Sixth Formers delve into the hidden history of Rome-Tara Nugent, St Catherines School

A necropolis is an ancient cemetery that typically features elaborate monuments, architectural designs, and similar features. The Vatican Necropolis is located beneath St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, it is a unique burial site bursting with history and, in studying how the Romans buried the dead, it offers us a unique glimpse into the culture and history of those who have come before us. 

The school had to submit a written request months in advance to the Ufficio Scavi at the Vatican; the Vatican only allows a maximum of 250 guests to tour the necropolis per day and touring it without a guide is not allowed. We were met by our tour guide by St Peter’s Basilica (built hundreds of years after the necropolis was used to store Roman bodies) who took us down underneath the city to see the historic burial site. The first thing I noticed was the lighting, it was quite dark with low level lighting, as the brightness had to be kept at a certain level to preserve the old surrounding site. It was a small tight space, cold but humid at the same time, because of course there was no outside air circulation. The confined nature of the space means the lanes that take visitors through the various tombs are often quite narrow; I would not recommend going if you have a fear of small spaces, it can be quite a tight fit!  

The origins of the Vatican Necropolis date back to the early days of the Roman Empire. During this period of time, Roman law prohibited burying dead bodies within the boundaries of the city walls. As a result, the location of the Vatican Necropolis technically was not part of the city when the Romans first began using it.

It therefore served as the burial spot for a large number of people, many of whom were Christians in Rome who had been persecuted by Emperor Nero. There were also many victims of the Great Fire in Rome in 64CE that claimed thousands of lives. The city needed a place to bury all those bodies and the necropolis was the ideal location, and over the course of centuries it contained graves and tombstones for numerous Romans, including wealthy families, the middle class, and even slaves, making it somewhat unique. 

Sixth former Abbie McGuckin said “The necropolis had an eerie atmosphere but was unexpectedly moving. I didn’t even know this place existed before we went, and I was overwhelmed by the history we were able to experience first hand.”