Overview:

: St. Peter's Tomb is located beneath the grand altar in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. The tomb is believed to be the final resting place of the Apostle Peter, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus. It is one of the most important and visited sites in Vatican City. The tomb is subject to a strict dress code, with visitors having to cover their knees, shoulders and arms before being allowed to enter. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Vatican-City
Prominent Features:

Housed beneath the main basilica in the Vatican City, the tomb of Saint Peter is one of Christianity’s most important sites. The tomb is believed to contain the body of St. Peter, the Apostle of Jesus and the first leader of the Catholic Church. The site comprises two chambers, the Grottoes, and the Necropolis. The Grottoes contain the tomb of Pope John Paul II and a display of artifacts associated with St. Peter, while the Necropolis is located beneath the Grottoes and contains several tombs, including that of St. Peter himself. The tomb is believed to contain three distinct layers — an interior sarcophagus containing St. Peter’s bones; a marble box, which of believed to contain garments worn by St. Peter; and a marble slab, which is believed to have originally sealed the sarcophagus. The tomb also contains numerous archeological artifacts believed to have been associated with the era of St. Peter, including coins and pottery. These artifacts and images have been used to provide insight into the early Church and its role in the world 2000 years ago. The sites were opened to the public in 2006. This national monument of Vatican-City portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

For centuries, Saint Peter's Tomb has been located beneath the altar of the beautiful basilica in the centre of Vatican City. This ancient sanctuary is believed by many to have been built by the Emperor Constantine on the site of the tomb of St. Peter, the first pope. The ancient Roman historian, Suetonius wrote that the first Christian emperor, Constantine, built the original basilica on the site of the tomb of Saint Peter, which was discovered by an excavation in the 4th century. This ancient basilica was destroyed by a fire in 1823, while the current basilica was first constructed in the early 16th century under the orders of Pope Julius II and completed in 1626. The remains of St. Peter’s tomb beneath the Altar of the Confession in the centre of the basilica is surrounded by a massive and ornately decorated tombstone known as a Baldacchino. It is said that the roman sarcophagus, containing the remains of St. Peter, was discovered during the excavation under the orders of Pope Pius XII. The sarcophagus is inscribed with the words 'Petro apostolo: Quod impossibile erat homini erat posibile Deo, meaning “When it was impossible for man, it was made possible by God.” The Tomb of St. Peter is visited by millions of Catholics each year and is considered a source of great holiness and spiritual significance. Over the centuries, it has become one of the most cherished and revered sites in all of Christianity, and remains so to this day. You must visit one of these historical places in Vatican-City on your Vatican-City tour

Interesting facts:

1. St. Peter’s Tomb is located beneath the Altar of the Confession in St. Peter’s Basilica. 2. St. Peter’s Tomb is said to be the final resting place of Saint Peter, the first Pope of the Catholic Church, and one of the twelve Apostles. 3. St. Peter’s Tomb was first discovered by a priest in the 16th century. 4. In 2005, a 1,000-year old sarcophagus was uncovered near St. Peter’s Tomb. The inscription on the sarcophagus read “Petrus en iacet hic” ("Peter lies here"). 5. Pope John Paul II added a new altar on top of St. Peter’s Tomb which is known as the Altar of the Confession. 6. Beneath the Altar of the Confession lies the "Tomb of the Greek Family" which contains memorials of two noble Greek Women buried close to St. Peter’s Tomb. 7. There is an encrypted message on the tomb of St. Peter which reads “Petros eni” translating to “Peter is within”. 8. It is believed that St. Peter was crucified and buried underneath the present St. Peter’s Basilica. Visit one of the famous monuments of Vatican-City with your friends and family.