We would love to do Vatican Necropolis, but I understand kids under 16 are not allowed. Can anyone who has done the tour, advise if there is any reason we shouldn't try to get our kids in anyway? They are 14 years old, mature enough, should we try?

Last time we visited the Scavi two years ago there was a family that had two children, a 16 year old girl and a 12 year old boy. They let the 12 year old in without any problem. But it turned out disasterous for that family because the 16 year old got very claustrophobic and the 12 year old fidgeted and sighed and generally kept asking his parents and the the guide how much longer this tour was going to take. At the midpoint of the tour, the 16 year old got so bad she had to sit down because she was hyperventilating from the claustrophobia. She held up the tour until she could regain composure. Her brother, anxious to get it all over with, volunteered to bring her back up but the guide woudn't allow them to wander through the excavations unaccompanied. He had to hurry the last half of the tour along to accomodate this family. That being said, the excavations are not all that small and dark so I really don't know why this girl felt the way she did. Our guide, a young seminarian, was excellent and explained a good deal of the history of the building of St. Peter's, ancient Roman burial practices, and the discovery of St. Peter's bones even before we ventured down to the excavations. The tour takes between 90 minutes and 2 hours depending on how detailed your guide is. So because of all of this, the Scavi office discourages young children from going on the tour. If you think your 14 year olds are mature enough, I don't think the Scavi office will prevent them from going, but I wish they had prevented the family who was on our tour from going.

Grinisia, thanks for the information!When I.. made the reservation for the Scavi, the office did not tell me that children under 16 were not allowed to go under..My grandaughter is only 11 years old...Pity it looks like that I must cancel my tour, and I was looking forward to go...

The Scavi tour is fascinating---for adults. Kids might enjoy the catacombs however. They have the eerie feel that most kids love. Other popular stops for kids with a macabre streak: the Capuchin Crypt in the the church of Santa Maria Concezione, the grusume frescos of martyrs' deaths in the church of San Stefano Rotundo, the Museum of Criminology in the old prison near Piazza Farnese, the small Museum of Purgatory in the Church of Sacre Couer in Prati and the relics chapel of Santa Croce in Gerusalame which has the cross of the "good thief", and pieces of the True Cross and Jesus' Crown of Thorns. Be sure to check out the coffins under the altars in churchs, many contain bodies of saints (for a guide to these relics, pick up the book "Magnificent Corpses" by A. Rufus). Also, if you haven't already, pick up a copy of Fodor's "Around Rome with Kids" which has lots of great ideas for things to do and see with children.

Three years ago, we went on this trip just behind a school group who probably caused this very wise age policy. Our group was behind one comprised of restless 14-15 year olds from a school. They whined,sang KISS songs, were almost successful adding some modern grafitti to the ancient walls and generally showed their disinterest the way teens traditionally do in groups, by rebelling.<BR><BR>The very distressed and angry leader and the priest trying to guide the group had to thread them backward past our tour in a space too narrow for this exercise. Result: chaos in 4 languages. <BR><BR>Don't try to coherce your 14 year olds into going. Unless they are very keen on ancient religious history and very patient with long waits in crowded spaces with adults talking, they will not enjoy it.

Grinisa &amp; LJ: Thank-you very much for that very informative summary of the tour. My husband and I were excited about the tour but you may be right. It just may be too intense for the kids. I will research some of the other recommendations. Underground Rome sounds fasinating!!

Thanks Grinisa!!!Great ideas!!!