Catacombs of San Gaudioso

Travel back in time and explore the Catacombs of San Gennaro to learn more about the patron saint of Naples. Discover what lies beneath street level as you see stunning frescoes and Byzantine paintings from the 9th to the 10th century AD. Discover the fascinating history of the paleo-Christian burial site with your guide. Find out more about its 4th-century expansion following the transfer of the remains of St. Agrippinus to the underground basilica dedicated to him. See the baptismal font commissioned by Bishop Paul II, who took refuge in the catacombs in the 8th century during iconoclastic struggles. Admire the details of the upper catacomb, decorated in the 3rd century in the so-called Pompeian style, and now home to some of the earliest Christian paintings. Be amazed by the Crypt of the Bishops and its 5th-century mosaics, including one depicting the Bishop of Carthage, St. Quodvultdeus. After your tour, receive an entry pass to the Catacombs of San Gaudioso and the Basilica di Santa Maria della Sanità, which you can explore later.

Travel back in time and explore the Catacombs of San Gaudioso to learn more about the burial rites of early Christians and discover a mysterious world beneath the streets of Naples. Explore the history of the site and its expansion following the burial of the North African bishop, St. Gaudiosus between 451 and 453 AD. Gaze in wonder at the intensity of early Christian elements, such as the tomb of the saint and the 5th and 6th-century frescoes and mosaics with typical early Christian motifs. Explore the graves reserved for the nobles, dating back to the 17th century, when the catacombs resumed their function as a burial site. Get a closer look at the finer details, and learn how skulls were placed on display in the walls of the ambulatory in the 17th century. See stunning frescoes by Giovanni Balducci, who refused payment in order to be buried among the city's aristocrats.

Discover the authenticity of daily life in Naples on a walking tour of the Sanità neighborhood. Visit the catacombs of San Gennaro and San Gaudioso, the most ancient catacombs in Europe, and see the murals dedicated to the Neapolitan actor Totò. Start your tour with a visit to the catacombs of San Gennaro and San Gaudioso, the most ancient catacombs in Europe. The Catacombs of San Gaudioso are incorporated into the majestic Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità, which also houses the "Il Presepe Favoloso," a wonderful nativity scene typical of 18th-century Neapolitan art. Continue to the heart of the Sanità neighborhood, passing through the colorful Vicolo della Cultura and stopping to admire the mural dedicated to Totò, the Neapolitan actor whose birthplace is in this neighborhood. Visit two 18th-century palaces, the locations of numerous film sets: Palazzo San Felice and Palazzo dello Spagnuolo. Conclude your walk at the Mercato dei Vergini, a very characteristic and folkloric open-air market.

Discover the fascinating underground and baroque heritage of Naples on this small-group walking tour through the Rione Sanità. Starting from Porta San Gennaro, wander through the lively Vergini district, marvel at the breathtaking Palazzo dello Spagnuolo and Palazzo Sanfelice, and step back in time at the Ipogeo dei Cristallini. Visit the House of Totò, pay homage to Naples’ beloved actor, and explore the stunning Santa Maria della Sanità Basilica, built atop the ancient Catacombs of San Gaudioso.