• Catacombs and the Capuchin Crypts •
To speak of underground Rome is to talk about many different things. There can be entire churches beneath the ground, as in the case of San Clemente; or Roman dwellings, as in the case of the houses beneath the Church of Saint John and Saint Paul, all of which we can explore on this tour.
But if you are interested in the catacombs, Rome has so many that you could travel the entire city passing through the tunnels and passageways of this incredible subterranean cemetery.
There are more than 40 catacombs which wind and weave for about 150km underground and on many different levels. That’s why you need to have a guide with you! But the first thing you’ll need to do is choose which catacombs interest you the most so that we can be guide you through the labyrinth of mysterious, dark tunnels.
Where are the catacombs of Rome?
It was prohibited to perform burials within the city walls, so cemeteries were constructed along the consular roads and along the most famous roadways like the via Appia and via Ostiense, which led to the sea. A visit to the catacombs is also an opportunity to discover interesting areas a little outside of the city centre.
How do you get to the catacombs?
This is something you can decide, either by taxi or alternatively by private car.
Which are the most beautiful catacombs to visit with a guide?
This is a hard question to answer because each cemetery has its own special and unique features. They all share in having kilometres of tunnels decorated with frescoes and inscriptions and each tour will include an exploration of the areas open to the public with one of our guides and also, in some cases, with the expertise of the archaeological site managers. Together we will discover the meanings of symbols hidden within inscriptions and admire some of the most beautiful and important frescoes from the early Christian era. Seeing as we need to make a selection of which catacombs, here are our favourites which we’ve decided to include in our tour:
closed on Sundays
closed on Thursdays
closed Mondays
closed Tuesdays
These catacombs are associated with the martyrdom of young Saint Agnes. One of the thing we like most about this catacomb is the beauty of the area surrounding them, the peacefulness and gardens. The elegance of this neighbourhood, with its hidden catacombs, make it in one of the quartiers most loved by Romans, and rarely visited by tourists. Showing you this are will be like sharing one of the lovely secrets of the city!