Catacombs are underground passageways used as a place of burial by Pagans, Christians, and Jews.
They also had relics of martyrs and saints, so the early Christians also used these underground sites for worship.
The Catacombs in Rome were in use from the second century to the fifth century.
The word catacomb comes from the Greek kata (near) and kymbas (cavity), meaning ‘next to a cavity.’
No wonder the earliest Catacombs were on the outskirts of Rome, next to quarries.
Tourists love Roman Catacombs because they reveal the darker side of the city.
This article covers everything you must know before booking a tour of the Catacombs in Rome.
Top Catacombs of Rome Tickets
# St Sebastian Catacombs Guided Tour
# Catacombs and Roman Countryside
# Private tour of the Catacombs of Rome
Table of contents
How many Catacombs are in Rome
Archeologists have unearthed more than 60 catacombs under the city of Rome.
These run into hundreds of kilometers of underground tunnels with thousands of tombs – mostly ordinary folks and some Popes and Martyrs.
Of these, only five catacombs are open to the public now. They are –
- Catacombs of San Sebastiano
- Catacombs of San Callisto
- Catacombs of Priscilla
- Catacombs of Domitilla
- Catacombs of Sant’Agnese
San Sebastiano’s and San Callisto’s Catacombs are the most popular of these five.
That’s why more than 80 percent of the Roman Catacombs tours take you to these two sites.
Visitors can’t explore these underground burial sites by themselves.
Everyone must book guided tours of these catacombs, which usually last 30 to 40 minutes.
Catacombs of San Sebastiano
San Sebastian catacombs are the world’s first underground burial sites.
The Catacombs of San Sebastian are along the first 6 km (4 miles) stretch of Via Appia.
This 12-kilometer (7.5 km) long catacombs owe their name to San Sebastiano, a soldier who became a martyr for converting to Christianity.
Tours of San Sebastiano Catacombs
The Catacomb of San Sebastiano organizes guided tours in English, Italian, French, German, and Spanish.
Buying the tickets at the venue will cost you €8 for adults 17 years and above.
Kids aged seven to 16 years, students with valid ID cards, and priests get a €3 discount and pay only €5 to enter.
Most users book tours that include transport from the city and visits to nearby attractions.
| Tours |
|---|
| St Sebastian Catacombs Guided Tour |
| Catacombs and Roman Countryside |
| Private tour of the Catacombs of Rome |
| Catacombs tour for cruise passengers |
How to reach
The Catacombs of San Sebastian is next to the Catacombs of St. Callixtus on the Appian Way.
You can board Bus Route 118 From Colosseo or Circo Massimo metro station on Line B to get to the San Sebastian Catacombs.
Or you can board bus route 218 From San Giovanni station on Line A.
Opening hours
The San Sebastiano Catacombs are open daily from 10 am to 5 pm.
The last entry into the underground burial site is at 4.30 pm.
The Catacombs remain closed on 25 December, 1 January, and Easter Day.
Catacombs of San Callisto
The Catacombs of San Callisto are also known as the Catacombs of Callixtus and are a network of 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) of underground passageways.
These Catacombs were the official cemetery of the Church of Rome in the 3rd century AD.
St Callixtus Catacombs on the Appian Way is the final resting place of half a million Christians, including 16 Popes.
Tours of Callixtus Catacombs
The guided tours at the Catacombs of St. Callixtus in Rome begin every 60 minutes and take around 30 minutes to complete.
The catacombs can only be visited in groups of at least two persons, accompanied by guides.
When you purchase at the venue, the entry tickets to St. Callixtus Catacombs cost €8 for adults 17 years and above.
Kids aged seven to 16 years, students with valid ID cards, and priests get a €3 discount and pay only €5 to enter.
Since visitors can explore St. Callixtus Catacombs in 45 minutes, tours usually include nearby attractions like the Appian Way, Capuchin Crypt, Roman Aqueducts, etc.
| Tours |
|---|
| Guided tour of Callixtus Catacombs |
| Tour of Callixtus Catacombs with transport |
| Catacombs of Callixtus + Appian Way |
| Catacombs + Capuchin Crypt + Roman Aqueducts |
How to reach
Visitors can board Metro A (towards Anagnina) from Termini station and get off at San Giovanni (in Laterano).
From there, get to bus number 218 (towards Ardeatina) and get off at the Fosse Ardeatine stop.
The catacombs are a quick walk from the bus stop.
Metro A train going towards Anagnina can drop you at Arco di Travertino station, from where you can board bus number 660 and get down at the Appia Pignatelli/Appia Antica bus stop.
From the stop, the attraction is less than 300 meters (950 feet).
Opening hours
The Catacombs of St. Callixtus opens at 9 am and closes at noon from Thursday to Tuesday.
After a 2-hour break, the Catacombs re-open at 2 pm and close for the day at 5 pm.
The tourist attraction along the Appian Way remains closed on Wednesday.
The final guided tour in the morning begins at noon, and the last guided tour in the afternoon starts at 5 pm.
