican Museums, it’s an incredibly small number. Tickets are notoriously hard to get and tours get booked up months and months in advance.

Tickets are €13 per person. Concession tickets are not available, and when you receive confirmation of an available spot, you must pay for the tickets online within 10 days in order to secure them.

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Not ready to book a tour? Check out our guide to Vatican City as you plan your trip.

How Long is the Scavi / Necropolis Tour?

The tour includes a maximum of 12 people and lasts around 90 minutes. While the guided tour only takes around 1.5 hours, be sure to factor in the time it will take you to find the entrance and show your tickets as you plan.

You’ll get to see the actual tomb of St. Peter and the bones of the dead Apostle at the end of the tour in the Vatican grottoes, underneath the Basilica. You are free to explore these for as long as you like before heading up to see the Basilica.

What Are The Vatican Grottoes?

The Vatican Grottoes is a vast underground graveyard below St. Peter’s Basilica, which you’ll be able to see at the end of the Scavi tour. It contains the tombs and sarcophagi of many popes, as well as secular monarchs such as the tomb of Queen Charlotte of Cyprus, the tomb of the Stuarts, and the tomb of Queen Christina of Sweden.

There are also some incredible archaeological sights, such as the remaining columns from the original 4th-century basilica. The entrance is in the Pier of St. Andrew near the high altar of St. Peter’s Basilica, and it’s free to enter. However, there may well be a line. These grottoes form part of our Detailed Itinerary Vatican Tour .

This our most popular and longest-running Vatican tour to date. It enters the Vatican Museums an hour before the general public and visits the Sistine Chapel before heading to St. Peter’s Basilica. Our English-speaking guides will amaze you with how they bring the museums to life!

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You’ve heard about the crowds at the Vatican, but did you know that the museums are almost empty in the evening? This night tour of the Vatican is perfect for those who prefer to explore Rome later at night. You’ll have 2 hours of a guided tour to key areas in the Vatican, plus the Sistine Chapel. And you’re welcome to stay on your own until the museums close at 10 pm!

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Comment (1).

December 12, 2019

This was one of the most amazing experiences we had in an amazing trip to Rome. Well worth the effort to try to get tickets, we got those first and planned the rest of our trip around them

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The Scavi Tour: St Peter’s Tomb & Necropolis

by April Nicole,

WHAT IS THE SCAVI TOUR?

The Scavi Tour is a 1.5-hour guided excursion through St Peter’s underground Necropolis, the ancient underground cemetery that houses St Peter’s tomb. It is a truly exclusive experience as visits are reserved for a maximum of 250 people per day to preserve the historical site, only pre-booked guided groups can visit, and no photos are allowed – so you have to go to know what it’s all about! However, as the site is underground, temperatures can be higher than outside, so those with medical conditions or claustrophobia may prefer to skip this trip.

RULES & REQUIREMENTS

• The Necropolis can only be visited on a pre-booked guided tour.
• No children under 15 years old allowed (I.D. will be checked and no exceptions will be made).
• Guests must dress appropriately with shoulders and knees covered.
• No cameras, suitcases, or backpacks allowed (but they can be deposited and supervised by St Peter’s Staff for free)

TOUR DETAILS

• Available in multiple languages
• Groups of approximately 12 people
• Earliest tours begin at 9am, latest tours begin at 3:30pm
• Each guest must pay 13 euro, a fee which covers both the entry ticket and the tour cost.
• There are no reduced ticket prices under any circumstance.

HOW TO BOOK TICKETS

Scavi Tours must be booked in advance  with the Excavations Office of the Fabbrica di San Pietro, where the date and time of your visit will be organized for you based on the availability you provide.

Requests should be sent by the interested visitor. If the person submitting the request is not the actual visitor, he or she should send the visitors name and Email address. With this information, the Excavations Office can send specific information about the visit to the person requesting the visit.

There are no deadlines for submitting requests, but they will be handled in the order that they are received and whether they are granted will depend on availability.

