Vatican Grottoes Tours

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Tomb in Vatican Grottoes with mosaic of Christ and angels, Vatican Necropolis.
























































From happy customers

Loved by 51 million+
Trustpilot rating: 4.5 out of 5

Gaynor S

United Kingdom
Couple
Last week
What a wonderful day we had walking on the Colosseum Palatine Hill and then the Roman Forum very much worth the money and something that will be remembered forever.

Martinus M

Couple
Last week
Well worth a visit. We only had admission tickets without a guided tour, so we were able to explore everything at our own pace.

Patrick H

United States
Group
Last week

+5 more

There was a slight mix-up when we arrived for our tour - so the 'headout' team had to place our group of 3 with a different tour group with a guide from another agency (Tix & Tours). Our new guide was absolutley EXCELLENT! She was extremely knowledgeable as she explained the history and meaning behind what we were seeing. She also had a very easy going sense of humor and included anecdotes and additional color surrounding the various stories that added to the enjoymenmt of the tour. Because of the 'change' in tour groups...there was a slight hiccup with our tickets when we rtied to access the dome. Our guide stayed with us - translating with the guard then reaching out to the Tour company on her side to work through the problem and ensure that we were able to access the dome. We were extremely grateful as without her - we would have been denied access to the dome which was a highlight of the tour. On a scale of 1 to 10 - she was a 14! She quite literally made our trip!

Gedeon T

Ivory Coast
Couple
Last week

+1 more

Our guide, Catherine, was very professional—I’d even call her a walking encyclopedia. I highly recommend her to French-speaking visitors. She took us on a journey through time.

Pam B

United States
Group
Last week
Fantastic tour. Very knowledgable guide. The chapel was beyond description very spiritual. The tombs were a wonderful surprise. Our guide was wonderful

Petronio P

Brazil
Couple
Last week
No lines to enter in attractions! Visit coliseum was possible because we have Roma Pass otherwise we can't make the reservation. Very useful using public transportation!

Carlotta A

Group
Last week
At the meeting point, the staff were helpful, clear, and friendly. A representative gave us our tickets and escorted us right to the entrance—this is an incredible ticket because it lets you skip the very long line outside. The guy took us right up to the turnstiles. A must-have ticket—highly recommended for everyone! The Vatican Museums are very large. I recommend the Egyptian Hall, the Map Room, the Raphael Rooms, and of course Michelangelo’s true masterpiece: The Last Judgment.

Victor P

Mexico
Couple
Last week
The experience was excellent from start to finish. Buying tickets to the Colosseum through them was one of the best decisions we made on our trip to Rome. The entire process was very quick, clear, and well-organized, and thanks to that, we saved a lot of time by avoiding the long lines outside. The entry instructions were easy to follow, and customer service was always available to help us when we had questions. Entering the Colosseum without any stress allowed us to enjoy the visit much more and make the most of the day. Plus, the experience inside the Colosseum was incredible and totally unforgettable. Being able to explore one of the most historic and impressive places in the world without any hassle made all the difference. You can tell they work professionally and truly care about making the experience comfortable for tourists. I definitely highly recommend them to anyone visiting Rome who wants to save time, avoid problems, and enjoy the experience to the fullest. I would definitely buy from them again.

Top things to do in Rome

What are Vatican Grottoes?

Vatican Grottoes is a massive spread of papal tombs situated right below St. Peter’s Basilica. Aside from the many artifacts, this area is the final resting place of over 90 popes, royalty, and other dignitaries.

Every year, millions of tourists make their way to the tombs to pay their respects and get a close look at the papal tombs. We’ve put together a detailed guide to help you plan your visit to the Vatican Grottoes including its history, what’s inside, visitor tips, & more.

Why visit the Vatican Grottoes?

St. Peter's Basilica and Vatican City skyline at sunset.

The Grottoes contain the tombs of over 90 popes, several monarchs, and other church dignitaries, dating back to the 10th century.

Key highlights include the marble statue of St. Peter Enthroned, the funerary monument of Calixtus III, the sepulcher of St. Peter, and remnants of the Old St. Peter’s Basilica.

Note: Your ticket to St.Peter’s Basilica/Vatican Museums includes access to Vatican Grottoes.

