Excavation Tour to the Tomb of St. Peter's and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome
by vaticancitytoursandtickets
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.€210Overview
The tour begins with a meeting at St. Peter's Square inside Bernini's Colonnade, where participants stop briefly by the Bronze Doors, the ceremonial entrance guarded by the Swiss Guards. Next, guests enter St. Peter's Basilica using a skip-the-line pass and walk through the basilica’s lower level, which contains the tombs of various popes. Following this, there is a guided tour inside St. Peter's Basilica lasting about 40 minutes. Highlights include Bernini's Baldacchino and Michelangelo's Pietà. After the guided portion, guests may remain inside the basilica for additional private exploration. The main part of the tour is a 90-minute visit to the Vatican Necropolis, an ancient Roman cemetery beneath the basilica. This excavation site contains tombs and well-preserved decorations from the first century AD. The guide explains the history of St. Peter’s martyrdom at Nero’s Circus in 64 AD and his burial on the Vatican hill, which was later covered by the original basilica built under Emperor Constantine. The tomb of St. Peter was excavated over 80 years ago under Pope Pius XII. Access to the necropolis is highly restricted, with fewer than 100 permits granted daily. The entire tour lasts about three hours and includes a reservation for the Scavi tour, a self-guided St. Peter's Basilica tour with pre-recorded information, and access to the tombs of the popes. Admission fees are not included. Participants must be at least 16 years old to enter the necropolis, and bookings are limited to two guests per reservation. The order of visiting the necropolis and St. Peter’s Basilica may change due to religious events.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
St. Peter's Square
Meet staff at St. Peter's Square within Bernini's Colonnade and pause for a photo by the Bronze Doors, the Vatican's ceremonial entrance guarded by the Swiss Guards.
10 min
St. Peter's Basilica
Re-enter St. Peter's Basilica for a guided tour lasting about 40 minutes. See key highlights such as Bernini's Baldacchino and Michelangelo's Pietà. The guided portion ends inside the basilica, where guests may continue exploring on their own.
40 min
St. Peter's Basilica
Enter St. Peter's Basilica using a skip-the-line pass and walk through the basilica’s lower level, which contains tombs of various popes.
10 min
The Necropolis of Saint Peter
Spend about 90 minutes visiting the ancient Roman cemetery beneath St. Peter's Basilica, featuring tombs and decorations from the 1st century AD. Learn about St. Peter's martyrdom at Nero's Circus in 64 AD and his burial on the Vatican hill. The tomb was excavated over 80 years ago under Pope Pius XII. This restricted area grants fewer than 100 permits daily.
90 min
Meeting point
The meeting place is OUTSIDE hotl Palazzo Cardinal Cesi, few steps from St. Peter's Square. You must arrive 30 minuts before scheduled starting time, the time necessary to get through Vatican security, and Swiss Guards check point. There is way to reconnct with guide nce past scurity
End point
The meeting place is OUTSIDE hotl Palazzo Cardinal Cesi, few steps from St. Peter's Square. You must arrive 30 minuts before scheduled starting time, the time necessary to get through Vatican security, and Swiss Guards check point. There is way to reconnct with guide nce past scurity
Languages
Cancellation policy
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Additional info
Excavation Tour to the Tomb of St. Peter's and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome
by vaticancitytoursandtickets
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.€210Overview
The tour begins with a meeting at St. Peter's Square inside Bernini's Colonnade, where participants stop briefly by the Bronze Doors, the ceremonial entrance guarded by the Swiss Guards. Next, guests enter St. Peter's Basilica using a skip-the-line pass and walk through the basilica’s lower level, which contains the tombs of various popes. Following this, there is a guided tour inside St. Peter's Basilica lasting about 40 minutes. Highlights include Bernini's Baldacchino and Michelangelo's Pietà. After the guided portion, guests may remain inside the basilica for additional private exploration. The main part of the tour is a 90-minute visit to the Vatican Necropolis, an ancient Roman cemetery beneath the basilica. This excavation site contains tombs and well-preserved decorations from the first century AD. The guide explains the history of St. Peter’s martyrdom at Nero’s Circus in 64 AD and his burial on the Vatican hill, which was later covered by the original basilica built under Emperor Constantine. The tomb of St. Peter was excavated over 80 years ago under Pope Pius XII. Access to the necropolis is highly restricted, with fewer than 100 permits granted daily. The entire tour lasts about three hours and includes a reservation for the Scavi tour, a self-guided St. Peter's Basilica tour with pre-recorded information, and access to the tombs of the popes. Admission fees are not included. Participants must be at least 16 years old to enter the necropolis, and bookings are limited to two guests per reservation. The order of visiting the necropolis and St. Peter’s Basilica may change due to religious events.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
St. Peter's Square
Meet staff at St. Peter's Square within Bernini's Colonnade and pause for a photo by the Bronze Doors, the Vatican's ceremonial entrance guarded by the Swiss Guards.
10 min
St. Peter's Basilica
Re-enter St. Peter's Basilica for a guided tour lasting about 40 minutes. See key highlights such as Bernini's Baldacchino and Michelangelo's Pietà. The guided portion ends inside the basilica, where guests may continue exploring on their own.
40 min
St. Peter's Basilica
Enter St. Peter's Basilica using a skip-the-line pass and walk through the basilica’s lower level, which contains tombs of various popes.
10 min
The Necropolis of Saint Peter
Spend about 90 minutes visiting the ancient Roman cemetery beneath St. Peter's Basilica, featuring tombs and decorations from the 1st century AD. Learn about St. Peter's martyrdom at Nero's Circus in 64 AD and his burial on the Vatican hill. The tomb was excavated over 80 years ago under Pope Pius XII. This restricted area grants fewer than 100 permits daily.
90 min
Meeting point
The meeting place is OUTSIDE hotl Palazzo Cardinal Cesi, few steps from St. Peter's Square. You must arrive 30 minuts before scheduled starting time, the time necessary to get through Vatican security, and Swiss Guards check point. There is way to reconnct with guide nce past scurity
End point
The meeting place is OUTSIDE hotl Palazzo Cardinal Cesi, few steps from St. Peter's Square. You must arrive 30 minuts before scheduled starting time, the time necessary to get through Vatican security, and Swiss Guards check point. There is way to reconnct with guide nce past scurity
Languages
Cancellation policy
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.