Vatican Necropolis
Maximum number in a group is a maximum of 12 people. The ticket is also purchased for the guide. Visit to the necropolis under St Peter’s Basilica is by prior reservation only. Children under 15 years old are NOT allowed.
In the mid-20th century, an amazing find was discovered during excavations under the Vatican. A necropolis dating back to the 3rd century AD!”
Further excavations revealed that the burial ground was about 2,000 years old, and a coin found dating back to 318 AD,
The first excavations of the Necropolis began at the initiative of Pope Pius XII in the 1940s and took more than eight years.
The purpose of the search was the tomb of St Peter, believed to be directly under the cathedral of the same name.
After eight years of excavation, analysis and research, the world was told the sensation that Peter’s tomb had been found!
Later, in 2003, during the construction of a car park, a large part of the Necropolis was discovered. The tombs beneath the Vatican are located in 22 mausoleums and lead directly to the famous P sector.
Two years later, in 2005, Vatican archaeologists announced that they had identified the tomb of the Apostle Paul.
In June 2009, Pope Benedict XVI, aka Joseph Aloysius Ratzinger, announced that carbon testing of bone fragments found in a marble sarcophagus dated back to the 1st century AD.
See these rules – this is a sacred place, so it should be treated accordingly.
Appropriate clothing – no skirts, shorts or bare shoulders
Important for families – no one under 15 allowed!”
No backpacks allowed
Not suitable for those who suffer from claustrophobia
Not suitable for those who suffer from problems caused by the humid atmosphere
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