I forgot to add that I was able to book the Scavi tour for 3 different times in July, 2006 (absolutely wonderful) by following the Vatican web-site instructions.

However, I guess that this was just the luck of the draw, as I was shut out in my attempts in 2005.

We just got back. We reserved the Scavi tour as recommended by many Fodorites. I requested in January for Sept 6. I was notified in July. The tour is excellent and well worth the time. For the museums we used Argiletum Tours. This was recommended by our vrbo hostess. It cost 44euros each including entrance and had only 9 people. Our guide was excellent. The tour lasted well over 4 hours, probably closer to 5. I would highly recommend them.

I just got back from my honeymoon in Italy, where my husband and I spent our last 4 days in Rome, right before Labor Day. We spent 1 entire day from 10am - 5pm at the Vatican. We did the Scavi Tour in the morning, walked around the Basilica, ate lunch at one of the food stands and then did the Sistine Chapel/Museums tour booked directly through the Vatican (I had followed all the directions to fax in our requests).

The Scavi Tour was fascinating and totally worth it. Our tour guide was quirky - stiff at times and then EXTREMELY animated at others. After that, we went right into the Basilica cutting the line as other Fodorites suggested. We toured it ourselves for about an hour.

The guided tour of the Sistine Chapel and Museums through the Vatican was worth the money for us; we felt it was cost and time-effective and a great informative tour for first-time tourists like us. We paid around 50 Euros for two of us. The tour lasted about 2 - 2.5 hours, but the group was large, at least 20 people. I felt it was a comprehensive way to learn about the highlights of the museums in the relatively short amount of time. Others who prefer a more leisurely pace should definitely try an independent company. We had no problems with the tour guide, who spoke good English, was very enthusiastic, and gave great details.

Thanks to all you wonderful posters, I've already reserved the Borghese Gallery tour. Now, I've begun to read about the ContextRome tour of the Vatican which I had never heard about.

Could any of you who took it tell me the easiest way to find them and reserve online before we arrive in Rome in mid-October?

Grazie.

www.contextrome.com.

you can book online

I am trying to figure out if it is possible to coordinate a Vatican tour and the Scavi tour. We will be in Rome next May. I am ready to fax a request for the Scavi tour, but if I don't expect to hear for months, how can I plan on taking the Vatican tour the same day? When and how often are the Scavi tours given? English tours of the Vatican are at 10:30, 12 and 2p and I would like to coordinate the two tours. Is this possible?
:-?

I am ready to book tours in Rome for Vatican and Colloseum/Forum etc. I know Context Rome is given a great big thumbs up on this board. can anyone comment on Rome Walks

Leila, I wouldn't even try, because the more flexibility you allow yourself with the Scavi tours, the more likely you are to get one. If you told the Scavi office you would accept only a specific time, you drastically lower your chances of getting such a tour at all. At least wait until you get your Scavi tour confirmation to make your Vatican tour reservation.

I agree with Will Travel. Give as many dates as possible to the Vatican's Scavi office.

If you schedule other items, then email them for a changed time if the Vatican's Scavi tour turns out to conflict.

Thanks WillTravel and 5Alive,
I will follow your advice and try to get the Scavi tour and then arrange the Vatican tour around it.
[-o<
L

Has anyone done the Vatican Gardens tour and is it different from the Scavi tour?
Also, is it possible to fit any other sights in on the day we tour the Vatican, chapels and museums?

We ended up not doing the Gardens even though we had tickets. It was winter and our tickets were for a different day than the Scavi. So we did not want to go back.

There is a book called the Catholic's Guide to Rome by Frank Korn. As I recall, it described all the areas of Vatican City, as well as the history of other churches and holy places in Rome. Note that it is more the story of the saints, location, the history, rather than the artistic merits. http://tinyurl.com/znvjs

You may need to break your time at the Vatican into two days for this reason: Your Scavi tour may be at a time that does not work to go to the Vatican Musuems. For example in the off season, the last admissions into the Vatican Museum (this includes the Sistene Chapel) is at around noon and everyone must be out by 1:30 pm. So if your Scavi tour is at 10 AM you can go do St Peter's afterward (and skip the long lines) but not the Vatican museum because it will be closed when you arrive.