The Underworld of Rome: Treasures of the Catacombs. Roman catacombs - mysteries of underground tombs Types of Roman catacombs

I already wrote earlier why I consider visiting the catacombs vital, worthy and correct, all-praised and so on. an event in the life of a Christian (could you really forget this speech? Well then, here you are:) So in Rome, there are more than 60 early Christian catacombs known to archaeologists in Rome. Only five are open for visiting so far:
1. catacombs of San Callisto (old Appian Way - via Appa Antica)
2. Catacombs of San Sebastiano (ibid.)
3. Catacombs of Domitilla (the area of ​​the previous two)
4. catacombs of Sant'Agnese (via Nomentana)
5. Catacombs of Priscilla

The most advertised and promoted are San Callisto. Tourist buses constantly arrive there, there you have to wait a long time for your turn. There are the most incompetent excursions: the group follows the group; being in one cubicle, you listen to a couple more guides in neighboring cubicles.
The most "historical" are San Sebastiano. Unlike the other catacombs, these were always known, they were visited by all the celebrities who were in Rome. There are also many tourists there, but the guides are more gradual, they even allow themselves to answer visitors' questions. And the route is more interesting: there are many narrow winding corridors, electricity is saved, so that a pleasant cemetery twilight reigns in the side galleries.
I can’t say anything about the catacombs of Domitilla. I visit Rome in January, and it is in this month that these catacombs are closed.
The most uninteresting - Sant'Agnese. No frescoes, no inscriptions - long corridors with blackening niches. In no case should you start your acquaintance with the world of the catacombs from Sant'Agnese - you will be disappointed.
Well, let's start with the most difficult. Only connoisseurs of Rome and sophisticated aesthetes get to the catacombs of Priscilla (well, you understand, I'm talking about myself). Organized tourists are not taken there, you can’t walk there on your own. In general, only for you, dear reader, I will reveal the great secret of these catacombs.
How to get there? Buses 86 and 92 from Termini. Get off at the Piazza Crati stop. Please note: this is not the final one, and you need to follow the route so as not to pass. The general direction is this: the bus leaves for the Aurelian walls, writes out incomprehensible pretzels and eventually leaves for via Po. Further on, this street changes its name several times (via Tagliamento, via Sebino, via Nemorense), but remains relatively straight. At the same time, look at the Roman buildings of the Art Nouveau era. At a certain moment, a garden appears on the right side of the street - Parco Virgiliano, and this is a sign - a tourist, be ready! The end of this park is Piazza Krati. Another important sign is the permanent vegetable market on the square. In the far left corner of the square, a curve departs from it, like a mug after a bee sting, the street via Priscilla. There are already signs to the catacombs. Entrance to them - from via Salaria (via Salaria)
When are they open? As of January 2011: all days except Mondays from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm. There are really few people here. Therefore, you either have to wait for another madman who wants to see the catacombs, or catch up with the group that has gone underground. But more on that next time.

There are over 60 catacombs in Rome. This is a system of underground passages, often reminiscent of labyrinths. Wall frescoes in the catacombs are optimistic and filled with faith in resurrection. Peace and tranquility reign here.

Roman catacombs - antique underground burials, photo peet-astn

About the catacombs

The catacombs of Rome (Catacombe di Roma) are huge multi-level galleries, intricate passages encircling and penetrating the space under the Eternal City. They originated in the pre-Christian era. Most of the Roman catacombs were created in the early Christian period. In total, more than 60 secret labyrinths (150-170 km long, about 750 thousand burials) were found in the Italian capital.

Types of Roman catacombs

• pagan
• syncretic
• Jewish
• Christian

Christian catacombs

The oldest Christian catacombs date back to around 107 AD. The early Roman Christians were persecuted. To perform rituals and bury the dead according to religious canons, believers used abandoned tuff quarries.

