Catacombs Tour – An in-depth Tour of Dark Rome

Rome is filled with beauty along with numerous elements of history. There are never-ending museums, monuments, and parks for you to visit. But those of you who are interested in something mysterious should pay a visit to the Catacombs of Rome. Keep on reading to find out more about the secrets and mysteries of the catacombs and what they are all about.

What are Catacombs in Rome?

Roman catacombs are known to be some of the oldest in the world. These are underground galleries that have been used for centuries as cemeteries are known as Catacombs. The Catacombs were finally completed in the 5th century. It was used to bury Jews, Pagans, and the first Christians of Rome.

The place can also be identified as an underground art gallery since framed paintings and frescoes can also be found there. The place is famous for holding the most valuable artworks of the Christians.

The catacombs have to be entered by staircases which are steep and eventually lead to several floors underground. The walls have slots that are used to keep dead bodies. Each wall has many positions so that no space is wasted. Catacombs can be defined as a city underground.

In the city of Rome, there are above sixty catacombs. These are made up of underground tunnels. Here you can find thousands of tombs. The dead bodies were wrapped up in sheets and placed in niches. As time went by tombstones of marble and cooked clay were used to cover the tombstones. Tufa is the material that is used to excavate catacombs. The material is flexible, but when put out in the air it becomes strong.

Unfortunately, there are only five catacombs open in Rome for public viewing:

• Catacombs of Saint Agnes

  Source image: upload.wikimedia.org
  
  

  Timing: 9 am -12 pm and 3 pm – 5 pm

  This catacomb is situated at Via Nomenta. You can take the 66 bus from central Rome to Ojetti/Primoli and then hop onto bus number 337 which will take you to Nomentana.

  Saint Agnes is one of the oldest catacombs in Rome. Agnes used to live in the city of Rome during the 3rd century AD. Unfortunately, she died tragically when she was only 12 or 13. The young lady had been tortured for her strong belief in Christianity.

  The catacomb is scary and dark. Although there are no paintings inside, there is plenty of history regarding people who walked through the corridors. There are a lot of secrets hidden in the corridors related to spirits and mortals.

  Unfortunately, the catacomb was forgotten specifically during the medieval period but then rediscovered again in the 16th century.

• Catacombs of San Callisto

  Source image: infoans.org
  
  

  Timing: 9 am – 12 pm and 2 pm – 5 pm

  Location: Via Appia Antica. It is best if you can take the number 118 bus from the city center of Rome. This will take you to the Appian Way.

  The catacombs of San Callisto are known to be one of the most famous Christian Catacombs of Rome. San Callisto was built around 150 AD. It has five floors with around five million dead bodies inside. Also, there are several galleries, halls, and passages.

  The Vatican and the Religious Congregation of the Salesians Don Bosco manage the catacomb.

  Popes from the 3rd century are buried there. The name Catacombs of San Callisto came from the pope who was in charge of building the place.

  For a very long period, the catacombs were an official cemetery for the Church of Rome. Fifty martyrs and sixteen pontiffs were laid to rest here.

  Most of all inside the catacomb is a statue of St Cecilia ( famous virgin martyr) which represents her original burial niche.

• Catacombs of Domitilla

  Source image: upload.wikimedia.org
  
  Timing: 9 am – 12 pm and 2 pm – 5 pm, closed on Tuesday

  The location is Via Delle Sette Chiese, which is on the south side of Rome. You can reach this particular catacomb by taking the 218 bus from Porta S. Giovanni. The bus ride is only 10 minutes.

  The Catacombs of Domitilla have been named after the Domitilla family. Around 150,000 Christians are buried there.

  The catacomb has four floors with tunnels over 17 kilometers long. It is well known for being the resting place of Achileus and St. Nereus. They were famous Roman soldiers. Both of them were laid to rest here back in the 4th century.

  The interior resembles tunnels which are like mazes that lead to burial chambers.

