Saint Peter's tomb, Archaeological site beneath St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

Saint Peter's tomb lies in the Vatican Necropolis beneath the floor of St. Peter's Basilica, at the foot of a second-century aedicula, a small shrine with columns set against a red graffiti wall. The niche holds a gold-backed mosaic of a bearded man in a dark robe holding a book, framed by dark marble columns and a metal grille, with a tan cushion on a dark marble ledge below and a brass lamp hanging in front.

Archaeologists discovered the burial site during excavations between 1939 and 1949 under Pope Pius XII. The first church above the grave was built in the fourth century after Christianity was permitted in the Roman Empire.

The tomb takes its name from the belief that Peter was buried here after his crucifixion in the nearby Circus of Nero. Visitors today can see a small memorial wall from the second century, marked with red inscriptions and used as a pilgrimage destination since early times.

Reservations must be made several months ahead through the Vatican excavation office, as tours are limited to small groups. The visit involves walking through narrow passages with uneven steps, so sturdy footwear is recommended.

Excavators found a red brick wall that stands as the oldest evidence of Christian pilgrimage devotion, already used in the second century. The wall carries numerous graffiti from early believers who asked for intercession and left their names.