Christians felt safe in the dungeons. They arranged chapels and burial chambers, dug new labyrinths, expanded existing corridors, made niches in their walls. The width of the underground passages was about 1–1.5 m; the height reached 2.5 m. Niche-tombs were arranged on both sides of the corridors, in several tiers. One or more bodies were placed in each recess, then the tombs were walled up with bricks and stone slabs. Exits and ventilation shafts opened from the dungeons to the streets of Rome.

From 312, by the will of Emperor Constantine, Christianity was declared a legal religion, and the persecution of believers ceased. The catacombs became official and revered burial places. By the 5th century, they stopped burying underground, and even many of the remains were transferred to the churches of Rome, the Roman labyrinths fell into disrepair and were forgotten for a long time.

Catacombs of Priscilla

Agapa - "Meal of Love", which Christians arranged in the catacombs in memory of the Gospel Last Supper, and where they performed the sacrament of the Eucharist

Ten centuries later, in 1578, during the construction of the Via Salaria road, the first underground cemetery was discovered. These were the oldest catacombs of Priscilla in Rome (Catacombe di Priscilla) with burial chambers of early Christian martyrs. The aristocratic Priscilla of Rome came from the family of Consul Akilius Glabrio, who owned vast lands, on which an underground cemetery was formed.

These catacombs were not plundered by the barbarians in the 5th century, so the burials are well preserved. It was here that unique examples of early Christian art were discovered, skillful frescoes depicting the Good Shepherd with fish (a symbol of Jesus), drawings of the Holy Virgin Mary (2nd century AD), wall paintings with Old Testament scenes, scenes from the New Testament. The main attraction of the catacombs of Priscilla is Cappella Greca - a room with benches for memorial meals, with Greek inscriptions on the walls.

Il Cubicolo della Velata by Martin Conde

There is in the catacombs the "Room of a Woman in a Veil" (Il Cubicolo della Velata), famous for a fresco depicting a praying young woman in a purple dress and a white veil. Scenes from her life are written nearby, and the Garden of Eden is above her head. Image of the second half of the II century. and is in good condition.

How to get there

The entrance to the catacombs of Priscilla is located at Via Salaria, 430. It is next to the Villa Ada park.

Take bus 92 or 310 from Termini station to Piazza Crati stop,
from Piazza Venezia on bus 63 also to Piazza Crati.
Then go along via di Priscilla, following the sign.

Working hours

Tue-Sun 09:00 - 12:00 and 14:00 - 17:00.
Mon - day off.

Tickets

Full ticket - €8;
children (7-15 years old) - €5.

Read more about the catacombs of Priscilla on the website.

Catacombs of Saint Callistus

Entrance to the catacombs of St. Callistus, photo kiwioutthere

The largest and most famous underground Christian burial in Rome is the catacombs of St. Callistus (Catacombe di San Callisto) (II-IV centuries), founded by Bishop Callistus. The four-level labyrinth with hundreds of thousands of tombs stretches for 12 km. It covers an area of ​​15 hectares between the old Appian Way, Via delle Sette Chiese and Via Ardeatina. This is a real "city of the dead": several necropolises from different periods are combined in the dungeons of San Callisto. It has its own streets, squares, intersections.

In the underground square "Little Vatican", 9 popes, who led the church in the 3rd century, rested in peace (in total, 16 pontiffs and more than 50 holy martyrs were buried in San Callisto). The most visited place in the catacombs is the crypt of Santa Cecilia - the tomb of the holy martyr Cecilia with well-preserved reliefs, frescoes and mosaics.

The total length of the San Callisto underground corridors available today is about 20 kilometers. Archaeological research has been carried out since the middle of the 19th century, and not all burials have been discovered so far.

How to get there

The entrance to the catacombs of San Callisto is located at: Via Appia Antica, 110/126.

