I just got my Scavi confirmation for April 19 at 1:45 in the afternoon. Very happy and surprised they actually confirmed so far i advance,

QUestion is this - am I correct in assuming that St Peters/Vatican in the am would be pushing it to have time to also have lunch and then do Scavi at 1:45?

Suggestions - comments?

Thanks

donna,

I can't answer your question, but I do have a question for you.

When did you request your tour? My trip is in March, requested about a month ago, and have not heard anything yet other than the standard "we're not doing that far ahead" message.

Thanks.

St.Peters opens at 7am, the Vatican at 9 am. You could comfortably see St.Peters and have lunch. If you get in the Vatican line early enough so you get in by 10, you could be done by 12:30 which would give you time to grab a quick panini. Of course how much time you spend inside the Vatican is really up to you. Do some research and figure out what you want to see in the vatican. To me the big numbers were (1) the babylonian and mesopotamian exhibit (2) the sculpture courtyard, for the laocoon if nothing else (3) the raphael rooms (4) the sistine chapel
30 mins each + 30 minutes of walking time (past lovely tapestries and frescoes) is 2.5 hours. You could spend the entire day there if you can stand the crush of humanity for that long. But thats not your question.

Basically, you could see either St.Peters or the Vatican, but probably not both, unless ...
Unless, you get to St.Peters by 7am, zip through it in an hour and head for the vatican line by 8:30, but ugh...

I'd personally visit the Vatican before and St.Peters after the scavi tour. The scavi tour finishes in the crypt of St.Peters anyway.

kopp: I sent my original request on October 19th and received the confirmation last night. So I guess it took about 6 weeks or so

ssachida: I like that idea - the Vatican before and St Peters after. I would really like to do the Vatican on the same day and leave the other days open for other things.

Thanks!

Thanks donna. My request was made 10/26, so I'll hope to hear in a couple weeks.

Have a great trip!

<<Unless, you get to St.Peters by 7am, zip through it in an hour and head for the vatican line by 8:30, but ugh... >>

Agree with "ugh" comment. We spent 5-6 hours (including the dome) trying to see St. Peter's Basilica and feel like we still missed much of it.

donnapg,

A day in St. Peter's and a day at the vatican Museum is a much better plan if you have enough days.

I agree with ssachida.