Las Grutas vaticanas

The Vatican grottoes are situated under the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. It consists of basements and crypts, in which popes have been buried and valuable works of art belonging to the Holy See, are stored.

Grottoes are divided into two parts, the old and the new. Only Pope John Paul II is buried in the new one, and in the old part all the other popes' graves are located. Nowadays the basilica is situated around three meters higher than in the ancient times. There is a possibility to see the remnants of the ancient foundations. The grottoes contain not only papal graves but also one of the most valuable works of art. One can see there early Christian frescoes, ancient pieces of architecture and interior decorations from the previous centuries. Basing on the archeological examinations, it was established that it is a fact that the basilica was built exactly in the place where the body of Saint Peter was buried.