Catacombs of Rome

Discover Rome's hidden layers of history beneath its streets. Travel by an air-conditioned coach and use skip-the-line access directly into three fascinating archaeological finds. Visit the Capuchin Crypt on an audio guide tour. Capuchin monks used the bones of their nearly 4,000 brothers to intricately decorate the floor-to-ceiling designs, lending it the macabre nickname of "the Bone Chapel". From here you’ll be driven on a comfortable coach to the hallowed catacombs where, beneath their persecutors’ feet, early Christians practiced their forbidden faith. Almost 2,000 years ago, this network of secret tunnels doubled as a place of worship and burial ground. As you explore tombs made of solid rock, your local expert guide will describe the intriguing history of this sacred spot. Next, travel to the Basilica San Nicola in Carcere, where you'll explore its ruins, descend beneath the altar, and unearth atmospheric remains of ancient temples hidden beneath the church. The historic Forum Holitorium, an ancient market surrounded by Republican-era temples, lies concealed beneath the basilica, adding layers to the city's rich history. Open your eyes to the city’s hidden side – and you’ll never see Rome the same way again.

Discover one of the largest underground burial sites in Rome with an entry ticket to the Catacombs of St. Callixtus. Explore the complex on a guided tour and learn about the martyrs, popes, and Christians buried here. Meet your guide and set out to explore the oldest official cemetery of Rome's Christian community. Hear where the complex gets its name and learn about its expansive size. Visit the Crypt of the Popes, where 9 popes and 3 bishops were laid to rest. Then, head to the adjoining room to see the Crypt of St. Cecilia, a Roman matron remembered for ensuring that many martyrs received a proper burial. Marvel at some of the oldest frescoes to decorate the walls in Rome's catacombs and visit Area I, where the cubicles of the sacraments are located. Leave your underground tour with a deeper understanding of Rome's early Christian communities and their burial traditions. 

Uncover what lies below the surface and discover 3 of Rome's most significant archeological sites, the Capuchin Crypts, the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, and the Appian Way. Enjoy the comfort of skip-the-line entry and airconditioned transport throughout the tour. Begin your day by meeting your guide near Piazza Barberini, where this bone-chilling adventure will start. Kick off your tour with a visit to the Capuchin Crypt where your guide will introduce you to the remarkable history of what is believed to be the Capuchin Friars. Head to the Roman Catacombs and admire the cemeteries from ground level before descending into the extensive underground catacombs. Learn about the martyrs and pontiffs laid to rest here, admire impeccably preserved paintings, and see the crypts of 3rd-century popes. On your way back to Rome, pass by the impressive Aurelian Wall and learn about the extensive history of the Appian Way, a vital artery during the time of the Roman Empire.

Embark on a fascinating underground tour of the Catacombs, taking you into the unusual history of Rome. Head far below its busy streets and towering monuments to the concealed side of this ancient city. Follow along as your expert guide tells reveals little-known mysteries of Rome's darker side. Begin your tour at one of the most spectacular centrally located squares in Rome, Venice Square, next to the Townhall. Hop on a panoramic bus and head to the Catacombs, following a roundtrip panoramic route. Begin your underground tour and explore these extensive tunnels lined with tombs carved right out of the rock, and hear the fascinating history of these sacred places. Learn about how dating almost 2,000 years to the 2nd century AD, this extensive network of underground tunnels was once a burial ground and a place of worship for the first Christians in Rome. Combine your tour with the additional option to visit the Trevi district underground. Explore the ruins and hidden passages beneath the Trevi district and the surrounding area. Combine your tour with the additional option to visit the fascinating Capuchin Museum and his crypt. Visit on your own the famous Capuchin Crypt in Via Veneto with your audioguide! Learn about the crypt and the remains of the approximately 4,000 friars to decorate the floor-to-ceiling designs, lending it the macabre nickname of "the Bone Chapel".

Uncover the secrets hidden the dark depths of the the Domitilla catacombs on this guided tour in Rome. Enjoy the convenience of a transfer from a centrally-located meeting point in the city. Learn about early Christian history and see the underground Basilica of Nereus. Meet your guide in the city center and head towards the Appian Way in a comfortable minivan. Reach one of the largest and oldest catacombs of Rome and venture 52 feet (16 meters) below the surface into the otherworldly crypts of Domitilla. Explore its endless maze of underground burial chambers, spread across 4 levels. Be captivated by ancient wall paintings of mythological and biblical figures and discover the religious symbolism of the frescoes. Learn about the shift from paganism to Christianity and hear about early martyrs and persecutions. Live the excitement of gradually exploring different layers of history. Complete your underworld experience in the 4th-century subterranean Basilica of Nereus and Achilleus. Then jump back in the minivan return to the city center.

The place where the Catacomb of San Sebastiano stands was in ancient times a deep depression, used as a pozzolana quarry and called ad catacumbas (or “near the cavities”), a name that has become synonymous with an underground cemetery. Since the first century, the site has been intensely exploited and built: the underground galleries were reused to obtain burial niches, on the surface, however, several columbaria were built and at least two residential systems (the so-called small villa and large villa) equipped with remarkable pictorial wall decorations. Around the middle of the second century, the bottom of the valley was buried to create a pitch, on one side of which three mausoleums were built in succession (by Clodius Hermes, by the Innocentiores, by the Ax). A further burial of the area was made to give space to the construction of the triclia, a portico bordered by a wall on which numerous graffiti invocations addressed to the SS. Peter and Paul, who were venerated together in this place around 250. On the site, then, the emperor Constantine (306-337) had a basilica in the shape of a Roman circus (called "circiforme"). Meanwhile, already in the third century, the catacomb that housed the tombs of the martyrs Sebastian and Eutichio began to develop underground.

