The Vatican Necropolis

Beneath Vatican City lies the Vatican Necropolis, an ancient Roman burial ground believed to be the final resting place of Saint Peter. The necropolis is located approximately 5 to 12 meters below the floor of St. Peter’s Basilica. The first systematic excavations were carried out in the mid-1940s, when Pope Pius XII ordered a search for the tomb of Saint Peter. Parts of this underground cemetery date back to the third century.

The Vatican Necropolis preserves the remains and relics of many saints and popes, with approximately ninety popes buried within this sacred site.