Rome Trip Planning pt. 2; Optional Extras

In addition to the Roma pass, we also signed up for some other tours that really made our trip a more unique experience. The first of these tours was at the Colosseum; the hypogeum tour. This tour is €9.00 on top of admission to the site (free with Roma pass) and is a guided tour of the basement of the Colosseum and the 3rd (highest surviving) level of the arena. In these areas it is just the tour group accompanied by the guide and it is a much more intimate experience. To book this tour you can visit the website site of the Ticket Office for the Ministry of Heritage and Cultural Activities. If you have decided to purchase a Roma Pass, you will need to call the ticketing office directly at +39 06 399 67 700, or you will be paying for general admission to the Colosseum twice, once included in the Roma Pass and once included with the event ticket. The people who answer the phones at the ticket office speak English, but a help phrase is Parla Inglese prego? Make sure you are booking a time in your correct language, there are many tours throughout the day, but you won’t learn much if you and the guide aren't speaking the same language.

Another tour we signed up for was the tour of the Necropolis below St. Peter’s Basilica. The Basilica was built over the tomb of St. Peter, and during this tour you descend below the floors of the Basilica to archaeological excavations to see the original tomb of the Saint. This tour takes place below the grottoes where the Popes are buried and is not part of a normal St. Peter’s visit. This tour is a little more complicated to book and costs €13.00 per person, for guests older than 15 only. Entrance to the tomb is strictly controlled with a maximum number of visitors permitted each day. When you know when you will be going to Rome, send an email to the Ufficio Scavi, or the excavations office, the address is scavi@fsp.va. In the email you must detail the names of all participants, the language you would like the tour in, and the dates you are available for the tour, and your best method of contact. I recommend trying to book the Scavi tour first, and then scheduling your other tours around that date. Tours do not take place on Sundays. This is the email I sent, with my information removed:

To Whom It May Concern,
We are interested in taking a tour of the Necropolis during our upcoming trip to Rome, if possible.
There are [insert number of tour attendees here] of us who would be taking the tour:
        [name of tourist]
        [name of tourist]
We would like to take the tour in [insert language preference here] please.
The dates we are available to tour the necropolis are;
        [available date during your vacation]
        [available date during your vacation]
The best method of communication is via [email, snail mail, or phone], and my [email address, address or phone number] is;
        [insert email address, address, or phone number here]
Thank you,
[sign your name]

I emailed the office on a Saturday and I heard a reply on Monday. I don’t know if this is typical, but the earlier you know your dates the better. If they can accommodate you, the Ufficio Scavi will send you an email with a confirmation number and the time of your tour. If all the information is correct, and you would like to take the tour on that date and time, you must email them back within 3 days confirming you will be taking the tour. If you do not confirm you will lose your spot on the tour, I saw it happen to a couple on the day we visited.

Useful Links!
Colosseum Online Booking
More Information about Ufficio Scavi (Excavations Office)

Virtual Tour of the Necropolis

Roma Pass

OMNIA Pass