From Termini station you need to go:

• Metro A (direction Anagnina) or bus 714 (direction Palazzo Sport) to Piazza di S. Giovanni in Laterano. Then take bus 218 to stop Fosse Ardeatine;
• Take metro B (direction Laurentina) to the Circo Massimo stop.
  From the Circo Massimo stop or from the Terme Caracalla/Porta Capena stop, take bus 118 (direction Villa Dei Quintili) to the Catacombe di San Callisto stop.

Working hours

Thu-Tue 09:00 - 12:00 and 14:00 - 17:00.

Tickets

Full ticket - €8;
children (7-15 years old) - €5.

Jewish catacombs

Epitaph with a menorah from the Jewish catacombs, photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen

The Jewish catacombs are considered the forerunners of the Christian ones. They appeared around the 1st century. BC e. The difference between the Jewish catacombs and the Christian ones is that at first separate crypts appeared, and then they were connected by corridors. Their walls are painted with frescoes depicting menorah, flowers, animals, but there are no scenes from the Old Testament.

famous Jewish catacombs

• Burials under Villa Torlonia
  Underground burials of Jews of III-IV centuries. Mussolini used the villa as a residence. During World War II, a bunker was located in the catacombs.
• Vigna Apolloni
  Funeral rites were held in small rooms, on the walls of which murals have been preserved. There are inscriptions in Greek and Latin; there are almost no religious images in Hebrew.
• Vigna Cimarra
  Vaulted niches, paintings on Jewish themes and inscriptions in Hebrew distinguish this burial. Skeletons were found in the crypts.
• Vigna Randanini
  The tomb was opened in 1859, but is well preserved. Burials from the beginning of the era. Paintings on the ceilings.
• Monteverde
  The inscriptions on the walls, made in 300 years in Italian square script, tell about Jewish history and traditions.

Syncretic catacombs, photo scoprendoroma.info

The underground temples of the syncretic catacombs are distinguished by a mixture of Roman and Greek philosophy with Christianity. There is an assumption that these are the burial places of the Gnostics sect.

Notable syncretic catacombs:

• Underground basilica near Termini station
  Discovered in 1917. In the 1st century BC e. it was used as a meeting place for neo-Pythagoreans. Known for plaster bas-reliefs.
• Hypogeum Aurelius
  Underground tunnels opened in 1919. There are frescoes on the walls and mosaics on the floor. Initially, the catacombs were two-story. The upper one was a spacious hall overlooking the surface. Lower - several mirrored rooms went underground.
• Hypogeum Trebius Justus
  In the catacombs, frescoes on religious themes and symbolic paintings are well preserved.
• Hypogeum of Vibia
  Catacombs at Villa Casali. These are 8 underground rooms, decorated with frescoes depicting Jupiter, Sabatius, Hermes, Psychopomp, animals and scenes from religious books.

Catacombs on Via Latina (Catacomba di Dino Compagni)

Catacombs of Santi Gordiano ed Epimaco, photo by sconosciuto

The catacombs were found in 1955. These are rich private burials. Perhaps both pagans and Christians were buried in them (about 400 graves). The wall paintings depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments in a new iconography.

Famous catacombs:

• Aproniano
  Excavations are still underway. A pagan and representatives of the early Christian confession were buried.
• Burials on the Via Latina
  1000 graves found in 1955. During the construction of the railway lines, many were destroyed.
• Hypogeum Cava della rossa
  Burials of wealthy families. There are several two-level galleries in the catacombs.
• Ad Decimum
  The tomb was opened in 1905. These are 5 galleries at different levels.
• Santi Gordiano ed Epimaco
  Buried people of different religions. The catacombs are multi-level.

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An amazing phenomenon peculiar to Rome is the hidden “Eternal City”, immured underground since the time of the Roman Empire. Countless buildings and basilicas of the city are built on the foundations of the palaces and temples of ancient Rome. When the buildings literally went underground, absorbed by the cultural layer and destroyed (as a result of a fire or an earthquake, or any natural disasters), new ones were built on top without destroying them. This is partly why today we have so many examples of urban architecture and painting of the first centuries of civilization and Christianity, hidden, as if carefully covered from bad weather and strong winds, by newer buildings.

