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Vatican Scavi: Underground St. Peter’s Tomb & Basilica VIP Tour

Location Rome, Italy
$80.69
This is an experience gift voucher. The recipient will book the experience after they redeem the gift voucher.

Overview

Discover the Vatican like never before on this exclusive underground experience — a once-in-a-lifetime journey to St. Peter’s Tomb. Begin your tour in the Vatican Necropolis, a rarely accessible burial site hidden beneath St. Peter’s Basilica. Walk along ancient Roman funerary streets lined with pagan and early Christian tombs as your expert guide leads you to what is traditionally believed to be the burial place of Saint Peter, the Apostle and spiritual foundation of the Christian Church.

Access to St. Peter’s Tomb is extremely limited, making this visit a truly rare privilege. After exploring the underground world, you will emerge directly into St. Peter’s Basilica through a VIP skip-the-line entrance, bypassing long public queues. Inside, enjoy a guided tour of the largest church in the world and admire masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bernini’s Baldachin. Availability is strictly limited—early booking is recommended.

The experience offers several options. This price includes:

Necropolis Tour
Necropolis Only: Includes Necropolis guided tour and skip-the-line Basilica entry only. No guided tour inside St. Peter’s Basilica and dome.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Small Group Tour: Max 15 people
Tour guide
Language: English
Human tour guide

The experience offers several options, check yours above
  • Professional licensed guide
  • Visit to St. Peter’s Tomb
  • VIP skip-the-line entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica
  • Small-group experience for a more intimate visit
  • Exclusive access and Guided tour to the Vatican Scavi/Necropolis
  • Guided tour inside St. Peter’s Basilica (if option selected)
  • Ticket for optional self-guided climb to the Dome (if option selected)
  • Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off
  • Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel
  • Food and drinks

Meeting point
Please arrive at the indicated address at least 15 minutes before the scheduled time.
Return details
The tour will end outside St.Peter's Basilica

  • St. Peter's Square
    Meet your tour guide and learn about St. Peter’s Square. This square, surrounded by a majestic quadruple colonnade displays the largest church of the Christian world: St. Peter’s Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro). It is also the heart of Vatican City, the smallest state in the world, which was in antiquity occupied by Nero’s circus and gardens, where many Christians, including St. Peter, were martyred. In the centre of this 320 meter-wide piazza stands an Egyptian obelisk brought to Rome by Caligula in 37 AD. In 1656 Bernini began building the quadruple colonnade of 284 columns in 88 rows, which according to the artist symbolize the “gathering of Christendom.” From two points in the square which are marked on the ground by a stone, the four concentric rings of columns visually merge into one. The balustrade supported by the columns is decorated with 140 statues of saints. The huge door of the basilica is framed by statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
  • Necropoli Di San Pietro
    We will explore the remains of the vast Roman Necropolis that developed between the 1st and 4th centuries along the Via Cornelia, on Vatican Hill, near the Circus of Nero and Caligula, where Saint Peter was martyred in 67 AD. Nearby, early Christians buried the Apostle’s remains in the bare earth, later gathering them around 150 AD beneath a small marble shrine known as the Trophy of Gaius. When Emperor Constantine built the first Basilica over Peter’s tomb in 319, he preserved the existing Necropolis and honored the burial site with a monumental memorial. Sealed beneath successive basilicas for over 16 centuries, the Necropolis remained hidden until excavations ordered by Pope Pius XII in 1939 brought it back to light, revealing both the ancient burial ground and the Tomb of Saint Peter, whose relics can be venerated during the visit.
  • St. Peter's Basilica
    After the necropolis visit, enter St. Peter’s Basilica with priority access. Few places in the world can match St. Peter’s Basilica in both size and significance. Step inside the historic walls of Vatican City, the residence of the Pope, and discover one of the most important destinations of religious and historical pilgrimage. St. Peter, one of the apostles and the first Pope, was crucified in Rome in 64 AD. There is strong evidence suggesting that his body is buried beneath the basilica’s main altar. If you love architecture, St. Peter’s is a breathtaking masterpiece. And even if you are not particularly interested in the spiritual side, it is hard not to be moved by such a magnificent building. Although St. Peter’s is often thought of as a cathedral, it is not the official seat of the Bishop of Rome (that title belongs to St. John Lateran), making it technically a basilica rather than a cathedral.

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult. Not suitable for children under 6 years old.
  • All participants must carry a valid identification document (passport or ID) to enter the sites. Entry may be denied without a valid document, with no refund.
  • A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
  • There is no refund on reservation fees and tickets of monuments that are closed due to event that is out of our control.
  • If this is not possible, we will operate the tour and will include other sites to compensate for the site/s being closed. No refund is given on unused tickets due to events that are out of our control.
  • Customers have a mandatory meeting time stated 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time due to managing and organizational reasons.If you arrive late for the meeting time, it will not be possible to join the group or reschedule, unless you pay for the activity again. As per "No Show" rules you will not be entitled to a refund.
  • Cancellations, changes or issues due, security and events held by the monument are beyond our control and are directly decided by their administration team. These issues will be reviewed by us and dealt with on an individual basis but are the responsibility of the monument.
  • Without notice the Basilica or parts of it can be closed for unforeseeable events. In this case, partial refund can be requested.
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
  • How it works?
    01 You choose from 10,000+ experience gifts
    02 We deliver the eVoucher or the Physical box to the recipient
    03 Recipient books the experience and creates unforgettable memories!

    Vatican Scavi: Underground St. Peter’s Tomb & Basilica VIP Tour

    Location Rome, Italy
    $80.69
    This is an experience gift voucher. The recipient will book the experience after they redeem the gift voucher.
    How it works?
    01 You choose from 10,000+ experience gifts
    02 We deliver the eVoucher or the Physical box to the recipient
    03 Recipient books the experience and creates unforgettable memories!
    Delivery options
    eVoucher
    • Free
    • Instant delivery
    • Environmentally friendly
    Physical Gift Box
    • $10.00 fee
    • 2-5 business days
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