Written requests may be submitted by fax  +39 06 69873017, or  requests may be made by visiting the Excavations Office in person  (using the south entrance, just outside of the Colonnade).

All of the following information must be included in the request:

• Precise number of participants
• Full names of participants
• Language requested
• Dates and times that the individual or group is available for the tour. The Excavations Office will try to plan your visit according to your availability, but the date and time is ultimately determined by them. Always write the name of the month in full, for example “from 01 January 2013 to 08 January 2013”.
• Include E-mail address, or fax number, or a complete postal address to which replies and tour details can be sent.

Fabbrica di San Pietro – Excavations Office

Tel.:  + 39 06 69 885 318 – Fax:  + 39 06 69 873 017

Office Hours

Monday – Friday:  9:00 – 18:00, Saturday:  9:00 – 17:00

For more information, click  here.

We hope you’ve found this information helpful!

Contact us at  What A Life Tours  for any inquiries about your Vatican visit & consider joining one of our Five-Star  Vatican Tours !

Author: April Nicole

April is an American writer and photographer who has lived in Rome since 2013. She enjoys exploring the museums of the city, as well as indulging in authentic Italian cuisine!

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Vatican Scavi Tour and St. Peter’s basilica

The Vatican Scavi Tour that goes through the excavations below Saint Peter's basilica is one of the most exclusive tours of all Rome.

I have been an official guide of Vatican Scavi  since 1996. You could blindfold me and I would be able to show you around with ease.

We will visit an Ancient Roman Necropolis, discovered by archeologists in 1939  and filled with the fresco-painted tombs of wealthy Roman families and an early Christian cemetery with the tomb of St. Peter's, the Apostle. This part of the tour will be with about 15 other people, though we will visit St. Peter's church on our own.

Saint Peter's basilica was built in 1506. It is the longest church in the world, filled with the most important Renaissance masterpieces like the Pietà by Michelangelo.

You can combine this tour with the Vatican Museums or Pope's audience on Wednesdays.

Tour length: 2 hours

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Form per prenotazoni visite

Fabbrica di San Pietro

Excavations Office 00120 Vatican City State

email: [email protected]

Tel.:  + 39 06 69 885 318

Entrance Fee

Monday – Friday:  9:00 - 18:00

Saturday:  9:00 - 14:00

Cost of the ticket

The cost of the individual ticket , including the contribution for the Guide, is 13,00 Euros (approximately $ 16.50 USD)

No reductions in price will be given for any reason.

© Excavations Office | Contact us | Map

Beneath St Peter's Basilica: The Vatican Scavi

Visiting the Vatican Scavi is difficult for mere mortals – requiring a grapple with Vatican bureaucracy and the timing of a trained ninja. But for those that do gain access, it’s worth the trouble.Also known as the Vatican Necropolis, The Tomb of the Dead or St. Peter’s Tomb, the area was discovered beneath St. Peter’s Basilica in the 1940s (around the time of World War II) when the Vatican commissioned excavations to be carried out there before Pope Pius IX was set to be buried in the space. Long presumed to be the final resting place of St. Peter, it was presumed that there wasn’t much on the scavi beneath St. Peter's.

What archaeologists found however, was a burial ground (aka a necropolis) dating all the way back to the 4th century. They found the temple of Emperor Constantine who had ruled at that time and a spot of ancient graffiti that translated as Peter is here. You should never take a graffiti artist's word for it but archaeologists today are quite sure that bone fragments retrieved here belonged to Saint Peter himself, one of Jesus’s twelve apostles.

A visit to the Vatican Scavi  then,   is a pretty unique treat for Catholic visitors or anyone with archaeological curiosity. Access   however , is limited and extremely tricky to come by. The only way to get in is to contact the Vatican directly through the Vatican Scavi office by emailing [email protected] to request access. When you email you need to tell them all of the dates you will be in Rome and available to visit; how many of you there are; the names of everyone in your group; and in the case that you are travelling as part of an organisation or larger party, what your relation is (e.g. if it is a parish visit or a college trip). Tours are booked according to language so you need to specify this in your email too to ensure that you can understand your guide.

