Grotta di Lourdes, Religious grotto in Vatican Gardens, Vatican City.
The Grotta di Lourdes is an artificial cave structure in the Vatican Gardens modeled after the French original in Lourdes. The construction features stone walls and a statue of the Virgin Mary positioned within the grotto space.
Construction of the grotto began in 1902 under architect Costantino Sneider and was completed in 1905. Pope Pius X consecrated the finished structure in the same year.
The grotto serves as a place of Marian devotion where pilgrims come to pray and light candles in a quiet setting. It functions as a spiritual focal point within the Vatican grounds, drawing visitors seeking moments of personal reflection.
The grotto is accessible only through organized Vatican Gardens tours, which require advance booking. Visitors should wear appropriate clothing and be prepared for walking across uneven terrain.
The altar inside the grotto comes from the original Lourdes sanctuary in France and was gifted to Pope John XXIII in 1960. This connection links the Vatican grotto directly to one of the world's most important pilgrimage sites.
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