I'll be there in 2 weeks & i've tried to search on their website & haven't had any luck.

according to several fodorites, i should email them my info.

i just sent them an email requesting 2 adult tickets, English tour & the date & time preferred.

is this all i do? what happens now?

how much is the tour & how long does it last?

Sorry, i forgot a very important question:

if i get this scavi tour tickets, do i still have to wait in the long line to enter st. peter's? or will this help us skip to the front?

THANKS!!!!!!!

I'm going in October.

Send email to:

[email protected]

I received an automated response. Maybe, since you are so close to leaving, they'll be able to help.

Oh yeah, tell them the date you want, request a time, what language you would like the tour and the number of people in your group.

While I agree with maitaitom, make sure you give them a few options, since if they don't have your rquested spot available, they just wont reply to you. Also, like mentioned above, you should get an automatic response if you sent it to the correct email address.
The scavi tickets will not help you skip the queue to the basillica.

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/in...040112_en.html

http://www.ucd.ie/classics/96/Curran96.html

"make sure you give them a few options"

Absolutely. I gave them two days we will be in Rome, and any hour of the day was fine for us. Hope that works. Good luck.

Based on other replies on this subject, plus my own experience so far, I think it's luck if you get the tickets! I emailed them with my request on March 7. I received the automated reply ten days later. It said they would be letting me know when my reservation will be and that I shouldn't contact them again. Still haven't heard any more. I'm going in Sept, so maybe they don't schedule that far ahead, I'm really not sure.

I emailed them on April 7 and received a reply on April 18th with reservations. Unfortunately, I was out of town for two weeks due to a death in my family and didn't have computer access.

I came home to find out I had 7 days to pay and saw the email three days after that .

I don't know that two weeks will be enough time since it took that long for them to reply.

I gave them the days I was available and no specific time, doing this should increase your chances.
Good luck!

They also ask you to give a contact in Rome, i.e., the name of your hotel, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address (or as many of the above as you can provide).

But two weeks is very, very short notice to reserve for a Scavi tour, particularly if you impose a single date and time on them.

A little update for those who do this. I e-mailed April 19 for October visit and received confirrmation that we got tickets today (July 27).

My question. Do we pick up the tickets the morning of our tour?

maitaitom, The Swiss Guards will only let you thru the gate/arch 10-15mins before the tour.
You go to the ticket office and pick-up your tickets then.
Regards, Walter

Susan, I just heard back yesterday from the request I sent via email in March (for an October trip). Had just written off the possibility of having tickets and was so excited to receive their email confirming my preferred date and time (sent them 4 options). Hopefully, you'll hear from them soon, too.

Thanks Walter.

I emailed on July 7th for our trip in Oct. and received confirmation on July 25th - not bad. I notice you now have to prepay - which is not a problem, unless you have to change your plans for some reason.

I e-mailed back in mid-June hoping for a Sept. date (we only have 3 days available) and haven't heard yet. Hopefully I'll hear soon.

Does the Scavi tour allow you to see Pope John Paul IIs tomb?

JillH: The Scavi tour ends within a few yards of John Paul II's tomb. You have to go against the traffic to stand directly in front of it, but I was able to do so without any difficulty or problem.

Jill, I would try emailing again and be sure you have the right email address and give them all the required info. I just got my Oct confirmation too, it looks like they're working on Oct appts now.

As said, the Swiss Guard won't let you into the Scavi Office area until 10-15 minutes before your tour is to begin. I can't remember exactly how many people tour together, but the group is small (8-10??) and there is absolutely "no waiting in long lines."

While everyone may know this, it is good to be reminded that when you go on the tour, wear appropriate clothing....long pants for men. No shorts for women either.

When we went a couple of years ago, there were to be 7 of us on the tour. Three of the men and one woman were dressed in unacceptable clothing. They were not allowed to go any further. They argued with the clerk at the desk, trying to convince him that this type of clothing would be acceptable in churches in the US. It was very embarrassing. Fortunately the tours had openings later int he day and so the 4 people booked later tours.

We took a copy of the email with us that showed our tour time, showed it to the Swiss Guard and went on to the office. No problems.

I don't remember any lines either. It was one of the most memorable tours we took while in Rome.