I am super excited because we were able to get reservations for the Scavi Tour while we are in Rome. And now I have a few questions.

Can you take pictures while you are on the tour? I understand that bulky bags are not allowed, but what about a camera bag and guidebook?

Also, is the Excavation Office easy to find? I'm a little worried we won't find it, and then miss our tour!

TIA!

No, you are not allowed to take photographs. So that eliminates the camera bag question.

The Scavi Office is very easy to find: Look for the Swiss Guard at the left of St. Peter's Basilica as you face it, show him your reservation and walk straight to the office, located under a portico.

Definitely no photos. You can buy a guidebook at the end of the tour that has decent pictures of what you just looked at.

I found it very easy to find. As Zerlina mentioned, it's just to the left of the Bascilica, and you will show your reservation to the guard.

Tracy

It is correct, no cameras on the tour. On the right side of Saint Peters as you face it, there is a place where you can check your camera bags. This way you won't have to leave it at the Hotel. Have a great trip.

Thank you all for your information. We leave in one month from today! I cannot wait to get the heck out of dodge!

Actually I think it's on the left as your facing the Basilica. No photos allowed and don't get there early and get in line because the Swiss guards will not allow you to pass until the "exact" time. We had a little trouble with our reservation but they allowed us to go anyway at the time we had reserved. Loved the tour but were not very pleased with the "customer service" by the Scavi office. Pam

STLgrrl, I hope you'll have a wonderful time! As others have said, it's really very easy to find the Scavi office and you won't have to have much to do with the harried little man behind the counter. He'll just look at your confirmation number and give you your tickets.

And as others have said, when you show your confirmation note from the Scavi office to the Swiss Guards just beside the big front steps leading down from the Basilica, its only a two minute walk along the left side of St. Peter's to find the Scavi office.

If you've got a large purse or bike-courier style bag, you might want to wear that and just stick your camera and guidebook inside. I wouldn't want to risk try to carry a camera bag, but a purse (and right now, purse styles are so large)that you shouldn't have any problem.

I've been surprised, both times I've taken the Scavi tour it is quite warm and very humid underground. So wear layers!

What time is your tour? A couple of weeks ago, I had a 9:15 Scavi tour and at that hour of the morning, St. Peter's piazza was almost empty. A nice change from when I've been there in summer!

sacc - I didn't want to have to check anything, if that was possible. I'll probably just carry the guidebook and stick my camera in my pocket.

Our tour is at 3:30. Which kind of stinks since we have a tour through the Vatican museums, Sistene Chapel and Basilica is at 1. That is supposed to be a 3 hour tour, but the tour guide has been very easy to work with and said we would only miss the Basilica part of the tour. Which isn't too big of a deal.

Thanks for assuring me we will be able to find the office. I don't know why I worry so much about getting lost! I'm sure I could find someone to ask.

saac, our tour a few years ago was also at 9:15, and it was in December, so the Bascilica was just about deserted. So much so that that when my brother was marveling at everything he ran smack into a wooden donation table and the sound echoed so loud that the guards came running over...it was highly embarrassing and we still laugh about that when we are together!

STLgrrl, you will have a wonderful time!!

Tracy

NO Photos!!! No bags. You will not have any trouble finding it, go to the left side of Saint Peter's (outside) as you face it and ask a Swiss Guard for directions back to the entrance. YOU WILL ENJOY IT!

Hi StLgrrl, sorry -- I didn't mean you should bring a bag and then check it. I meant that if you have a good-sized purse into which you could fit your guide book, etc., that that could be suitable.

On the two Scavi tours that I've taken, I've always been able to keep my purse on me through the tour. And in Rome, I carry a pretty good-sized purse, so I can carry a guidebook and my digital camera, reading glasses, as well as other things a woman needs for a full day out!

The only places (so far) in Rome where I have been required to check even my purse have been the Borghese Gallery (I've kept my wallet in a pocket with kleenex) and in the Palazzo Barberini. There, you actually pick your own locker, which is big enough to hold a camera bag, books, coat, umbrella, and you lock it yourself and keep the key. Which is a pretty good system!

You'll probably be finished the Scavi tour about 5 p.m. and you can exit directly into St. Peter's Basilica, right at Bernini's Baldacchino. Although it's a shame you have to cut short your earlier Vatican tour, if you feel like it you can still spend time in the Basilica -- and have it all to yourself!

Tracy, isn't it amazing to have some of these sites almost entirely to yourself? It's a very different experience from high season....

sacc, I love it. That's the reason I love traveling during off-season. For me it's worth trading off great weather for shorter (or no) lines, no crowds, and, in our instance, ending up in St. Peters with barely another soul in sight...magical! I've been to Rome three times, all during the winter months. I just love Rome, but I couldn't imagine liking it as much if I was trying to enjoy St. Peters with 2 million other tourists at the same time! For me it would take a lot of the joy out of it.

Tracy