Vatican Museums expand archaeological access with separate Necropolis entry

Starting November 17, 2023, the Vatican Museums are offering separate access to the Necropolis of Via Triumphalis through the monumental Porta di Santa Rosa entrance, designed by sculptor Gino Giannetti and inaugurated in 2006. Previously, the archaeological site could only be visited in combination with the Museums. The new arrangement allows visitors to enter directly from Piazza del Risorgimento on Fridays and Saturdays, with reservations made via the official Vatican Museums website. The expansion of cultural offerings is particularly aimed at the upcoming Jubilee 2025. The necropolis was discovered in 2003 during construction of the Santa Rosa parking lot within Vatican City. Dating from the Augustan period (27 BC – 14 AD) to the reign of Emperor Constantine (306–337 AD), the site contains numerous sepulchral buildings with preserved stuccoes and mosaic floors, as well as individual burials marked by cippi, stelae, altars, and inscribed slabs. Many tombs are in excellent condition. During the Roman Empire, cremation and burial within the city were prohibited, so cemeteries were located along roads outside the urban center, as exemplified here.