The Vatican broadens public access to an ancient Roman necropolis

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The Vatican is now making it easier for members of the general public to visit the Vatican Necropolis, a Roman burial ground located a few feet beneath St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

The more than 10,000 square foot site contains marble sarcophagi, tombs dating from between the first and fourth centuries A.D., and Roman frescoes and mosaics.

The Vatican is broadening access to the necropolis for its exhibition called Life and Death in the Rome of the Caesars, which opened Friday. The Vatican Museums did not immediately respond to NPR's request for more information.

Speaking in a video for EuroNews, Vatican Museums director Barbara Jatta said in the past, organized tours of the necropolis were generally only granted to approved groups of academics, students and other specialists.