Because only 200 people are allowed into the Vatican Necropolis per day in groups with a maximum size of 12 due to space and preservation concerns, demand is high. It is recommended therefore that you email as soon as you have dates for your trip – we’re talking months before you get on the plane – and that you don’t try to re-arrange a visit once it is booked. In some  cases   you may actually be on the list but not have gotten an email from the Vatican so if you applied in good time and never heard back, it’s worth heading down to the Scavi office once you arrive in Rome to double check.

You may get an email back saying that there is in fact availability for one of your dates, in which case you should respond and the Scavi office will send you out a confirmation. You need to print this confirmation and bring it with you the day of your tour, showing up at least 10 minutes before departure with no big bags or backpacks. There is a free bag check office at St. Peter’s Basilica that will mind your possessions, although small handbags and bum bags are allowed. Approach the Swiss  guards   stationed at the left of St. Peter’s Basilica who will let you through the barriers and point you towards your guide.

Admission to the Scavi is €12 and as I said before, it’s worth every penny and pain. Get in a couple of months ahead, get your date sorted and book one of our morning or afternoon Vatican Tours to see the inside of St. Peter’s Basilica too. The gritty maze underneath the temple couldn’t be any more different from the gold-gilded, frescoed wonder inside. View our wide range of St. Peter's Basilica Tours .

The Capuchin Crypt

For those interested in ancient Christian ruins, we would also highly recommend a visit to the Roman Catacombs. Dating back to a time when Nero reportedly burned Christians as nightlights, it’s home to a number of precious early Christian artworks and artifacts as well as miles and miles of individual and family tombs. Our Crypts & Catacombs Tour visits one of these incredible networks as well as Basilica San Clemente where we explore ruins from the 4th, 2nd and 1st century piled one on top of the other underneath the church (hence the name “The Lasagne Church”). We also visit the eerie Bone Chapel (pictured above) where the Capuchin monks have created artworks from the bones of 4,000 of their late brothers.

Welcome to the new City Wonders blog! Inside these pages you'll find everything you need to experience your travels to their fullest. Whether it’s on our top-rated tours, or getting tips on what to do during your free time, our travel experts provide you with that 360° insight that makes every trip totally unique.

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The Best Scavi Tour Vatican 2024

Vatican dome & crypt tour, about scavi tour vatican.

Discover a hidden world beneath the iconic St. Peter's Basilica by joining the Vatican Scavi Tour! Explore the sacred papal tombs, ascend to the majestic dome, and savor an unforgettable view of the Vatican and Rome from above. Your expert guide will lead you through the entire tour, providing insights into the Renaissance era, the artworks you'll encounter, and the underground crypts.

DESCRIPTION

Scavi tour vatican.

Explore the Vatican crypts and climb up to the top of St. Peter's Basilica to enjoy stunning views of the Vatican and Rome by going on this Vatican Scavi tour.

Start your journey in St. Peter’s Square and reach the dome's first level. Take in the beautiful mosaics of saints, Latin scripts on the dome, and Bernini’s canopy below. While being there, your guide will share interesting facts about the dome's history and the Renaissance artists involved.

After that, climb the spiral staircase to the dome's top for free time to explore. Pass by windows with views of the Vatican rooftops. After 320 steps, you'll reach the viewing platform 448 feet above the basilica floor. Take a moment and soak in the breathtaking panoramic views of the city, including the Vatican Gardens and ancient Rome's landmarks like the Colosseum and the Pantheon.

Finish your tour by descending to the underground crypts to see where popes and royalty have been buried since the 11th century.

• Guided tour
• Entry fees to the top of the Dome by elevator
• Headsets, so you can always hear your guide
• Tips (optional)
• Entry to Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and Vatican Necropolis

Meeting point

Meet your guide at Largo del Colonnato 5, by the first columns of the Colonnade. Look for a yellow label with the Touriks logo on it. The meeting point is outside the Basilica before entering St. Peter's square. Do not go through the metal detectors before meeting the guide.

