Two catacombs chosen from our list + The Crypt of the Capuchin Monks
LIVE TOURS ›
ANCIENT ROME ›
CATACOMBS and the Capuchin Crypts Tour
CATACOMBS and the Capuchin Crypts Tour
Key Details
- 3.5hrs
- from Monday to Saturday
- 9.30 Am – 2 pm (can change according to availability or request)
- only private
This Tour includes:
Notes
ONLY PRIVATE
DESCRIPTION
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 Saint Clement; 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. Explore two of them together and then visit the famous crypt of the bones of the Capuchins! Scared?
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:
How many catacombs will we visit on a tour?
Two from the ones we have listed, depending on your interests, the time of the week, and the opening hours!
Are there human remains in the catacombs?
No, or rather, if there are they are no longer visible for reasons you’ll discover during the tour. This is why we have chosen to combine these locations with the one place where, absolutely, you will see a great deal of bones together: the Crypts of the Capuchin Monks! In reality the crypt is a closed portico within the Church of Saint Mary of the Conception, known also as the Church of the Capuchin Monks. It is decorated with the bones of at least 4,000 Capuchin brothers who died between 1528 and 1870!! Some of the corpses are still mummified, others have lost their names but their remains, their bones, have been used to decorate the small room, forming lamps, stars, festoons, clocks, garlands … Yes, it is truly like this – pelvic bone, femurs, shin bones, and jaw bones have been used as decorative objects! You’ll need a strong stomach!
GENERAL INFORMATION
Days of the week and hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Mornings from 9.30am and afternoons from 2pm)
Price
The cost of the tours will vary depending on the season and the day of the week.
CATACOMBS
Full price: €8.00 adults
Reduced price: €5.00 children between 6 and 15 years of age
Free: Children under the age of 6 and carers for those with disabilities.
CAPPUCHIN CRYPTS
Full price: €8.50
Reduced price: €5.00 (under 18 – over 65)
Entrance tickets to the different catacombs are not included in the tour price and can be purchased at the sites.
ASK for availability
People say about us…
- jtcraze
Thanks to Francesca, our Colosseum tour was the highlight of our Rome trip. She kept our young boys (6 and 8) engaged and focused. The Colosseum is a huge place... read more 
June 2, 2022KAQComo Francesca was extremely knowledgeable. She has great enthusiasm for the art, artists, the gallery and helping us learn. She answered our questions and welcomed them. It deepened... read more
May 29, 2022bhamwanative We had a private Vatican Tour on a Friday night with Serena. It was incredible! Serena was so engaging and knowledgeable. Her enthusiasm was contagious. ... read more
May 20, 2022
