Tomb of St Peter

Lonely Planet review

Excavations beneath the basilica, which began in 1940, have uncovered part of the original church and what archaeologists believe is the tomb of St Peter.

In 1942 the bones of an elderly, strongly built man were found in a box hidden behind a wall covered by pilgrims' graffiti. After more than 30 years of forensic examination, in 1976 Pope Paul VI declared the bones to be those of St Peter. John Paul II had some of the relics transferred to his hospital room when he was recovering from the 1981 assassination attempt. The bones were then returned to the tomb and are kept in hermetically sealed Perspex cases designed by NASA.

The excavations can only be visited on a 90-minute guided tour. To book, contact the Ufficio Scavi (Excavations Office; 06 698 85 318; scavi@fsp.va). You need to book at least one week ahead. If you haven't been able to reserve a place, it is often worth queuing by the Arch of the Bells. If the tours aren't already full, the guides will usually allow a few extra people to tag along. Note that kids under 15 are not allowed on the tour.