Vatican Necropolis and Tomb of Saint Peter

The Vatican Necropolis is an underground Roman burial area beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, below the level of the Vatican Grottoes and roughly three to eleven metres beneath the floor of the central nave. Archaeological exploration promoted during the pontificate of Pius XII brought to light brick funerary buildings dating from the Roman Imperial period, including second-century structures.

The official basilica account states that twenty-two tomb buildings were uncovered and that the necropolis was still in use when the fourth-century basilica of Constantine was built above it. To create that church, upper portions of some tombs were cut down and the area was filled, a process that also helped preserve the burial complex.

The site is central to Catholic pilgrimage because Vatican authorities identify an ancient funerary memorial, commonly called the Trophy of Gaius, with the burial place of the Apostle Peter. Nearby Christian graffiti and the continuity of later altars document a long history of veneration. The Roman necropolis and memorial structures are archaeological evidence; the specific identification of the burial with Peter is presented here as the Vatican’s ecclesiastical and archaeological interpretation.

Visits are tightly controlled for conservation: advance booking is mandatory, tours are guided, photography is prohibited and children under ten are not admitted.