How-to: The exclusive tour of the Necropolis below St. Peter’s Basilica

With only two hundred and fifty guests allowed daily, the Vatican Necropolis Tour is one of Rome’s hottest tickets. And it is a truly enchanting experience.

It was here that, in the early 1940s, a grave was excavated, inscribed simply with the words “Petros Eni” — or “Peter lies here” in Greek, which was the language of the early Christian community from the Eastern Roman Empire. Inside, remains of a tall man were discovered, claimed today by the Vatican as the bones of St. Peter, one of the original Apostles.

Wondering where to stay in Rome? See our list of Rome’s Best Luxury and Boutique Hotels. You may also like Best Luxury Hotels in Venice for a Romantic Italian Adventure.

*This post contains affiliate links and we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Hottest tickets in Rome

Visiting this ancient cemetery is a privilege, and naturally, the Vatican Necropolis Tour, lasting about an hour and a half, must be booked in advance.

The entrance is reached on foot through the Arco delle Campane (“Arch of the Bells”) to the left of the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica. The guide met us right there, outside of the excavation office. We joined a small group of visitors and were led to the Necropolis.

Our Vatican Necropolis Tour

Our guide walked us through the Necropolis, explaining along the way why we could be sure the Necropolis held the real St Peter’s tomb and not anybody else’s. It was interesting; the simple fact that the emperor Constantin went to great lengths to build the church right in this spot makes you think, as he spent a fortune compensating rich Romans for leveling the cemetery.

But the tour was one of the highlights of Rome for us, thanks to the unique atmosphere underground. The sheer weight of centuries upon centuries of history and myth was exhilarating, and mystical.

The weight is literal too: although the cemetery was built on top of Vatican Hill, with its narrow pathways running on the original ground level, today the Necropolis is buried beneath the St Peter basilica floor.

Good to know

You may also like

Rome's Best Luxury and Boutique Hotels: Which Are the Top 30 in 2023?

---

Travel+Style's favorite places to stay in the Eternal City

The Vatican is very serious about its Necropolis treasure. Which is fair enough. Just follow their simple rules.

• Make sure you turn up dressed appropriately (“long trousers/slacks/jeans for men; dresses that reach below the knees or long trousers/slacks/jeans for women; shoulders must be covered for all.”).
• “Absolutely prohibited” during the visit are: large bags or luggage, backpacks, and cameras (they have to be deposited).
• Requests to be accepted for a visit can be submitted by phone, via email (scavi@fsp.va) or by visiting the Excavations Office in person.
• If you have claustrophobia, dislike cramped conditions, or have breathing difficulties, then the Scavi Tour may not be for you.
• Children visiting the Necropolis must be older than 16.

More detailed information visit www.scavi.va

Check other Vatican Museums Tours & Tickets here or here and see what others think about Vatican Necropolis on TripAdvisor.

Photos by Laskowski & Zadros, © TravelPlusStyle.com

Getting there: The flight-comparison sites such as Skyscanner (www.skyscanner.com) or Kayak (www.kayak.com) will help you find the best flights and deals.

Disclosure: We may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post.