Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Roger Pearse · 10-15-2011, 07:48 AM

There is a rather interesting article here in the Irish Times which discusses how to get access to the street of tombs that used to run up the Vatican hill, in the open air, before the basilica of St. Peter was built in the fourth century.

Quote:

Excavations (scavi) under the Basilica by the Vatican during the second World War revealed an underground complex extending back almost two millennia.

Today, by contacting the Scavi offices, visitors can take a 90-minute tour of what lies beneath.

The current basilica was built on top of one created by Emperor Constantine in the 4th century. It, in turn, was built on top of a Roman necropolis.

Visitors can now travel via a spiral staircase back in time to a brick-built Roman street of mausoleums, each with the family plaque of those buried over the entrance.

Only 200 visitors a day are allowed on the Scavi tour. To be one of them, e-mail scavi@fsp.va up to three months in advance, giving the exact number of your party, your preferred tour language, and the dates you are visiting.

The Scavi office – which does not acknowledge such e-mails – may or may not get back to you with a time for your tour.

If you do get the green light, approach the Swiss Guard on duty at the Scavi entrance 10 minutes before the appointed time and show him your confirmation e-mail.

It’s the best €12 you’ll spend in Rome.

I'd love to do it myself.

Vorkosigan · 10-15-2011, 09:42 PM

Fabulous. Thanks Roger, you're a real asset to the forum.

Chili · 10-16-2011, 03:08 PM

Beautiful, and of course secrecy without end as Peter is not there. He was the epitome of faith that the Church was built on and the seat of Paul as first pope.

Roger Pearse · 10-19-2011, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vorkosigan

Fabulous. Thanks Roger, you're a real asset to the forum.

You're too kind. But it seems like precisely the sort of thing that many of us might be interested in.

2-J · 10-19-2011, 06:40 AM

I would love to go. It's a shame they don't specify when English tours are held.

I would like to go to Rome soon and I would like to be able to pick dates that would allow me to attend a tour, but it looks like you just have to take your chances.

Roger Pearse · 10-19-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2-J

I would love to go. It's a shame they don't specify when English tours are held.

I would like to go to Rome soon and I would like to be able to pick dates that would allow me to attend a tour, but it looks like you just have to take your chances.

That was what I thought. I'd do a trip specially, in fact.

spin · 10-19-2011, 10:22 PM

This link is useful.

Anyone interested can find the entrance here:

1: the arch to the left of the basilica (Swiss guard).
2: the Excavations Office (for the guide).
3: the actual entrance.

But there is just so much that's more interesting to see in Rome...

stephan huller · 10-20-2011, 12:18 AM

Quote:

But there is just so much that's more interesting to see in Rome...

Yes, I hear they have very good Italian food in Italy. :constern01:

Roger Pearse · 10-20-2011, 12:45 AM

Thank you, Spin, for the photo -- that's really useful.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephan huller

Quote:

But there is just so much that's more interesting to see in Rome...

Yes, I hear they have very good Italian food in Italy. :constern01:

They have wonderful BREAD. You can't get decent bread here in the UK.

Rome is wonderful anyway, and I wouldn't mind a trip out.

stephan huller · 10-20-2011, 09:34 AM

Yes the bread is great but for me it is the tomatoes. Nothing like Italian tomatoes (which is odd because tomatoes are really from over here in the new world)

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10-15-2011, 09:42 PM	#2
Vorkosigan Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Barrayar Posts: 11,866	Fabulous. Thanks Roger, you're a real asset to the forum.

10-16-2011, 03:08 PM	#3
Chili Banned Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Alberta Posts: 11,885	Beautiful, and of course secrecy without end as Peter is not there. He was the epitome of faith that the Church was built on and the seat of Paul as first pope.

10-19-2011, 06:40 AM	#5
2-J Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: UK Posts: 179	I would love to go. It's a shame they don't specify when English tours are held. I would like to go to Rome soon and I would like to be able to pick dates that would allow me to attend a tour, but it looks like you just have to take your chances.

10-19-2011, 10:22 PM	#7
spin Contributor Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: nowhere Posts: 15,747	This link is useful. Anyone interested can find the entrance here: 1: the arch to the left of the basilica (Swiss guard). 2: the Excavations Office (for the guide). 3: the actual entrance. But there is just so much that's more interesting to see in Rome...

10-20-2011, 09:34 AM	#10
stephan huller Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: seattle, wa Posts: 9,337	Yes the bread is great but for me it is the tomatoes. Nothing like Italian tomatoes (which is odd because tomatoes are really from over here in the new world)

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