Why Is the Vatican Located in Rome?

Why Is the Vatican Located in Rome? A Short (and Surprising) History of a Tiny State

Posted on January 2nd, 2025

It’s one of the most asked questions by travelers and history lovers alike: why is the Vatican located in Rome—and how did a place so small become so globally important?

Today, Vatican City is the smallest independent state in the world by both area and population, yet it sits at the heart of one of the most famous cities on Earth. The reason isn’t random or simply “because the Pope lives there.” The Vatican’s location is the result of ancient Roman geography, early Christian martyrdom, centuries of papal power, and a modern political agreement that officially created the state in the 20th century.

Let’s unpack the story in a way that finally makes it all click.

First: The Vatican Wasn’t Always “The Vatican”

Long before it became the center of Catholicism, the area we now call the Vatican was known as the Vatican Hill (Mons Vaticanus). It’s important to know that this isn’t one of Rome’s famous “Seven Hills,” but it is a natural rise of land on the west (right) bank of the Tiber River.

In ancient times, this zone was considered outside the main heart of Rome. It was less developed, and some Roman writers described it as marshy or unhealthy. There were also legends attached to the place—stories that added mystery and “otherworldliness” to an area that didn’t yet have the prestige it does today.

From Quiet Hillside to Imperial Gardens

As Rome expanded, the Vatican area gradually became valuable real estate for the elite.

One of the best-known developments was the Gardens of Agrippina (Horti Agrippinae), a large imperial estate that spread across what we’d now call the Vatican zone. Over time, the area became associated with the Julio-Claudian emperors—especially Caligula, Claudius, and Nero—and this is where the story takes a dramatic turn. Villa Farnesina+1

Nero’s Circus and the Martyrdom That Changed Everything

Near where St. Peter’s Basilica stands today, there once was a private racetrack known as the Circus of Caligula/Nero (often called the “Circus of Nero”). It was used for games, chariot racing, and—during Nero’s reign—public executions. Wikipedia

According to Christian tradition, this area became one of the most significant sites in the faith because it is connected to the persecution of Christians in the first century. Saint Peter, one of Jesus’s apostles and considered the first Bishop of Rome, is traditionally believed to have been martyred here—crucified during the Neronian persecutions.

And here is the key point:

The Vatican is in Rome because Rome became the seat of Peter—and Peter became the symbol of the Church’s foundation.

Once early Christians believed Peter had died and been buried in this location, the site stopped being “just another part of Rome.” It became sacred ground.

Was Saint Peter Really Buried There?

Tradition says that Peter was buried nearby, close to the place of his execution. Early Christians honored the burial site quietly at first, especially during periods when Christianity was still persecuted.

Then, in the 4th century, everything changed.

Constantine and the First St. Peter’s Basilica

After Christianity was legalized in the Roman Empire, Emperor Constantine commissioned a large basilica to be built directly over what was believed to be Peter’s tomb. That church—often called Old St. Peter’s Basilica—stood for more than 1,000 years before being replaced by the grand St. Peter’s Basilica we know today.

This decision shaped history in a permanent way:
Rome already mattered politically, but now it became a spiritual magnet too. And the Vatican area—once peripheral—became the beating heart of Christian pilgrimage.

So Why Didn’t the Papacy Move Somewhere Else?

Over the centuries, popes held territory far beyond Rome—especially during the era of the Papal States, when the Church ruled large parts of central Italy.

But Rome remained the symbolic core for two reasons:

Peter’s tomb anchored the Church’s identity in a physical place.
Rome’s global symbolism (as the former imperial capital) made it the most influential center for a universal religion.

Even when popes temporarily lived outside Rome during certain periods of political crisis, the long-term pull of Rome—both religious and historical—kept bringing the papacy back.

When Did Vatican City Become an Official State?

Here’s the modern twist: Vatican City as an independent country is relatively new.

The current state was created through the Lateran Treaty, part of the Lateran Pacts signed on February 11, 1929, recognizing Vatican City as a sovereign entity and resolving the long-running conflict between the Italian state and the papacy (often called the “Roman Question”). Vatican State+1

So while the Vatican’s religious importance is ancient, the political borders of Vatican City are modern.

Where Are the Relics of St. Peter Today?

For centuries, Peter’s burial place remained a matter of tradition and faith. But in the 20th century, the Vatican authorized major excavations beneath St. Peter’s Basilica.

The Vatican Excavations (1939–1950 and beyond)

Under Pope Pius XII, archaeological work intensified beneath the basilica. Excavators uncovered a Roman necropolis—a “city of the dead”—with both Christian and non-Christian burials. Osservatore Romano+1

On December 23, 1950, Pius XII publicly announced that the tomb of St. Peter had been identified beneath the basilica. UW Departments

The role of Margherita Guarducci

Later, epigrapher and archaeologist Margherita Guarducci studied ancient graffiti near the site, including inscriptions indicating Peter’s presence—often summarized as “Peter is here.” Debate continued, but in June 1968, Pope Paul VI announced that relics had been identified in a way considered convincing. Osservatore Romano+1

What matters for your blog readers is this:
the Vatican didn’t choose Rome at random—its location is tied to the earliest roots of Christianity and the memory of St. Peter.

Quick Timeline: Why the Vatican Is in Rome

1st century AD: Vatican area includes imperial estates and the circus later linked to Christian martyrdom. Wikipedia
Tradition: St. Peter is martyred and buried nearby.
4th century: Constantine builds Old St. Peter’s Basilica over the presumed tomb site.
1939–1950: Excavations under St. Peter’s reveal a necropolis and ancient memorial structures. Osservatore Romano+1
Dec 23, 1950: Pius XII announces discovery connected to Peter’s tomb. UW Departments
June 26, 1968: Paul VI announces identified relics in a convincing way, following Guarducci’s work. Osservatore Romano+1
Feb 11, 1929: Lateran Treaty establishes Vatican City as an independent state. Vatican State+1

(Yes—the “state” is modern, but the “reason for the location” is ancient.)

Final takeaway

The Vatican is located in Rome because Rome became the city of Peter in Christian memory—and that connection shaped everything that followed. What began as a hillside outside ancient Rome turned into the spiritual center of Catholicism, and eventually, into a sovereign state with borders recognized by the modern world.

If you’re visiting Rome, seeing St. Peter’s Basilica and Vatican City isn’t just sightseeing—it’s stepping into a place where ancient history, faith, and politics intersect in one of the most extraordinary ways on Earth.

Planning a trip to Rome? Browse more guides and practical tips on our blog to make your time in the city easier (and more unforgettable).