St.Peter’s Basilica/Vatican Museums Tickets

Plan your visit to Vatican Grottoes

Location

The Vatican Grottoes are located beneath St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. You can access them through the main church by entering near the statues of St. Helen and St. Andrew and heading down towards the papal tombs.

Directions to St. Peter's Basilica

Timings

The Vatican Grottoes are open during the same hours as St. Peter’s Basilica:

7am to 7pm from April to September

7 am to 6pm from October to March.

Ensure you complete your visit at least half an hour before closing time.

St. Peter's Basilica Timings

Origin of Vatican Grottoes

Vatican Grottoes with visitors exploring historic tombs beneath St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.

The Grottoes were established during the construction of the current St. Peter’s Basilica in the 17th century, built over the Old St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Necropolis, and Saint Peter’s tomb.

It took about 120 years to complete the Basilica, including the construction of the papal tombs and necropolis below the structure.

What’s inside the Grottoes?

Clementine Chapel (Chapel of St. Peter)

Clementine Chapel is the precious gem of the Vatican Grottoes, holding the chest that protects the sepulcher of Peter the Apostle. It makes up the center of the peribolos and is the only part of the cathedral to maintain its original purpose and function. Just like back in the day, people of faith make their way to the chapel to pay their respects. It is believed that the head of St. Peter lay above the tomb towards the back of the monument. The chapel gets its name from Clement VIII, who modified the ancient chapel in 1592.

Tomb of John Paul II (previous)

After the funeral of Pope John Paul II on April 8, 2005, his first tomb was placed towards the north end of the Grottoes, less than 100 feet from the tomb of St. Peter. He was placed in the spot where Pope John XXII previously lay, until he was moved to the St. Jerome Altar on June 3, 2001. A few years later in 2011, John Paul II was declared blessed and moved under the Altar of St. Sebastian. His body was placed in a cypress coffin as part of three traditional coffins that lay together. The outermost zinc casket was encrypted with three bronze plaques and a cross and placed in a larger casket which was shut using nails made of pure gold.

Chapel of the Madonna of Bocciata

The Chapel of Madonna of Bocciata is the oldest in the area around St. Peter’s sepulcher, commissioned by Gregory XIII in 1580. Inside the chapel is an elegant fresco painted by Pietro Cavallini, a renowned 14th-century artist. He called it the “Madonna della Bocciata” because Mary’s face is swollen in the painting. It is believed that a drunken soldier once threw a bowl at the image after losing a game, which made her face bleed.

Icon of the Madonna Dolorosa & Reliefs of the Doctors of the Church

A massive depiction of the Holy Madonna is present in one corner of the Vatican Grottoes towards the south end. Here you can see Madonna painted in red and black clothes, slightly raising her arms, with an orange halo above her head. This image is surrounded by reliefs of the Doctors of the Church, preserved for many centuries.

Archaeological Rooms of Vatican Grottoes

Although the Old St. Peter’s Basilica was gravely destroyed, some parts of it remain buried below the new cathedral. Paul V extended the Vatican Grottoes in the 16th century with parts of the old basilica placed on its walls. There are six Archeological Rooms in total containing tombs, frescoes, and other structures from the old cathedral.

Funerary Monument of Calixtus III

A funerary monument of Pope Calixtus III lies at the south end of the grottoes, before the exit. Calixtus was the head of the Church and Papal States in the 14th century until his death. Although his remains were kept at Santa Maria in Monserrato, a funerary monument was built in his honor at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Marble Statue of St. Peter Enthroned

The marble statue of St. Peter is a famous image throughout the world. Located right before the exit of the grottoes, the statue shows the apostle sitting with his arms crossed and his feet adorned with sandals. Almost everyone who visits the Vatican Grottoes is known to perform the gesture of kissing feet of the Apostle.

Clementinian Peribolos

In between the Chapel with the Tomb of Pius XII and the Chapel of St. Veronica is the beautiful Clementinian Peribolos. The roof of the area is adorned with bright and colorful holy images that stretch along the corridor.

Georgian Peribolos

The Georgian Peribolos, unlike the Clementinian one, is worn down with many parts of its walls having fallen off. However, the structure still holds strong even centuries later.

Who is buried in the Vatican Grottoes? 