Explore the final resting place of popes, including the tomb of St. Peter. Learn about the rituals and traditions associated with papal burials.

Ascend to new heights as you climb to the top of St. Peter's dome, treating yourself to panoramic views of the Vatican City and Rome's skyline - an experience that will leave you breathless in more ways than one.

Learn about the significance of the Holy Door, which is opened once every 25 years exclusively for Catholic pilgrims to walk through.

MAKE YOUR VISIT TO VATICAN CITY UNFORGETTABLE!

Easy booking process & free cancellation.

FAQ – Scavi Tour Vatican

What is the scavi tour of the vatican, how long does the scavi tour take, why is it called the scavi tour, is there a dress code to visit basilica, what other landmarks can i visit in the vatican, uncover the secrets of vatican underground, easy & fast booking process, good to know before you go.

• Please note that all visitors must pass through security.
• The dome’s elevator takes you only to the first terrace. To climb to the top of the dome, you will have to use the stairs (320 steps).
• This tour is not suitable for wheelchair users and those who suffer from heart or other serious medical conditions.

The tour was so good we forgot about the time!

Our guide impressed us with his deep knowledge and attention to every detail. During the tour, we saw many significant artworks inside the basilica, climbed the stairs to the summit, and enjoyed panoramic views of the Vatican City from the top. The entire tour lasted three hours, which we didn't even notice because the tour was incredible! 🙂

Amazing tour guide!

We had an amazing time exploring St. Peter's Basilica and taking on the Dome Climb! The Basilica is beyond breathtaking, and the Dome climb was an unforgettable adventure. There's a wealth of information that only an expert like Paula can provide, adding a whole new layer of understanding to the experience. Paula was the highlight of the tour - incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and considerate. She presented information clearly and even added a touch of humor. Out of all the tours we did in Italy, this one was our absolute favorite. Grazie mille, Paula!

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Explore St. Peter's Basilica, its majestic dome, and the hidden Papal tombs!

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• Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance

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Vatican necropolis, excavations below St. Peter’s Basilica

Table of contents

The Vatican Necropolis (Scavi) 

The fascinating descent into the Necropolis   is one of the great experiences you can live in your visit to the Vatican. It is possibly the least known visit, but those who have the chance to do it agree that it is one of the most exciting   moments of the trip. In this article we will get to the details.

We have to go back to Rome during the times of Emperor Nero, in AD 64 and to a disastrous date: the fire caused in the city and the executions of Christians in the Circus, counting apostle Peter as one of the victims. The old Via Cornelia  served as a burial place for the saint and for hundreds of devotees of Christ, a number that grew year by year.

It was not until 319 that Emperor Constantine chose this place for the construction of a basilica. The existing catacombs were not destroyed but remained below the level of the temple and were covered with earth and forgotten for centuries.

Digging works

In 1949, with the support of Pope Pius XII   and Monsignor Ludwig Kaas, secretary of the Fabbrica di San Pietro, the excavation of archaeological remains located under the present basilica were initiated, with the goal of finding the remains of Saint Peter.

The result was the discovery of a series of Graves  , excellently preserved.

Levels underneath St Peter’s Basilica

Under the ground of the great Basilica of St Peter there are   two levels :

–   The Vatican Grottoes,  in which we will find the tombs and chapels of kings, queens and popes from the tenth century onwards.

–   The Necropolis, one level down, from the time before Constantine as we have described, and further down to 11 meters below the Basilica.

Excavations which are open to the public include 22 mausoleums in an area of nearly 100 m. long. There we will find graves of wealthy commoners, with decorative elements and  tombstones  showing the name of the family. Do not forget that this necropolis remained through the transition from paganism to Christianity; therefore we’ll find pagan iconography, especially referring to Dionysus and Bacchus.

The visit will consist of a tour through each Mausoleum, communicated with a central corridor, up to a point known as     field “P”.

