annhig

we too had a guide for the scavi tour with heavily accented english, but we were still able to understand her most of the time.

the highlight for me was emerging into the little chapel underneath the main altar in the Basilica above, just as the noon High Mass was about to start. Even this died in the wool atheist found that profoundly moving.

so I'm sure that you will get something from it, even if the guide is not the best in the world.

poutine

I am waiting to hear back from the Vatican in order to try and plan the rest around my Scavi tour time. I submitted my request only last night, so I suppose a day or two is a normal wait. I know that if I don't hear anything, I am SOL. I would be very disappointed

Indy Dad, I did read your trip report along with several others. I took a look a look at Palazzo Valentini, and will likely make a reservation. I need to guestimate when we have seen enough and just need to chill for a bit! Annhig, I liked the look of Galleria Doria Pamphilj as well. I too am going to leave the Borghese for another time.

annhig

I am waiting to hear back from the Vatican in order to try and plan the rest around my Scavi tour time.>>

they can take a little while to reply - perhaps they have different priorities?

so don't panic when you don't hear back immediately.

good idea to be thinking already about your next trip to Rome. I have an acquaintance who has been more than 50 times, and still finds new things to see. I'm sure you'll have a great time, whatever you end up doing.

poutine

I'm in!! I have a confirmation for 2 people at 10h30, so I will be able to schedule one activity prior. It will be early July (hot), do you think I should:

1) Arrive at 8 am to climb the dome and visit St. Peter's first. I would then schedule the Vatican Museums for after lunch.

or

2) Try and make reservations for the Vatican Museum for 9 am when it opens. Rick Steves guide (I know..) says that the guards will let you in as early as 8 am if you have reservations.

If I pick option #2, I will probably forego the dome since it would mean waiting in a long line later in the day. Is there another place to go for a great aerial view in Rome?

Another question. On my map I see the Mercato Trionfale is not too far away from the Vatican. Is this an interesting shopping area?

Thanks for all your expertise.

kybourbon

>>>2) Try and make reservations for the Vatican Museum for 9 am when it opens. Rick Steves guide (I know..) says that the guards will let you in as early as 8 am if you have reservations.<<<

I'm not sure Rick's info is up to date. The Vatican Museums did that a year or two ago (groups/tours were allowed in between 8-10 and everyone else after), but they change their rules almost every year (usually in January). If the ticket office doesn't open until 9 (stated on the Vatican website), I'm not sure how you could enter before that. The trek from the museum entrance to the Sistine Chapel can take an hour. I would put the museum visit in the afternoon.

jent103

I agree. Trying to do the museums before your Scavi tour is not only risky, but you'll be rushing through the museums and won't really enjoy them because you'll be concerned with getting to the Scavi office. If you want to do something before your tour, I'd make it the dome.

indy_dad

Dome. The Vatican lines will be less in the afternoon than in the morning so you can play that by ear. (my experience and also posted at Ron in Rome, etc.)

nytraveler

I would not try to do the museum before the Scavi - but you might do St Peter's.

You need to be aware that the entrances are in differnt places. The Scavi offic ticket pick up and the entrance to St Peter's and the Dome lead off of St Peter's square.

The Vatican Museums are entered from a completely differnt place - you need to walk a good part of the way around the Vatican (outside the walls) to get to the entrance to the Museum. (Get a good map of Rome so yuo can see this.)

annhig

Definitely try to do St. Peter's and the dome first. you simply don't have time to get round the Vatican museums before 10.15, which is the time you need to be presenting yourselves to the Scavi office for a 10.30 tour.

if you get to St. peter's by 9am, you can go straight through the security gates on your right as you face the basilica, up to the Dome, [ticket office and lifts to the right of the building as you go into the entrance area] spend 30 mins or so at the top, then come down and go round to the Scavi office. [with the basilica to your rear, turn right and walk along the front of the building and round the corner - the scavi office is under a canopy on your right. after about 50 metres]. you don't need to come out of the security zone - in fact you should stay behind the barriers or you'll just end up having to go through security again.

if you don't make it for that, you will need your scavi tour reservation confirmation to show to the Swiss guards who guard the entrance to the tour office. as you approach the Basilica, you will see on your left a row of offfices, toilets, and the Vatican post office. the entrance for the scavi tour is just to the right of the entrance to the PO.

then after the Scavi tour, you can go straight into the Basilica without going through the security gates again.

if you wanted to book tickets for the Vatican museums on the same day, I would not go for earlier than 2pm, to leave time for looking round St. Peter's after the tour, a spot of lunch and a rest, ad walking round the walls of the Vatican to the ticket office [about 1/2 a mile]. however, if you could only get tickets for a bit earlier, there is a cafe inside the vatican museums, AND a pizzeria, believe it or not!

SPRuiz

From my experience the Vatican always require ID. I lived in Rome for 3 years and have been to the Vatican quite a bit and they always asked for student cards etc.

As regards to doing tours, I think that is the best. It brings the whole thing to life rather than walking around like headless chickens. Twice I have used Roman Empire Tours and I find them to be fantastic. Its an Irish run company and they do things with a positive twist. You can check out their website here... http://romanempiretours.com/