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In 1979, a large archway was opened to make the front of the
Confessio, with the Niche of the Pallia, visible. This area, closest to Saint Peter's tomb, is surrounded by chapels dedicated to Our Lady, forming a crown around the Apostle's tomb. The central space of the grottoes, encompassing the tombs
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Post mid-20th century, several chapels were added around the tomb of Saint Peter, representing various nationalities and patron saints. Notable among these are the Irish, Polish, Lithuanian, Patron Saints of Europe, and
Mexican chapels, and the oratory with the tomb of
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The origins of the
Vatican Grottoes date back to the 16th century, specifically around 1590–1591, when they were constructed to support the floor of the Renaissance-era St. Peter's Basilica. The initial concept was proposed by architect
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added straight corridors leading to the
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was initially buried here in 2005 before his remains were moved to the Altar of St
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Over the years, several popes have contributed to their expansion and embellishment.
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are a series of underground chambers and chapels located under part of the
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times and lies at a lower level beneath the
Grottoes and the Basilica.
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of successive popes, resembles a lower basilica with three naves.
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Le grotte vaticane. Memorie storiche, devozioni, tombe dei papi
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350:"Vatican Grottoes Entrance Fee & How to visit Papal Tombs"
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List of Popes buried in St Peter's
Basilica, as of 2006
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The
Grottoes contain the tombs of 91 popes. Notably,
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The
Vatican Grottoes are not to be confused with the
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Santa Maria della PietĂ in
Camposanto dei Teutonici
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193:Papal tombs in Old St. Peter's Basilica
237:Index of Vatican City–related articles
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320:"Chapel of the Madonna of Bocciata"
23:Plan of the Vatican Grottoes (1694)
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1157:Postage stamps and postal history
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1298:Philatelic and Numismatic Office
138:Later additions and significance
360:from the original on 2023-12-12
330:from the original on 2023-12-12
301:from the original on 2023-12-10
272:from the original on 2023-12-15
84:Antonio da Sangallo the Younger
686:Stufetta del cardinal Bibbiena
482:Vicar General for Vatican City
227:List of non-extant papal tombs
123:and decorated by artists like
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643:Monument to the Royal Stuarts
539:Santo Stefano degli Ungheresi
937:Santo Stefano degli Abissini
1536:Tourist attractions in Rome
1326:Vatican Information Service
1166:Secretariat for the Economy
1022:Cardinal Secretary of State
764:Modern and Contemporary Art
167:The Vatican Grottoes house
115:In the 17th century, under
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1541:Cemeteries in Vatican City
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900:San Pellegrino in Vaticano
827:Sant'Anna dei Palafrenieri
382:. Fabbrica di San Pietro.
378:Lanzani, Vittorio (2010).
232:List of extant papal tombs
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49:old Constantinian basilica
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203:Queen Christina of Sweden
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517:Old St. Peter's Basilica
266:www.basilicasanpietro.va
72:Old St. Peter's Basilica
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910:Via della Conciliazione
506:Prisoner in the Vatican
348:W, Fanny (2020-12-27).
110:Giovanni Battista Ricci
66:History and development
1510:Catholicism portal
1472:National football team
1466:National football team
1366:Acta Apostolicae Sedis
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262:"The Vatican Grottoes"
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146:Chapel in the Grottoes
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881:Paul VI Audience Hall
832:Domus Sanctae Marthae
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500:History of the papacy
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871:Sant'Egidio in Borgo
599:Chair of Saint Peter
591:St. Peter's Basilica
559:Piazza Scossacavalli
163:Art and architecture
121:Gian Lorenzo Bernini
51:of the 4th century.
37:St. Peter's Basilica
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129:Guidobaldi Abbatini
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837:Holy Spirit Chapel
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779:Gregoriano Etrusco
621:Saint Peter's tomb
616:Vatican Necropolis
475:List of sovereigns
354:Visit Vatican Info
242:Saint Peter's tomb
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125:Agostino Ciampelli
94:'s death in 1520.
56:Vatican Necropolis
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859:Teutonic Cemetery
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98:Pope Clement VIII
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1431:Coat of arms
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1338:Vatican News
1264:Demographics
1242:Architecture
1230:AT telescope
947:Vatican Hill
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794:Ethnographic
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529:Leonine City
429:Vatican City
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362:. Retrieved
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106:hagiographic
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1075:Dicasteries
1053:Commissions
1043:Roman Curia
774:Chiaramonti
714:Scala Regia
626:Papal tombs
549:Borgo Nuovo
522:Papal tombs
102:Pope Paul V
45:papal altar
1525:Categories
1104:See also:
1035:Government
1007:Governance
754:Historical
724:altarpiece
709:Sala Regia
459:Properties
364:2023-11-27
334:2023-11-27
305:2023-11-27
276:2023-11-27
248:References
191:See also:
90:following
88:Pope Leo X
70:See also:
1269:Languages
1187:Transport
972:Elections
915:Fountains
759:Paintings
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433:articles
358:Archived
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221:See also
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1474:(Women)
1419:Symbols
1274:Library
1213:Culture
1171:Tourism
1132:Banking
1120:Economy
1017:Francis
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729:ceiling
492:History
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92:Raphael
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1449:Sports
1426:Anthem
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1468:(Men)
1313:Media
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992:Crime
610:PietĂ
444:Index
60:Roman
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1147:.va
1014:Pope
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466:Pope
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