Hidden under the iconic St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City lies the Vatican Necropolis. Touring the Necropolis is an incredibly interesting activity if you want to learn more about Rome and the Vatican’s history, explore another ancient site, and get some insight into early Christianity. Access to this historic site is very limited in comparison to other Vatican attractions, so some planning ahead is required! Following are some details for your visit.
Vatican Necropolis Background
The area where the Vatican Necropolis lies first became a burial ground during Roman times when the burial of bodies within the city walls was not permitted. The oldest mausoleums date back to 2 CE. Both Christians, including Saint Peter, and non-Christians were buried here over the centuries.
It is thought that Saint Peter was martyred just nearby during Nero’s reign in the 50s – 60s CE. Christianity was still a newer religion, and the emperor and other Romans saw it as a threat to their polytheistic beliefs and the social and political order. Because of that sentiment, many Christians were tortured and killed during this time.
Around 320 CE, Constantine ordered the construction of a basilica right on top of Saint Peter’s tomb. Additions were made to the basilica over the years. Much of the building was reconstructed in the mid-1400s because it was in poor condition.
In the 1940s, excavations took place to rediscover many of the forgotten tombs. The site was very well-preserved, with frescoes, artifacts, sarcophagi, and walls of the various burial chambers and passages intact. Archaeologists think that there may be other tombs that have not been uncovered.
Getting to the Vatican Necropolis
The Vatican can be reached on foot from the heart of Rome. However, it sits a bit outside of the city center, so visitors commonly travel there via public transport.
There are a few metro stations around Vatican City – Ottaviano, Cipro, and Valle Aurelia. These are all served by Line A. There are also various buses that stop at points all around the Vatican, including 23, 40, 62, 64, 81, and more. Lastly, Tram 19 stops at the Risorgimento hub just outside the Vatican. Check routes and timetables here.
If coming from outside Rome into the city, you can take a train to Stazione San Pietro or Valle Aurelia. See tickets and routes on Tren Italia.
Despite being its own little country and governing entity, the Vatican has an open-border policy with Italy, so there is no customs or passport/visa control to pass through when entering. You may have to go through basic security checks at individual sites though.
Once in the Vatican, the meeting point for the Necropolis is on the south side of St. Peter’s Basilica. We left Piazza San Pietro and walked down Via Paolo VI a short ways towards the office. We had to show our reservation to be let into the gate.
Tickets & Hours
The Vatican Necropolis is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 4:30pm with the last tour beginning at 4:15pm and Saturday from 9am to 1pm with the last tour starting at 12:15pm. On Sundays and Vatican holidays, it is closed. The Necropolis can only be visited with a reservation. The Vatican sees around 20,000 – 30,000 visitors per day, but only 250 are permitted into the Necropolis.
To obtain a reservation, you must request one through the official website. Having a little flexibility in your schedule is ideal because you’ll need to provide a date range during which you are able to visit and they will provide availability. Spots are limited, sell out in advance, and are grouped based on language preference. So the more open your schedule, the better your chances of getting a reservation are. Follow the directions sent via email to confirm your visit and pick up your tickets at the Excavations Office on the day of the tour.
We provided our date range for the five days we were in Rome and they sent back a single date and time they had available. We confirmed the proposed appointment with the payment of our tickets. Tickets cost €20 per person, which is payable only by card online.
Regulations
Visitors cannot take photos or videos inside the Vatican Necropolis. Please also refrain from touching any of the structures or artifacts during the visit.
The Vatican Necropolis is a holy place, so visitors must wear pants or a dress or skirt that go below the knees and tops that cover shoulders and aren’t too revealing. Large purses, backpacks, other bulky items, food and drink, and cameras are not permitted in the Vatican Necropolis.
You can leave these items at the bag check area on the other side of the basilica before your tour. Either drop your belongings off before or after your visit to St. Peter’s Basilica or give yourself plenty of time before your tour to drop them off because you will have to wait in the security line for the basilica. To pick up our belongings after our tour, we told the guard at the gate near the steps on the left side of St. Peter’s Basilica (facing the building) that we had just come from the Necropolis tour and needed to grab our bag from the storage area. He let us in this way so we didn’t have to wait in the whole line again.
To enter the Excavations Office where you’ll pick up your ticket and begin the tour, you’ll need to present your proof of reservation and a valid ID. We were required to arrive 15 minutes before the start of our tour to check in.
Once your tour is confirmed, you’ll receive an email with various instructions and regulations listed for your visit. Read this carefully before the day of your tour. If you don’t comply with the regulations laid out, you may be denied entry to the Necropolis.
Visiting the Vatican Necropolis
After spending much of the day visiting St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museum, we headed over to the Excavations Office. Upon arrival, we received our tickets and met our guide for the Vatican Necropolis tour.
Our group followed our guide underground as she gave some background on the Necropolis. Note that the tour lasts an hour and, most of that time, you’ll be walking through narrow and dim passages underground. There are also steps and uneven surfaces, so wear comfortable shoes.
The tour explores a few levels of burial grounds that have been excavated. These include both pagan burial sites and later tombs of early Christians. It was really interesting to see the sarcophagi, ancient mausoleums, and other structures while our guide pointed out various details and provided historical context. She also covered the history of early Christianity in Rome, including the life and death of Saint Peter of course.
Whether you’re a history buff, are visiting the Vatican for spiritual reasons, or you enjoy seeing historical sites, the Vatican Necropolis is an incredibly fascinating place to visit. We felt really lucky to be able to secure a reservation and considered this a big highlight from our day exploring Vatican City!
Like this Post? Pin it!
