Jen88

Oh, please. If the 'snob' fits...and it most assuredly does in this case. To say you are pretentious is truly an understatement.

Get over yourself - and your "artisan made bread". Many of us are totally underwhelmed by your self-proclaimed fabulousness.

sera

LOL! Jen, I thought NYC FoodSnob was kind of saying those things tongue in cheek.

TravelBug16

Okay,lets move past the whole screen name thing and get back to the topic

I put my Arte Vaticana Tour request in at Scala Reale's website yesterday and had an email waiting for me when I got to work this morning! My tour has been confirmed and get this, on my original email to Scala, I mentioned that I would like to do John Boyden's Tour of St. Peters and also a Scavi Tour and here is their "Cut and Pasted" emaild reponse to me:

Dear ,

While processing your order I saw your interest in doing a visit to the Excavations under Saint Peters. We don't do tours to that site any more because they now work with guides of their own and we stopped booking entrances because it was always too crowded and hard to get reservations. Since you showed interest in doing your Arte Vaticana tour with John Boyden, we went ahead and changed the docent. Please let me know if we can help you with anything else.

Regards,

Camila
Context|Rome & Scala Reale
http://www.contextrome.com & http://www.scalareale.com
Office in Rome: (39) 06/4820911

So based on her responce, and inability to book the Scavi for me, I sent an email to [email protected] which was promptly returned due to incorrect address, then I tried [email protected] based upon CharlestonSC's post above and it hasn't come back yet, so cross your fingers. My Tour with Scala is at 1pm and runs for 4 hours, so I asked them if I could book the Scavi Tour right after it or around 11am, since I'm attending the Papal Audience. So we will see what they say.
Full day in the Vatican!

Adriatx1

Just thought I'd throw in an altrnative. There are free tours of St. Peters that are offered by the Vatican that are wonderful. They are guided by seminary students at the Vatican (studying to be priests) and last several hours. They start out in the Vatican square and talk about the architecture of the building & so on. Then the tour moves into the Cathedral and discusses the art inside St. Peters as well as the history of the building, etc. This was the best tour I have taken anywhere. Plus, it's FREE. You just have to show up at the tour time in the tourist office/post office - which is on the left hand side of the square as you face St. Peters. I think it was at 2:00 pm but I can't remember exactly. There was a small sign posted in the office and that is where I heard about it.
I also took the Scavi Tour, which goes through the catacombs under St. Peters. Interesting, but I think the other one is better.

TravelBug16

Oh Thanks a lot. Where the heck were you earlier this week when I started this thread

As if I didn't second guess everything already!

jv827

TravelBug16 -- if you still have problems reaching the Scavi office, please look above to my earlier response. The email I posted is the one I used to make reservations (and also the one directly listed on the Vatican's website.) Good luck - hope you hear back soon!

jv827

Duh on me. Just realized [email protected] brings up [email protected]. Weird. Hope you get through somehow TravelBug. It really is worth the effort.

TravelBug16

Hey JV827, I wrote them last week with one address and then wrote them again today with the other. So cross your fingers. I have really wanted to go down there since I first heard about it in Dan Brown's Angels and Demons. Have you read that? If you haven't, it's awesome. I think I will re-read it right before we leave so all the sights are fresh.

jv827

It's funny you mentioned Angels & Demons, TravelBug16, because I just finished checking my hold status for it at my library. Yay - I've moved up to #1 on the list. I'm hoping it won't seem too similar plotwise to The DaVinci Code, but I figure if nothing else, the Rome references alone will keep me interested.

alexcont

IF you really like to do a cultural tour, take any Tuscany package on http://www.italian-escapes.com

they have real deals on spring and summer

halcyon

I have tried several times to book a scavi tour on their "official" site but no luck! I have sent 1/2 dozen emails....
I have also emailed John Boyden. but also, no response!
We are leaving in 3 weeks, so am wondering whom I should contact and how?
I want to do a Vatican tour including the Sistine Chapel and a scavi tour....
Thanks again!

jv827

Halcyon -- did you receive a confirmation that your Scavi request had been received, but then nothing else? Or are you saying you never received any emails at all? Typically you'll first get an auto-generated response, and then if a tour is available, a 2nd one with further details. If they can't accommodate you on the dates requested, you won't generally receive a 2nd message. However, the Vatican office is known for being somewhat inconsistent, so the wait times for a final response have been known to vary. I heard back yes once within 5 days, another time it took 6 weeks. And to make it even more confusing, I know someone who never received an auto-message, but then 2 weeks later rec'd a confirmation for her chosen date.

As for John Boyden, I don't know if you've been emailing him directly, but as NYCFoodSnob pointed out, your best way is going through ScalaReale.org. They typically respond very quickly and will be able to let you know whether he's available while you're in town (even if not, I still suggest a Vatican tour through Scala -- all the guides I've had have been great.)

jabez

halcyon, I too have run into the same problem. Many emails (all delivered) and no responses. We will be in Rome 3 weeks from tomorrow and would like to secure the scavi tour reservation before then.

Joelleinitaly04

This is my delimma, I requested a scavi tour a week and a half ago, got the auto-response, but nothing since.

Then heard back from Scala Reale about my private Christian Rome tour- their expert can only do it on the same day I requested the scavi tour? What to do, give up their best Early Christian guide for a not confirmed tour? Book the for sure tour and am just out of luck if I get the scavi tour? Anyway I'm booking the for sure tour and hopefully I'll get the scavi tour and they both can be coordinated...

Joelle

sera

Joelle: I sent an e-mail request for the Scavi tour a week and a half ago as well, and have heard nothing since getting the autoreply. I attributed that to the fact that last week was holy week and yesterday, Easter Monday, is also a holiday. But based on other people's experience, it really does seem hit or miss. Let us know if you get a response.

SoBeTraveller

We also use Scala Reale for transportation to and from Rome's airport, without a hitch. Good outfit!!

Lets give NYCFS her due - she provides good information, and could be even a great poster, not to mention more effective, if she dropped the edge. IMHO.

TravelBug16

So still no reply from Scavi. But judging from the posts above, it sounds like it's a common complaint. The fact that I didn't even get this auto reply concerns me a little.
I guess I will get it a few more days and go from there. Those that did get the auto reply..what email address did you send it to? The email didn't get returned so God knows where it is.
So JV827, you just need to hit up Costco and buy Angels and Demons. I think it's like 5 bucks. The books formula is definately familiar, but the book rocks just as much. I couldn't put it down. I have found myself newly facinated by religous history and hidden past. Very cool stuff if you're into that.

Joelleinitaly04

The address I sent my request to (on April 1) was [email protected], I think I got an autoreply in a couple of days.

Joelle

platzer

"The considerate thing to do is get my "name" right and never refer to me as simply "snob."

Yes, but "snob is so much more accurate. Not as good as "arrogant snob" or "childish snob," but still accurate.

sera

A little over two weeks since I sent a request for a scavi tour, and no response yet (other than the autoresponse)