Vatican Grottoes

Vatican City, Borgo & Prati


Extending beneath St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Grottoes contain the tombs and sarcophagi of numerous popes, as well as several huge columns from the original 4th-century basilica. The entrance is in the Pier of St Andrew near the high altar.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Vatican City, Borgo & Prati attractions

1. Tomb of St Peter

0.02 MILES

Excavations beneath St Peter's Basilica have uncovered part of the original church and a necropolis with what is held to be the Tomb of St Peter. In 1942,…

2. Museo Storico Artistico

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Accessed from the left nave of St Peter's Basilica, the Museo Storico Artistico (Tesoro; Treasury) sparkles with sacred relics and priceless artefacts,…

3. St Peter's Basilica

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In the city of outstanding churches, none can hold a candle to St Peter's, Italy’s largest, richest and most spectacular basilica. Built atop a 4th…

4. Sistine Chapel

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The Sistine Chapel is the one part of the Vatican Museums that everyone wants to see, and for good reason.

5. St Peter’s Basilica Dome

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Entry to the dome is to the far right of the basilica's main portico, where you also buy your ticket. A small lift can take you halfway up, but it’s still…

6. Necropoli Via Triumphalis

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Not to be confused with the Tomb of St Peter, this ancient Roman cemetery extends beneath the Vatican hill. Guided tours, which must be pre-booked, take…

7. St Peter's Square

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Overlooked by St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican’s central square was laid out between 1656 and 1667 to a design by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Seen from above,…

8. Vatican Gardens

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The Vatican stands atop the low-lying Vatican hill, just west of the Tiber. Much of its 109 acres are covered by the perfectly manicured Vatican Gardens.