The queen of roads, the ancient Appian Way, is called the longest museum in the world because of the many ancient buildings and burials that line it. Here you can visit one of the most famous and significant catacombs of Rome - the catacombs of St. Sebastian and St. Callistus. We recommend starting with a visit to the catacombs of St. Callisto, which can be reached from the metro station Circo Massimo (metro B) or Piramide by bus 118 directly to the Catacombe S.Callisto stop. The catacombs of St. Sebastian, like many other attractions, are within walking distance of the catacombs of St. Callistus. It is very easy to navigate here, as there are signs everywhere along the ancient Roman road. And if you don’t want to leave the center of Rome, then not far from the Colosseum, discover the dungeon of the Basilica of St. Clement. Let's talk about all this in more detail.

APPIA ROAD (VIA APPIA ANTICA)

It was the most significant of the public roads of Ancient Rome. Laid back in 312 BC. Appius Claudius Caeca, she led from Rome to Capua, and later to Brindisi (a city in the Apulia region). The first section of the road - to Capua, 195 km long - was built for military purposes, to help the Romans against the Samnites. The builders leveled the elevated places and filled in the ravines and depressions so that the Roman legionnaires could move freely and quickly. Later, the Appian Way became the most important thoroughfare for the trade in goods and slaves from the east. In 71 BC, after the suppression of the Spartacus rebellion, more than 6,000 captive slaves were crucified along the Appian Way from Capua to Rome. Monumental tombs and magnificent monuments were erected on its sides, the decoration of which became a matter of prestige. Roman law forbade burials within the city, so land adjacent to major roads leading from Rome was used for burials.

Today, there are many interesting monuments along the Appian Way: tombs and villas of the republican and imperial period, Christian and Jewish catacombs, medieval towers and fortifications, often built on ancient ruins, Renaissance and Baroque buildings. Until now, the Appian Way is paved with ancient massive stones, on which you can walk. The most famous catacombs along the Appian Way are the catacombs of St. Callistus, St. Sebastian and St. Domitilla. Rome is surrounded by a fortress wall, which is still very well preserved to this day, erected in 271-275 under the emperor Aurelian.

CHURCH “QUO VADIS?”

In the building of the gates of St. Sebastian, from where the most remarkable part of the Appian Way begins, the Museum of the Aurelian Walls now operates. Not far from the gates of St. Sebastian is the church "What are you looking at?" (“Quo Vadis?”, Via Appia Antica, 51). According to legend, it was at this place that the Apostle Peter, fleeing the wrath of Nero, met Jesus Christ and asked him: “Lord, where are you going?”, to which Jesus replied: “I am going to Rome to be crucified a second time!” . Ashamed of his flight, Peter returned to Rome to worthily accept martyrdom. A church was built at the place where they met.

CATACOMBS OF SAINT CALLIST (CATACOMBE DI SAN CALLISTO)

www.catacombe.roma.it , Via Appia Antica 110/126, adult/reduced €8/€5, Mon-Sun 9.00-12.00 and 14.00-17.00. Closed on 25 Dec, 1 Jan and 1 Sunday of Easter.

The catacombs of St. Callistus are one of the most famous historical and religious monuments in Rome. Among all the underground cemeteries, these catacombs of Rome are the most visited. Tunnels and galleries, located on four levels, are an intricate labyrinth. There are countless sarcophagi, crypts, cubes decorated with epitaphs and carvings, fragments of ancient oil lamps and vases.

