Directly underneath the nave of the Basilica of Saint Peter in Rome there is an old dirt road that leads, through a Roman necropolis, to the tomb of Saint Peter himself.
The tomb was found underneath the High Altar during the first years of the Papacy of Pope Pius XII Pacelli (1939-1958), who commissioned archeological excavations in the spot where the Chapel of the Confession and the Sacred Grottoes were thought to be found.
Saint Peter’s grave was in reality no more than a humble pit in front of the Circus of Nero, background of the relentless persecutions of the Christians. One century later the so-called Trophy of Gaius was placed at the site of Saint Peter’s martyrdom and quickly became a pilgrimage site, as testified by several graffiti on the remains of a nearby wall, known as “Wall G”.
The Emperor Constantine, friend of Christians, had a monument built on the site, to which other important altars were added at later dates, i.e. The Altar of St. Gregory the Great (590-604), the altar of Calixtus II (1123) and the altar of Clement VIII (1594).
The tomb is supposed to be right underneath Bernini’s canopy and Michelangelo’s dome.
Saint Peter’s Tomb Practical Information
| Address | Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, Italy. |
| District | Vatican City. |
| Hotels nearby | Hotels near Vatican City in Rome |
| Telephone | +39 06 69883731; +39 06 69883462; |
| Opening Hours | Only 250 visitors per day are allowed, to be divided in groups of 12 people. Minimum age is 15. Visitors are accompanied by a guide and a visit lasts about 90 minutes. |
| Closed | See below. |
| Admission | Admission is 12 Euros. Reservation is obligatory. You cannot establish the time of the visit, just indicate the dates of your stay in Rome. Write, indicating number and names of visitors, plus preferred language to scavi@fsp.va, or fax +39 06 69873017, or go directly to the Ufficio Scavi (near Bernini's columns). You need to be there at least 10 minutes before the start of the tour. |
| Public transport | Metro A: Ottaviano; Bus 40E, 62, 64. |
| Special Holidays/Events | Not applicable, since you do not get to choose your visit anyway. |
| Note | Dress appropriately. You are not allowed to bring big bags. Cameras are forbidden. |
Directions to the Saint Peter’s Tomb
Take metro A to Ottaviano. Walk down the Via Ottaviano and enter Saint Peter's Basilica. The entrance to the grottoes can be found inside the basilica.