Saint Peter's tomb

Saint Peter’s tomb is the burial locus beneath St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City that has been venerated as the final resting place of the Apostle Peter since antiquity. Archaeological work beneath the basilica in the mid-20th century uncovered a first-century burial complex and a location traditionally identified with Peter, a point that shaped the basilica’s placement and significance.

The area of veneration lies immediately under the basilica’s high altar in the area called the Confessio; above this stands the 17th-century bronze baldachin by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Pilgrims and visitors may visit the basilica’s grottoes and, by special arrangement, the Scavi (Vatican necropolis) where the archaeological remains are displayed.

The site has been a focal point of Christian pilgrimage for many centuries and has repeatedly shaped papal liturgy and basilica architecture. The modern basilica and its liturgical centre were constructed during the Renaissance and Baroque periods with the tomb area preserved beneath.

The tomb and necropolis lie under St. Peter’s Basilica on Vatican Hill in the independent state of the Vatican City, at the heart of the basilica complex and directly beneath the high altar.

• Access to excavations: Mid-20th-century archaeological excavations beneath St. Peter's Basilica uncovered a first-century burial complex that is venerated as the tomb of the Apostle Peter; access to the Scavi requires advance booking through the Vatican Excavations Office.

What to See #

• Vatican Necropolis (Scavi): The Vatican Necropolis, commonly called the Scavi, is the buried Roman burial area beneath St. Peter's Basilica where excavations in the mid-20th century uncovered a complex of first-century tombs and structures.
• Confessio and Tomb Area: The Confessio and tomb area lie immediately beneath the basilica's high altar and are the focal point of veneration, marked above by Bernini's bronze baldachin in the basilica proper.