The point “P” is under the papal altar of the present Basilica   and is formed by a   small square   4×8 meters paved with mosaics. On the right side, after a hole in the wall in which a hollow cavity is observed; human remains and a fabric with gold threads were found. Beside him, an inscription dated  from the year 160 reads “Petro Eni” in Greek: “Peter is here”.

How to visit the Vatican Necropolis

Book your entry tickets to Vatican Necropolis with one of Rome´s top tour companies.

Check Rates and Availability

Submit a request for yourself via Scavi Office

The procedure to book a tour has its peculiarities but it is relatively straightforward, provided the requirements established by the Office of Excavations are met   Fabbrica di San Pietro. The process can be summarized in these points:

– The daily number of visitors  is restricted to 250 people, in small groups of about 12 people and always with a guide. The tour lasts one hour and a half and it is done in groups which share the same language.

– Access for children under 15 years is not permitted, nor is recommended for people with claustrophobia   or suffering from diseases that aggravates with moisture.

– The application for the tour is completed in a written form   to   [email protected], fax +39 06 69873017, or in person at the Office of the Excavations at the south entrance (left side) just outside the colonnade of St. Peter’s Square. The request must state the name of visitors, number, preferred language, date range for the visit and email, fax or postal address.

– The answer will be received in the medium used for the application the visitor will be given an exact day and time for his visit.

– The price of the visit is 13 euros, which can be paid in the way stated by the Excavations Office in its message.

Tips for visiting

– Visitors enter through the  Excavations Office.  10 minutes before the scheduled time, you will access the entrance showing your ticket to the Swiss Guard at the door. Do not go further in advance, it is possible that you will not be able to enter, Essential!: take your booking voucher printed with you.

– The dress code should be suitable  to the sanctity of the place (long trousers or long skirts, covered shoulders…)

– You are not allowed to enter with camera.

– The tour ends at the Vatican Grottoes.

– Take into consideration the age of visitors. Entry for children 15 and older is allowed. We recommend bringing official identification, especially in case of doubt due to the appearance of the child.

– The entrance to the Necropolis has nothing to do with the Vatican Museums. Their systems and offices are different.

– The visit is guided; you cannot walk freely around the area.

– On the map we mark the point where the excavations access office is located.

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Swiss guards, the swiss soldiers in the vatican.

The Scavi Office has made a huge effort to streamline their process. They now send you a receipt of your email request right away and then shortly thereafter (with a few days) you will get an answer.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and Where to go? Shortly before your tour begins, go to the Sant' Uffizio entrance to the left/south side of St Peter's Square. There is a special security station set up there. Bring your confirmation letter from the Office

What is it like inside the Scavi? It's a little claustophobic inside the Scavi. The air is humid and warm, but the ground is dry. The lighting is dim, and you walk on uneven ground as you look inside the various tombs. Some of the objects can only be viewed one at a time. A person with a physical disability may have some problems.

What can I Bring? You're not supposed to bring any cameras, recording devices, or large objects. Purses and small handbags are permitted. It you need to check items beforehand, you must do this at the free baggage check on the right side of St Peter's, which requires going through security.

What are the Age Limits? The Vatican website says that only persons over 15 years old are admitted.

What do I Wear? Dress appropriately for a religious site; sholders covered, no shorts. Comfortable shoes are recommended since the ground is uneven.

What times are the tours? Tours run continually from 9:00AM until 4:15PM, Monday - Saturday. The tours last about one hour.

Where does the tour end? The Scavi website states that the tour ends back at the Excavations Office. The tour is actually finished when you enter the Clementine Chapel in the grottoes. Your guide might allow you to then visit the grottoes (tomb of the popes).

Where can I find more Information? The Vatican website now has a virtual tour of the Necropolis at: http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/necropoli/scavi_english.html If you want to purchase information, the Vatican bookstore offers a magazine titled, 'Roma Sacra - The Vatican Necropolis'. More detailed info can be found in the online books here. An online article to read is: The Scavi of St. Peter's and the Grittiness of Catholicism by George Weigel.