Scavi Vatican Tour

St. Peter's Square

The Scavi Tour is a tour that is difficult to get tickets for because of the limited number of tickets. I purchased our 6 months ahead of our trip, and it is well worth the trouble. This was one of my favorite things that we did in Rome. This tour takes you deep under St. Peter's where the catacombs have been excavated. The Vatican Hill was where St. Peter crucified up side down. The actual spot is now just marked with a simple plaque on the ground. Papal vehicles drive right over it everyday. Fr. Lynn, who was our tour guide, it from Atlanta and graduated from St. Pius in Atlanta. He was very young, but very smart.



He explained how St. Peter was so revered by early Christians that they stole his remains away from the Romans and placed him in a Poor man's Grave. He was then moved over time. The Basilica changed levels and was evolved over time. The catacombs surrounding his burial site were full of early Christians that wanted to be closed to St. Peter. Do you blame them? He does hold the keys to Heaven after all. These graves were recycled from early Romans's whose remains were moved after Constantine took over the area. It was amazing to see the graves that had at one time been above ground with a road running down the middle. The were constructed with house from facades.



We finally made it to St. Peter's bones. According to the Vatican, there were no feet or skull found with his remains. It is believed that his skull is in a statue in the high altar in St. Giovonni Laterno, the original Papal Residence before St. Peter's Basilica was completed. As for his feet, when the early Christians removed him from the cross they had to move very quickly as to not be caught by Roman Soldiers, so they cut them off to remove him quickly. Kind of gruesome, but still amazing. A mouse's skeleton was also found with him, not many people know that factoid. Two priests began excavating during WWII and did it in complete secrecy by Papal order. The Pope didn't want Hitler's want for religious artifacts to come to the Vatican. Amazing historical facts and lessons.