  The ceiling of the Catacombs of Domitilla has a picture of Christ. Two men are standing next to him.

• Catacombs of Priscilla

  Source image: bbc.com
  
  

  Timing: 9 am -12 pm and 2 pm – 5 pm, closed on Mondays.

  The location is on the north side of Rome, nearby Via Salaria. The 92 bus from Volturno in central Rome can take you to your destination within 20 minutes.

  The land of the catacombs was named after a woman named Priscilla. She was married to Consul Manius Acilius Glabrio who was unfortunately executed for being accused of conspiracy against Emperor Domitian. Priscilla was known to be a noblewoman as she was known to donate her land for her family and Christians to be used as a burial site. There are a large number of martyrs buried here.

  It was believed that back in the day there were around 40,000 tombs in the catacombs. Which include the tombs of seven popes and Christian martyrs.

  Sadly eventually the burial site was not used later on. Which lead many Christians and robbers to believe that the remains of martyrs collected bones and items from inside the tomb.

• Catacombs of Saint Sebastiano

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  Timing: 10 am – 5 pm, closed on Sunday.

  It is very near to St Callistus which is located on Via Appia. Hence the number 118 bus can take you there from the city center.

  This particular catacomb is also known as one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome. The catacomb started as a burial area then it later turned into Christian cemeteries back in the 2nd century. At that time it was dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul.

  But the remains of the martyr San Sebastian were buried there in 350. To show respect to the saint a basilica was built over the grounds in the 4th century.

  The catacombs are known to be one of the most ancient in Rome as they have frescoes that cover the cubicle of Jonah, from the 4th century. The reason why Catacombs are located on the outside walls of Rome City is that back in the days, the Roman Law objected to burying the dead inside the city.

  During early Christian Rome, the burial of dead people was taken very seriously. As this was known to be a sacred act. Those Christians who were well off took it as their responsibility to bury all the members which were in their community. It didn’t matter whether these members were rich or poor, the Christians only concentrated on burying people with the respect and integrity that they deserved.

Things to know before visiting

• You must take the tour with a guide who will lead you through the burial chambers.

• The tour guides can speak in five different languages which include- Spanish, German, Italian, Spanish, and French.

• Each group of tourists is limited to a maximum of 20 people.

• It is recommended to wear comfortable footwear such as walking boots or sneakers. As the tunnels are uneven, walking proves to be difficult.

• Carry a lightweight jacket with you. As it can get pretty cold underground.

• Make sure that your shoulders and knees are covered.

• It is recommended not to visit the catacombs with children of a small age, as they are most likely to get bored.

• Those who suffer from claustrophobia are strongly advised from visiting the catacombs. The reason is the place is enclosed.

• Keep in mind that taking pictures and videos inside the catacombs is forbidden.

Why take this tour

This particular tour will allow you to view and explore the secret part of Rome. The funeral remains of the burials which were made many centuries ago lie here. The visit could be a bit scary since the whole passage is dark and damp. The graves are of different sizes, some are small due to the high rates of infant mortality. Whereas large graves are also seen which were used for the burial of the whole family.

Highlights of Dark Rome Tour

• Learn the historical facts which still lay underground till today.

• Take a walk through the dark tunnels while observing the remains of people laid to rest centuries ago.

• The catacombs in Rome are famous for being the oldest underground cemetery across the world.

• While visiting Dark Rome you will be able to go 20 meters under the ground.

• Get to know how cold you feel underground even when there is scorching heat outside in summer.

Final Word

When visiting Rome I would highly recommend a trip to the catacombs. Yes, there are plenty of museums and other monuments to see. But a tour underground is something you will always remember.

Those who like dark and mysterious history will enjoy seeing the funeral remains of Saints and Popes underground. The five catacombs are designed differently inside which paintings and frescoes can also be found.

But then again those who have trouble walking or are traveling with small children may want to think twice before making the trip. As the tunnels are relatively dark and require a bit of walking.