4.6 ·
Descend into the Catacombs of San Callisto along the ancient Via Appia. Follow a required guided tour through the cool underground tunnels, past the tombs of 3rd-century popes and martyrs, learning early Christian burial customs and symbolism.
Reasons to go
Full description
Stretching for kilometers underground along the ancient Via Appia, the Catacombs of San Callisto were the official cemetery of the early Church in Rome and became the burial site of numerous popes and martyrs in the 3rd century. Guided tours, which are required rather than optional, lead through a fraction of the tunnels, explaining the burial customs and symbolism of early Christianity along the way.
The cool, quiet underground setting, reached via a short trip outside the city center, gives a genuinely different atmosphere from Rome's above-ground sights. It's a strong choice for visitors interested in the roots of Christianity in Rome rather than imperial history.
Stretching for kilometers underground along the ancient Via Appia, the Catacombs of San Callisto were the official cemetery of the early Church in Rome and became the burial site of numerous popes and martyrs in the 3rd century. Guided tours, which are required rather than optional, lead through a fraction of the tunnels, explaining the burial customs and symbolism of early Christianity along the way.
The cool, quiet underground setting, reached via a short trip outside the city center, gives a genuinely different atmosphere from Rome's above-ground sights. It's a strong choice for visitors interested in the roots of Christianity in Rome rather than imperial history.
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Hours
Booking
Duration
1h15
Best time
morning or afternoon
Intensity
Moderate walking
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Reviews
We did a guided tour here in English. It was an add-on to a bike tour we did with TopBikes. The catacombs were very interesting to check out. You descend stairs to get down to the 1st and 2nd levels. There are 4 levels. The guide takes you around about 1km of them. The tour takes about 45min, and the guide gives a…
Jim H
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