Vatican Grottoes
The level beneath St Peter's holding papal tombs and remains of the old basilica.
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UNESCO World Heritage
Between the floor of the present St Peter's and the ancient necropolis below lies the grotto level, formed when the new basilica was raised over the old one in the sixteenth century, and it holds papal tombs from the tenth century onward along with fragments of the Constantinian church: columns, mosaics and monuments moved down when the old building came apart.
What you actually see
- The papal tombs - burials running from the tenth century onward.
- The old basilica fragments - columns and mosaics from the Constantinian church.
- The level itself - the space made when the new floor was raised.
- The monuments - the tomb sculpture moved down from above.
When to go
November to March is the quietest window. The grottoes close earlier than the basilica. Queues form in the middle of the day.
Honest expectations
It is a one-way route and you cannot linger or go back. Photography is not permitted and the dress code for the basilica applies. It can be very crowded in the middle of the day.
Nearby
St Peter's Basilica is above, and the necropolis is below.
What to pack for Vatican Grottoes
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.