Indulge in all things Ancient Roman on this Ancient Appian Way, Catacombs, and Park of the Aqueducts E-bike tour. Ride through the Roman countryside, discover the engineering genius of the ancient Romans, and delve into the early Christian history that shaped the world to come. Meet your guide and leave the city through St. Sebastian's gate in the Aurelian Walls, and enter the Ancient Appian Way - a 2,400-year old thoroughfare that tells the story of Rome's rise, golden age, and decline. Make a stop underground at the Catacombs of St. Callixtus (or St. Sebastian) for a guided visit through its crypts and corridors. Next, cycle further on the Appian Way, passing mausoleums, tombstones, and sprawling villas of ancient aristocracy. Finally, head to the Park of the Aqueducts, where stretches of colossal arches rise against the warm afternoon light. After following these aqueducts back to modern civilization, cross the green Caffarella Valley. At its exit, you will begin your short ride back to the starting point - but not without one last highlight.

Get out of Rome for the day! Escape the busy streets and crowds on an e-bike Tour through the countryside surrounding the Appian Way. Ride to the Catacombs of St Callisto or St Sebastian using an electric assist bicycle along an ancient Roman road called the Via Appia Antica. Reach the Park of the Aqueducts and see one of the ancient Roman wonders, The Aqueducts of Claudio and Felice. On your way back into the city cycling through parks and wooded valleys, we will stop for a picnic style lunch in the vicinity of a natural spring. Enjoy a picnic in the park of fresh salads, breads, bruschetta, porchetta (roast pork), mozzarella and tomatoes, olives and something to drink. Ideal for families with children as we have e-bike for kids plus the option of a tag along attachments. Helmets with integrated comm's will be provided according to the language of the group and number of participants (minimum 2 maximum 10).

Located on Via Salaria, the catacomb is spread over two floors and probably takes its name from a Priscilla of the Acili senatorial family, whose name occurs in one of the inscriptions of the hypogeum of the Acili on the first floor. Its origin is different from that of the other catacombs as initially the place was an arenarium, then abandoned. Christians began to use the large and irregular galleries that make up the first floor of the catacomb towards the beginning of the third century, building around twenty niche tombs and digging hundreds of niches in the walls. In an adjacent area there is the cryptoporticus with the Greek Chapel and a large underground environment, born as a noble family burial ground and then connected to the catacomb. Among the martyrs buried in Priscilla we remember the brothers Felice and Filippo, who were martyred, probably under Diocletian, together with their mother St. Felicita and the other five brothers Alessandro, Marziale, Vitale, Silano and Gennaro. Numerous popes were also buried in Priscilla: Marcellino (296-304), Marcello (308-309), Silvestro (314-335), Liberius (352-366), Siricius (384-399), Celestino (422-432) and Vigilius (537-555). In the hypogeum of the Acili, originally a cistern of water, the inscriptions of the Acili have been found and exhibited. Inside Villa Ada there is the Basilica built by Pope St. Silvestro in correspondence with the tomb of Felice and Filippo. In an area near the basilica a Museum has been set up which collects hundreds of fragments of sarcophagi found during the excavations in the area of the catacomb.

Save up to 50%* on Rome experiences with Go City's Rome Explorer Pass. Choose from 2 to 7 attractions, experiences and tours from a list of over 45 popular activities. With a full 60 days validity, you can explore Rome at your own pace - there's no need to rush. Visit the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums, enjoy a pizza dinner in the Prati District, go to a classical music concert, bike ride among ancient Roman ruins, and experience the best Rome has to offer. Avoid the hassle of buying individual attraction tickets. With your pass, everything is right on your phone. Get a digital guide packed with attraction information and instructions on booking your visits. The Rome Explorer Pass includes entry to any 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 Rome and Vatican attractions or activities including the following: • Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel with Escorted skip the line tickets (R) • Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill with audio tour and multimedia video (R) • Big Bus Rome Hop-On Hop-Off 1-Day Discover Ticket • Big Bus Rome Catacombs guided tour with bus transfer • Pantheon: Reserved Entrance with Audioguide • Castel Sant'Angelo (R) • St. Peter's Basilica and Cupola Guided Tour with Breakfast + audioguide of the papal tombs (R) • 1-Hour Pizza-cooking Experience • Capitolini Museums with Skip Line Entry • Espresso, Gelato and Tiramisu Tour • Altar of the Fatherland Panoramic View (R) • Imperial Rome Walking Tour (including Colosseum exterior) • Hop-on Hop-off River Cruise Ticket (24 Hours) • Sunset pizza tour near the Colosseum • Pizza Terrace Menu in the Prati District (R) • and more! (R) Reservations required. Follow the instructions on the digital guide for each attraction or tour. *Savings based on sample itineraries on Go City website.