Catacombs of Rome

The Catacombs of Rome are a network of underground burial sites used by Jewish and early Christian communities in and around ancient Rome. They date primarily from the 2nd through the 5th centuries AD and contain galleries, tomb niches and funerary art.

Dozens of catacomb complexes survive, with preserved frescoes, carved epitaphs and multi-level passageways that extend for many kilometres beneath the suburbs outside Rome’s ancient walls. Guided tours typically visit short, conserved segments and highlight notable chambers and early Christian iconography.

These subterranean cemeteries were constructed outside the city limits in accordance with Roman burial customs and were used for communal and family interments, martyr burial sites and memorial chapels between the 2nd and 5th centuries. Over time many were sealed, rediscovered, mapped and excavated from the Renaissance onwards.

The catacombs are located along several ancient roads outside the core of Rome, including the Via Appia Antica and routes to the south and east of the city. Major sites are a short drive from Rome’s historical centre and can be visited as part of archaeological itineraries.

• Visitor tips: Many of the larger catacomb sites offer guided visits that include short, accessible sections of the galleries; bring a light jacket as underground temperatures are cool.
• Location tips: Several catacombs lie along ancient Roman roads such as the Via Appia Antica, making them easy to combine with surface archaeological sites.

What to See #

• Catacombs (general): A large complex of underground Christian burial sites dating mainly from the 2nd to the 5th centuries AD, featuring frescoes, niches and funerary chambers.
• San Callisto: Catacombs of San Callisto - A major early Christian cemetery established in the 3rd century with papal crypts and extensive galleries used for martyrs' burials.
• San Sebastiano: Catacombs of San Sebastiano - Located along the ancient Appian Way, containing Roman-era burials and early Christian tombs connected to the basilica on the surface.
• Domitilla: Catacombs of Domitilla - Among the largest catacomb complexes, featuring multi-level galleries and preserved early Christian frescoes dating from the 2nd and 3rd centuries.