Time for Scavi Tour at St. Peter's Basilica?

[Mirthrindr2]

We'd like to consider trying to book the Scavi Excavations Tour at St. Peter's Basilica for the same day our ABD Viva Italia tour has us at the Vatican since after the ABD guided tour the afternoon is supposed to be 'On Your Own' time.

However, since I have no idea what time the ABD guided tour ends by, and since it seems the times for the Scavi Tour are not posted on the official Vatican web site, I do not know if the logistics will work.

I'm affraid to book the Scavi tour in advance then be unable to be there on time if the ABD guided tour is not over.

Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks in advance.

Ciao!

 

[Mirthrindr2]

Hmmmm. In continuing my research about the Scavi Necropolis Tour, it seems you do not see a list of scheduled times the tour runs and choose one. When you email The Excavations Office at the Vatican to reserve the tour, assuming your reservation request is accepted, you do not actually find out what TIME your tour will be until you actually receive your reply back from the Vatican.

It seems this really won't work for those of with ABD since the first half of our day at the Vatican is already planned and paid for. Even on the other days in Rome it still won't work because each day in Rome is half scheduled with ABD led tours, so not knowing what time the Vatican may potentially schedule you for the Scavi makes it risky and possible you won't be able to attend after all.

Still wondering if anyone has ever done the Scavi Tour while on an ABD trip though.

 

[mouthdoc]

Greetings! We did the Viva Italia recently. You are going to love this trip! Regarding the Scavi underground tour at the Vatican, my daughter and I did this tour! We reserved our tour for the day that ABD visits the Vatican as you suggest. Like you, we were unsure as to whether or not we would be able to attend, but decided to reserve our tickets anyway. As you are aware, there is not a detailed itinerary. Here is what we did: We reserved a 3:30 p.m. tour via the internet. I can't remember exactly, but we did this a few months prior to our visit. I recall they sent us an e-mail with a tour date of the day we would be visiting the Colosseum. I e-mailed back our preferred day and time and they sent a new tour time, no problem. If your tour is like ours, you will visit the Vatican in the morning. Lunch is on your own, and then we met back up and toured the Castel Sant' Angelo. The rest of the group then boarded the bus for the trip back to the hotel. Your tour guides will help you in any way that they can, and try to accomodate any requests. We went back to the Vatican, stopping for a gelato on the way! We had a little time to kill. Again, a 3:30 time, I believe, would be good. The tour takes about an hour. You have to get yourself back to the hotel. Walkable, but we took the Metro. Good Luck and have a great time in Italy!!
Let me know if you have any other questions!

 

[Mirthrindr2]

Fantastic! Thanks so much for the info mouthdoc, greatly appreciate it and most helpful.

Ciao!

 

[MrsDanielle]

This past May, my husband and I did both the Vatican museums and scavi tours. Both were fantastic, but the second one was a much more intimate experience. You'll see! This website http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/rome/scavi_tour.htm will provide you with a brief description of the tour.


If you have additional time in Rome, I would highly recommend the Catacombs of San Callisto. PM me if you'd like more info.

 

[tinkerbell10309]

Hi our family of 8 are on the 9/15/11 Viva Italia trip.

I booked the Scavi tour for our group and was given a time of 1:15 PM the same day we are visiting the Vatican.

Like you, I wondered if we were going to be able to make it. So I called ABD and the staff there, as usual, were so helpful. After giving them our tour date, they told me we are visiting the Vatican and Sistine Chapel in the morning and that lunch is planned nearby (5 minute walk) for 11:30 AM and that we are free after lunch. They even told me the name of the restaurant and said we needed about an hour or so for lunch and we should have no problem making the Scavi tour.

They also suggested that we let our tour guides know of our plans as soon as we arrive. She said the tour guides will be able to give us directions on how to get around after the Scavi tour.

Woo-hoo.............a week from now we will be visiting the Vatican, four days to go before we are in Rome.

I'll post once we get back to let you know how it all worked out.

I hope everything works out for you.

 

[sssteele]

Hi our family of 8 are on the 9/15/11 Viva Italia trip.

I booked the Scavi tour for our group and was given a time of 1:15 PM the same day we are visiting the Vatican.

Like you, I wondered if we were going to be able to make it. So I called ABD and the staff there, as usual, were so helpful. After giving them our tour date, they told me we are visiting the Vatican and Sistine Chapel in the morning and that lunch is planned nearby (5 minute walk) for 11:30 AM and that we are free after lunch. They even told me the name of the restaurant and said we needed about an hour or so for lunch and we should have no problem making the Scavi tour.

They also suggested that we let our tour guides know of our plans as soon as we arrive. She said the tour guides will be able to give us directions on how to get around after the Scavi tour.

Woo-hoo.............a week from now we will be visiting the Vatican, four days to go before we are in Rome.

I'll post once we get back to let you know how it all worked out.

I hope everything works out for you.

I'm so excited for you and anxious to hear about the trip.

 

[Mirthrindr2]

Hi our family of 8 are on the 9/15/11 Viva Italia trip...

I'll post once we get back to let you know how it all worked out.

I hope everything works out for you.

Very excited to hear how it was for you Tink, but unfortunetly for us I waited too long to send a request for a reservation (though it was like 32 days in advance) and I recieved a reply it was full for the only day my plans would allow for it (the day we are at VC with ABD).

Thanks for the reply MrsDanielle, checking out info on Catacombs of San Callisto now, but we pretty much filled up our itinerary for this time around.