I have emailed with request for reservations for the Scavi tours in the Vatican area, but are there other underground tours in Rome that anyone would recommend? Thanks, Sandy

Well of course the catacombs. The catacombs of San Callisto and San Sebastiano are the most extensive and have English speaking tours about every half hour or so.

The Domus Aurea,the remains of Nero's Golden House, can only be toured with a guide, starting every 15 minutes or so, they give a brief explanation in Italian (and English if you're lucky), and let you gawp for a few minutes in each area. Essential to get the AudioGuide at the ticket booth.<BR> San Clemente, a 16th century church, with a 4th century one underneath, and a Mithreum under that. <BR>The 2nd/3rd century Roman House under Ss Giovanni &amp; Paulo, Coelian Hill. Neither have guided tours, but very helpful explanatory panels.<BR>All three are within about 5 minutes walk from the Colosseum.<BR>There is also a guided tour at the Crypta Balbi, near Largo Argentina, which I have not taken, yet.<BR>

I am also intrigued by underground Rome. Rome photographer Carlo Pavia has a wealth of information on his site <BR><BR>www.underrome.com/index2.html<BR><BR>Terry<BR><BR>

Correction: www.underome.com/index2.html

Thank you all for the great tips. If I get to Crypta Balbi, I'll be sure to post on it. &quot;Underome&quot; is a great website.

I visited the Crypta Balbi last year, and found it quite interesting. (I'm kind of an archaeology junkie.) A guided tour isn't necessary; it's a branch of the Museo Nazionale, and you can go through it independently.<BR><BR>The name might be misleading for English-speakers. It isn't a crypt in the sense that we usually think of crypt. It's an excavated porticoed courtyard (cryptoporticus) that was behind a theatre. So don't expect some dramatic burial chamber or anything like that.<BR><BR>In addition to the excavated ruins themselves, there is a fairly extensive museum tracing the history and archaeology of post-classcal Rome, with many recovered artifacts as well as lots of explanatory material in English and Italian.