Visit of the Excavations below St. Peter's Basilica.

Given the unique location of the Vatican necropolis, a visit to these excavations is a privilege accorded to visitors by the Excavations Office and depends entirely on the space available on tours and the preservation needs of the necropolis.

Due to the need to give careful attention to the conservation of this irreplaceable historical-archaeological site, wherein is preserved the original Grave of St. Peter, only about 250 visitors per day are permitted in the necropolis.

Groups are arranged according to language and are composed of about 12 participants. Only those who are 15 years or age or older are permitted to make the visit. No exceptions whatsoever to this policy can be made.

No third-party applications will be processed. On account of the significant and repeated difficulties that the Excavations Office has had with third-party requests for tickets (i.e. through travel agents, etc.), the Office will only make reservations directly for those individuals who will actually be visiting the necropolis.

Confirmations for visits will only be sent to those who will actually be visiting the excavations.

While purses and small handbags are permitted in the excavations, visitors are reminded that large bags and backpacks are not permitted in the excavations at all. St. Peter’s Basilica offers a free bag check service located in the lower right façade of Basilica.  Large bags and backpacks must be deposited there prior to coming to the Excavations Office.

Photography, with or without flash, is not permitted in the excavations.

Visitors should dress in a way befitting a holy place.

Those who do not observe these norms will not be permitted to visit the necropolis.

Reservations

Reservations are only accepted in writing (by e-mail: scavi@fsp.va or uff.scavi@fabricsp.va, by fax: (39-06) 6987-3017, or directly in the Excavations Office.)

With your request to visit the excavations, please provide the following information:

- The exact number of visitors
- Their names (in case of groups, the composition and provenance of the group is also needed [e.g. university, parish, etc.])
- Language desired for the visit
- The dates available during which the Office can arrange the visit (The precise time of the visit will be determined by the Excavations Office).
- Contact information (an e-mail address, fax number, or full postal address) so that the Excavations Office may advise you about your visit.

For those communicating with the Excavations Office by e-mail:  We have discovered that sometimes our e-mail reponses are sent back to the Office or are filtered out by antispam software.  Therefore, when waiting for a response from the Excavations Office, please adjust your antispam software and check your "deleted" folder.

The Office will send a proposed date and time.

Tickets and Reaching the Excavations Office

The visitor must always confirm his reservation in the way and during the time period given by the Excavations Office in positive responses to requests.

Visitors ought to be at the Excavations Office [without large bags and backpacks] at least ten minutes prior to the beginning of their tour.

The Excavations Office may be reached through the Holy Office Gate to the Vatican (through the colonnade to the left, on Via Paolo VI). The Swiss Guard will direct the visitors to the Office.

The visit to the necropolis ends back at the Excavations Office.

On occasion, the basilica and the excavations may be closed for unforeseen reasons. In such cases, the Scavi Office will attempt to reschedule those groups affected by the closing. When this is not possible, any reservation deposit will be refunded.

Office hours

The Excavations Office is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, except Sundays and holidays.

On the following dates the Excavations will be closed during 2008:

Usually the last tour each day begins at 3:30 pm

Excavations Office
Fabbrica di San Pietro
00120 Vatican City  

Tel. +39 06 6988.5318
Fax +39 06 6987.3017

E-Mail: scavi@fsp.va