The history of the catacombs of St. Callistus goes back almost 2000 years. Unusual underground caves are believed to have served as the site of private Christian burials. The arrangement and expansion of the catacombs was carried out at the end of the 2nd century by the deacon Kallistos, who was later proclaimed the pope. In honor of him, these underground labyrinths were named, where it became a tradition to bury the first Christians. Over 50 martyrs and 16 popes have been buried here throughout history, making it one of the most important Christian cemeteries. The catacombs were discovered by the Italian archaeologist Giovanni Battista in 1854, who called them "the little Vatican - the central monument of all Christian cemeteries."

The dimensions of the catacombs of St. Callistus are impressive - the tunnel complex extends for almost 19 kilometers and consists of 4 levels. The deepest of them lies at a depth of almost 20 meters. From the interior, the Crypt of the Popes and the crypt of St. Cecilia, the patroness of sacred music, are especially noteworthy. On the walls of the galleries, visitors can see ancient frescoes, sculptures and other valuable artifacts.

CATACOMBS OF SAINT SEBASTIAN (CATACOMBE DI SAN SEBASTIANO)

www.catacombe.org , Via Appia Antica 136, adult/reduced €8/€5, Mon-Sun 10.00-17.00 (last entry until 16.30). Closed Dec 25, Jan 1

The other main catacombs of Rome are the catacombs of St. Sebastian. When exactly they were built, historians find it difficult to say. The only thing that is known for sure is that they appeared much earlier than the basilica of the same name. The underground galleries were used as a cemetery for Christians, and also as a place for secret religious meetings during the worst times of the persecution of Christianity.

The graceful basilica, built in the 4th century, is officially called "San Sebastiano fuori le mura", which means "San Sebastiano outside the walls." This means that the church was built outside the city. The basilica is dedicated to one of the most revered martyrs in the Catholic religion - Saint Sebastian, who lived in the 3rd century AD. The temple was originally known as the Basilica of the Apostles. According to the legend, the relics of the apostles Peter and Paul were located at this place, which were later transferred to other churches. The ashes of St. Sebastian are still kept here, inside the basilica.

The catacombs of St. Sebastian have always been the most accessible of the many underground cemeteries in the Eternal City. For this reason, they have survived a little worse than the rest. And yet, visitors will be able to see underground tunnels with a total length of about 11 kilometers. The walls of the catacombs are decorated with ancient mosaics, graffiti, and wall paintings. Well-preserved frescoes of Christian themes: Oranta (praying Mother of God), Jesus in the manger, Moses, a cycle of frescoes about the prophet Jonah. Also in the tunnels of the catacombs are old Christian crypts and sarcophagi. In one of the galleries there is a small underground altar, which was used during worship.

One of the chapels of the Basilica of St. Sebastian deserves special attention - this is a chapel with holy relics. The arrow that struck the saint and part of the column to which he was tied during the torture are kept here. The basilica also houses a bust of the martyr, allegedly sculpted by the famous Italian Renaissance artist Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini. The Basilica of St. Sebastian is one of the seven churches in Rome that all Catholic pilgrims must visit.

BASILICA DI SAN CLEMENTE

www.basilicasanclemente.com , Via Labicana 95, adult/reduced €5/€3.50, Mon-Sat 09.00-12.30 and 15.00-18.00, last entry at 12.10 and 17.40), Sun and public holidays 12.00-18.00, last entry at 17.40). Closed on 25 Dec, 1 Jan and 1 Sunday of Easter. Photo and video shooting is prohibited.

Ten minutes walk from the Colosseum, on Via Labicana, is the ancient Basilica of St. Clement (Basilica di San Clemente). Modest on the outside, it's a real treasure on the inside, a puff pastry of eras and styles. The building was built on the site of two even more ancient temples, early Christian (IV century) and pagan (III century). The earliest temple was erected on the ruins of houses destroyed by Nero's fire - these are two buildings of the 1st century AD.