The attraction remains closed on New Year’s Day, Easter, and Christmas.
Catacombs of Priscilla
The Catacombs of Priscilla are located on the Via Salaria, an ancient road leading north out of Rome.
Its main draw is the Cappella Greca (Greek Chapel) and the intricate frescoes featuring women.
These frescoes hold great importance for art and religious history. For instance, it has the first representations of the Virgin Mary breastfeeding baby Jesus.
These underground pathways hold at least 40,000 tombs, including the tombs of seven popes.
Priscilla Catacomb tickets
Visitors can purchase tickets to the Priscilla Catacombs online or at the venue.
For adults 17 years and above, the catacomb tickets are priced at €8.
Kids aged seven to 16 years, students with valid ID cards, and priests get a €3 discount and pay only €5 to enter.
How to reach
The Catacombs of Priscilla are at Salaria, 430 – away from the Catacombs on the Appian Way.
S. Agnese Annibaliano station and Libia station, served by Line B, are closest to the Priscilla Catacombs.
Both the subway stations are around a km (.6 miles) from the attraction, and you can walk the distance in less than 15 minutes.
If you prefer a bus, board Lines 63 and 83 from the city center or Lines 92 and 310 from Roma Termini.
Opening hours
From Tuesday to Sunday, the Catacombs of Priscilla are open from 10 am to 4.
They remain closed on Mondays.
The last guided tour in the morning starts at 11.30 am, and the evening’s last tour starts at 4.30 pm.
The guided tour lasts 45 minutes.
Catacombs of Domitilla
Domitilla Catacombs is one of the largest and most ancient underground cemeteries, and it gets its name from Flavia Domitilla, who initially ordered the site’s creation.
Flavia Domitilla was the granddaughter of emperor Vespasian (builder of the Colosseum), who had converted to Christianity and, as a result, was exiled.
Saint Domitilla Catacombs are 16 meters (52 feet) underground and 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) long.
It has more than 26,000 tombs and, unlike other Roman catacombs, still has the remains of humans.
Domitilla Catacomb tickets
Visitors can purchase guided tour tickets to the Catacombs of St Domitilla at the venue.
For adults 17 years and above, the entry tickets are priced at €8.
Kids aged seven to 16 years and students with valid ID cards pay a discounted price of €5 for their admission.
How to reach
The Catacombs of Domitilla are on the southern outskirts of Rome on Via delle Sette Chiese, 282.
You can take bus number 714 from Termini station and get off at Navigatori bus stop.
From the stop, the ancient burial place is a brisk ten-minute walk.
Bus number 716 from Piazza Venezia in the city center and bus number 218 from San Giovanni metro station can also drop you closer to the Catacombs.
Opening hours
From Wednesday to Monday, the Catacombs of Domitilla are open from 9 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm.
They remain closed on Tuesdays.
The last guided tour starts 20 minutes before closing in the morning and afternoon.
Catacomb of St. Agnes
The Catacomb of St. Agnes has three levels and is divided into four regions.
Saint Agnes was buried in these catacombs after being a martyr because of her Christian faith, which eventually took on her name.
Agnes died at just twelve years of age and underwent tremendous torments – fire, decapitation, etc. before she was murdered.
Because of how she died for her devotion to Jesus, Agnes became an influential figure immediately after her martyrdom.
Byzantine Basilica, built right above her tomb, is dedicated to her.
Saint Agnes Catacomb tickets
Official guides lead tours of Saint Agnes Catacombs, and visitors can purchase tickets at the venue to join the group.
For adults 17 years and above, the tour tickets are priced at €8.
Kids aged seven to 16 and students with valid ID cards pay a discounted € 5 entry fee.
How to reach
The Catacomb of Saint Agnes is at the second mile via Nomentana.
You can board the number 60 Express bus from Piazza Venezia in the city center or Line 90 from the Rome Termini station.
You must get down at the Nomentana/XXI Aprile bus stop, just 250 meters (800 feet) from Saint Agnes Catacombs.
If you prefer the Metro, board the B1 train and get down at St. Agnese/Annibaliano, 400 meters (1300 feet) from the Catacombs.
Opening hours
From Thursday to Saturday, the Catacombs of Saint Agnes is open from 9 am to 12 pm and 3 pm to 6 pm.
On Sundays, the Catacombs open at 3 pm and close at 6 pm.
The catacombs remain closed on 1 January, Easter, 15 August, Christmas, and the morning of religious holidays.
What to wear to Catacombs in Rome
Catacombs, anywhere in the world, are considered holy places and worship sites.
Visitors must dress up appropriately – no shorts or sleeveless tops are allowed for either men or women.
Women must cover their shoulders. If you plan to wear a skirt or trousers, please ensure it is below knee level.
Don’t forget to take a jacket with you because the temperature inside most Roman catacombs hovers around 16°C (60°F) with high humidity.
Sources
# Darkrome.com
# Rome.net
# Wikipedia.org
# Nationalgeographic.com
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