Catacombs of San Sebastiano

The Catacombs of San Sebastiano are an early Christian burial complex on the Appian Way to the southeast of central Rome, with origins in the Roman imperial period. They form part of the network of catacombs outside the ancient city walls used for burials and devotional visits.

The catacombs developed from the 2nd to the 4th centuries as Christian and Roman burial spaces and later became places of pilgrimage linked to martyrs and early saints. Over subsequent centuries the area saw construction of a basilica and modifications for liturgical commemoration.

Situated on the Appian Way (Via Appia Antica) to the southeast of Rome’s historic core, the catacombs are a short drive or bus ride from the city centre and are set among other archaeological sites along the ancient road.

• Access and context: Located along the Appian Way (Via Appia Antica), access to the catacombs is generally by guided tour which explains the archaeology and early Christian context.
• Archaeological highlights: The site contains early Christian frescoes and funerary inscriptions that illustrate burial practices in Rome from the 2nd to 4th centuries.

What to See #

• Subterranean galleries: Extensive underground galleries and burial chambers dating mainly to the 2nd through 4th centuries, arranged in multiple levels with access stairways and connecting corridors.
• Above-ground basilica and chapels: An early Christian basilica and above-ground structures mark the catacomb entrance on the Appian Way and contain later chapels and devotional fittings.