Vatican Necropolis, Archaeological necropolis beneath St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
The necropolis extends between five and twelve meters below St. Peter's Basilica, containing numerous Roman tombs and burial chambers from different periods.
Emperor Constantine ordered the upper sections of sepulchral buildings demolished in the fourth century to construct the first Petrine Basilica above Saint Peter's tomb.
The excavated tombs feature inscriptions and artwork that demonstrate the burial practices and religious beliefs of early Christians in ancient Rome.
The Vatican Excavations Office organizes guided tours for small groups of visitors, requiring advance reservations due to preservation requirements.
Archaeological excavations revealed twenty-two burial structures capable of housing one thousand burials, including the suspected tomb of Saint Peter.
Location: Vatican City
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
GPS coordinates: 41.90230,12.45329
Latest update: May 28, 2025 18:26
European crypts and catacombs form a network of underground burial chambers beneath urban streets. These spaces house tombs, skeletal remains, and religious monuments from different historical periods. The chambers contain frescoes, mosaics, stone carvings and architectural elements that combine Roman, Egyptian and Christian designs. The structures reveal burial customs and religious practices from the 1st through 19th centuries.
Saint Peter's Basilica
14 m
Sistine Chapel
119 m
The Creation of Adam
90 m
Sistine Chapel ceiling
90 m
Pietà
107 m
The Last Judgment
93 m
Saint Peter's tomb
11 m
St. Peter's Dome
14 m
St. Peter's Baldachin
11 m
Chair of Saint Peter
11 m
Mater Ecclesiae Monastery
244 m
Restoration of the Sistine Chapel frescoes
127 m
Vatican Grotto
9 m
Campo Santo Teutonico
139 m
Cappella Paolina
124 m
Tomb of the Julii
9 m
Sala Regia
130 m
Tomb of Pope Alexander VII
11 m
Vatican Christmas Tree
145 m
The Vision of Constantine
145 m
St Stephen of the Abyssinians
105 m
Organo della basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano
12 m
Sacristy of Saint Peter's Basilica
118 m
Arco delle Campane
155 m
Vatican Necropolis
89 m
Tomb of Leo XI
9 m
Tomb of Pius VII
70 m
Equestrian statue of Charlemagne
149 mReviews
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