Although not all popes are buried at the Vatican Grottoes, there are over 90 papal tombs inside. Some of them include:

  • Pius VI Braschi, who was captured by the French and died a prisoner in 1799
  • John Paul I Luciani, whose reign lasted for just 33 days
  • Adrian IV, the only English pope

The Grottoes are also home to people of historical significance such as:

  • The Stuarts, who were pretenders to the English throne and remained in exile since 1717
  • The famous emperor Otto II, who passed in Rome at the early age of 28. 
  • Czech Cardinal Josef Beran, who was arrested in Prague after having worked at the Dachau concentration camp. He went on to become the archbishop of Prague until he was imprisoned once again for being an opponent of communism. After his final release, he became a cardinal in 1965. 

Map of the Vatican Grottoes

  1. Chapel with Tomb of Pius XII

  2. Chapel of St Veronica

  3. Clementinian Peribolos

  4. Chapel of St Helen

  5. Clementine Chapel (Chapel of St Peter)

  6. Gregorian Peribolos

  7. Chapel of the Madonna of Bocciata

  8. Opening onto the Archeological Remains of the Confessio (ex Chapel of Salvatorello)

  9. Irish Chapel of St Columbanus

  10. Chapel of the Madonna of Partorienti

  11. Southern Corridor of the Confessio

  12. The Confessio - Pallium Niche

  13. Northern Corridor of the Confessio

  14. Polish Chapel of Our Lady of Czestochowa

  15. Lithuanian Chapel of Mater Misericordiae

  1. Peribolos - Last Section

  2. Mexican Chapel of Our Lady of Guadeloupe

  3. Tomb of Pius VI

  4. Chapel of the Madonna between Peter and Paul

  5. Peribolos - First Section

  6. Chapel of the Patron Saints of Europe

  7. Chapel of St. Andrew (Grottoes Entrance)

  8. Opening in front of the Confessio

  9. Chapel of St Longinus

  10. Tomb of Pius XI

  11. Central Altar

  12. Tomb of John Paul II (previous)

  13. Tomb of Cardinal Merry del Val

  14. Tomb of Queen Charlotte of Cyprus

  15. Queen Christina of Sweden

  16. Tomb of the Stuarts

  1. Tomb of Cardinal Francesco Tedeschini

  2. Tomb of Benedict XV

  3. Tomb of Innocent IX

  4. Archeological Room VI

  5. Archeological Room V

  6. Archeological Room IV

  7. Tomb of Innocent XIII

  8. Tomb of John Paul I

  9. Tomb of Marcellus II

  10. Tomb of Urban VI

  11. Tomb of Paul VI

  12. Chapel of Our Lady, Queen of the Hungarians

  13. Entrance to Scavi from Piazza Braschi

  14. Archeological Room I

  15. Archeological Room II

  16. Archeological Room III

  17. Early Christian Sarcophagus

  18. Mosaic of John VII

  19. Gallery of Clement VIII

  20. Sarcophagus of Pius III

  1. Sarcophagus of Paul II

  2. Polyandrium under the floor

  3. Tomb of Hadrian IV

  4. Tomb of Innocent VII

  5. Tomb of Nicholas V

  6. Tomb of Monsignor Ludvig Kaas

  7. Tomb of Gregory V

  8. Tomb of Emperor Otto II

  9. Tomb of Julius III

  10. Statue of Pius VI

  11. Tomb of Nicholas III

  12. Tomb of Boniface VIII

  13. Icon of the Madonna Dolorosa and Reliefs of the Doctors of the Church

  14. Dividing wall of Paul III and the Remains of two Columns from the Old Basilica

  15. Funerary Monument of Calixtus III

  16. Marble Statue of St Peter Enthroned

  17. Exit from the Grottoes to the Patio

Visitor tips

  • The Grottoes are distinct from the Necropolis. Be sure to visit both.
  • Familiarize yourself with the Grottoes’ history for a more enriching experience.
  • The area around the tombs is quite spacious and light, so you don’t have to worry about being claustrophobic. 
  • Photography is strictly prohibited and all guests are required to maintain silence in the area.
  • Finish your tour of St. Peter’s Basilica before you head to the Grottoes to avoid waiting in line again.

Frequently asked questions about Vatican Grottoes

Under St. Peter’s Basilica is a massive papal burial ground (separate from the Vatican Necropolis) referred to as the Vatican Grottoes.

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