The city of Rome offers pilgrims experiences unlike any other in the world. In Rome, one is able to journey into the heart of Church, coming face to face with her immense history. Containing some of the most beautiful churches in the world, as well as some of the most marvelous museums in existence, Rome allows the pilgrim to experience the splendor of the God and His Church in a very personal way.
Scavi
Around the year 67 A.D., St. Peter suffered death by crucifixion near the Vatican Hill by the emperor Nero and was laid to rest in a nearby cemetery. For hundreds of years, Christians continued to venerate the tomb of St. Peter, which by this time was marked with a small monument. In the 4th century, the emperor Constantine began the construction of a large basilica in honor of St. Peter, central to which was a shrine which encased both his tomb and the monument which had been subsequently built above it. In the 16th century, Constantine’s basilica, which was in very poor condition, was slowly and carefully deconstructed as a new basilica was being built. That basilica is the current basilica, completed by the early 17th century.
In the early 20th century, a construction crew stumbled upon parts of an ancient city street of family tombs [a necropolis] which was filled in by Constantine’s workmen as the first basilica was built on this site. This Necropolis was constructed in the 2nd and 3rd centuries and it began at the Tiber River and stretched to and past Peter’s tomb. Over the next few years, archaeologists uncovered much of this necropolis and eventually arrived at the tomb of St. Peter.
Today, the Vatican allows pilgrims to journey underneath the foundation of St. Peter’s Basilica to walk the streets of this ancient necropolis. By way of a guided tour, pilgrims learn about the history of ancient Rome, St. Peter, and the Church. A visit to the excavations underneath St. Peter’s is always one of the most important and memorable experiences available.
To make a reservation, please visit the Excavations Office website and follow the instructions listed. Their website will also inform you of any restrictions or regulations of the Excavations Office.
It is best to submit your request three months in advance, as the number of visitors permitted to enter the excavations is limited to a maximum 200 people per day.
Your e-mail must be sent to scavi@fsp.va and include:
- NUMBER of visitors;
- NAMES of the visitors (in case of groups, the composition and provenance of the group is also needed [e.g. university, parish, etc.]);
- LANGUAGE in which the requested tour will be given;
- DATES in which the individual/group is available: you can suggest certain time blocks, but 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.
Upon submitting your request, you will receive an automatic response if your subject line contains the words “Scavi tour. ” This will inform you that your message was received and provide some other basic information.
As the dates which you have requested are approaching, a further response to your e-mail [than the above automated response] will be sent if you are placed into one of the groups. This message will contain the date and time of the visit to which you are assigned. It may take one to two months to receive this reservation e-mail. It will contain all further instructions necessary. You must respond to this reservation message in order to secure your placement on the visit. You will generally pay with a credit card via the Internet. Upon processing your payment, the Excavations Office will send you an electronic receipt.
The Vatican Office for Excavations
The Vatican Museum
One of the highlights of any trip to Rome is a visit to the Vatican Museum. As one of the largest and most precious collections of art and sacred objects in the world, the Vatican Museum offers the pilgrim a special opportunity to experience the glorious history of Rome and the Church in a special way.
In order to avoid the long lines for entrance to the museum, it is highly recommended to buy tickets online prior to your visit. Purchase tickets for the Vatican Museum.
To learn more about the Vatican Museum, please visit their website:
Guided Tours of the Vatican Museum (including Sistine Chapel) and Vatican Gardens
With the incredible vastness of the Vatican Museum, a guided tour is a great way to experience all that the museum has to offer. Please visit Vatican Museum Guided Tour for information.
Please note that tours of the Vatican Gardens are available as well. The tour of the gardens brings the pilgrim behind the walls of Vatican City and provides an intimate look at its beauty.
Catacombs
Besides the excavations under St. Peter’s, the city of Rome provides the pilgrim with the ability to experience early Christianity. The catacombs are early Christian burial grounds, which today serve as important sources of information regarding the life of the early Christian Church.
Today, pilgrims may visit many of the catacombs around the city of Rome and catch a glimpse of the early Church. Please visit http://www.catacombe.roma.it/ for more information.