After looking around the upper level - a medieval basilica richly decorated with Byzantine apsidal mosaics of the 12th century - you go down the stone stairs to a damp dark dungeon, where you can see amazing frescoes of the first Christians and listen to the sound of underground rivers. A building built on the ruins of a conflagration in the 1st century BC. AD, presumably belonged to the consul Titus Flavius ​​Clement, a relative of the ruling imperial dynasty of the Flavians. Tradition claims that Clement (not to be confused with St. Clement) was the first Christian senator and martyr - the emperor Domitian executed him for his sympathy for Christian rites. According to one version, Christian services could be held in the private house of the consul, which were run by St. Clement, the Roman bishop and one of the first popes after the Apostle Peter.

At the lowest level of the basilica is the mitre - the sanctuary of the god Mithras. Here you will see a unique altar depicting a pagan deity piercing a bull with a dagger.

Catacombs of Rome - ancient underground labyrinths-necropolises in which pagans and early Christians buried their dead.The cities of the dead can tell a lot to the living, because they have practically not experienced outside influences for centuries, while the city of the living (Rome) has been repeatedly rebuilt and changed its appearance.

There are more than 60 catacombs in the vicinity of Rome, but this article will focus onlongest and most important– those that are located on the Appian Way built back in the pre-Christian era. The catacombs will introduce you to the early morning(II-V centuries AD) and will be transferred to the time of the first popes, starting with the Apostle Peter, when this religion was just beginning to win hearts and minds and acquired its own artistic language.

1. What you can see in the catacombs / Why you should visit the catacombs of Rome

Rectangular niches (loculi) where the remains of most of the deceased were kept

When in the 5th century BC, back in the pre-Christian era, a ban was introduced on burials within the boundaries of Rome, arose the tradition of burying the dead outside the city. The Roman nobility built magnificent tombs for themselves - mausoleums and columbariums (repositories of urns with ashes), which can still be seen today, for example, along.

The rest, who could not afford yourself a separate tomb on the surface of the earth, got the underworld. There is a hypothesis that caves and tunnels of quarries were used for burials, in which soft tuff stone (travertine) was mined. Roman buildings such as the Colosseum were built from it. It is symbolic, isn't it, that this stone pursued the Romans both during life and after death.

Starting from the 2nd century AD, the first Christians began to bury their dead, including martyrs and saints who were persecuted and executed by order of pagan emperors, in the catacombs. So whole underground cities grew up near Rome - necropolises, where both Christians and pagans found eternal rest, only about 500,000 people.

In the corridors of the catacombs, along the walls of branched and narrow tunnels, hollowed out rectangular niches in several rows (loculi - literally "places") where the remains of the majority of the deceased (both pagans and Christians) were kept. The remains of saints and martyrs were honored with a separate tomb with a hole at the top and a low, blind arch, usually decorated with frescoes and Christian symbols.

Arcosolium - a low blind arch in the wall, under which the remains of the deceased, most often saints and martyrs, were placed in the tomb, and the tombstone was used as an altar during the celebration of the liturgy

A visit to the catacombs will allow you to touch origins of modern Christian Rome and, the center of the Catholic world, and learn more about the history of Christianity. In the catacombs, the first services were performed on the tombs of the martyrs (hence the origin of the Christian tradition of celebrating the liturgy on the relics of saints), and the walls and ceilings of the tunnels were decorated with frescoes.

I pagan and secular drawings are side by side with frescoes illustrating scenes from the Bible and drawings with characteristic early Christian symbols -fish, lamb, dove with an olive branch in its beak, anchor, chrysms (a monogram of the name of Christ, which consists of two initial Greek letters chi and ro). So in the catacombscan see one of the first evidence of artistic understanding of the image of Jesus Christ and the entire Christian doctrine.

Cubicles (literally "peace") are small chambers located on the sides of the main passages. The cubicles housed the burials of several people, often they served as family crypts.

The first Christians were persecuted by the Roman state as offenders to majesty (majestatis rei), apostates from state deities (sacrilegi), followers of magic prohibited by law (magi, malefici), confessors of a religion prohibited by law. However, for Christians, and this is at odds with popular belief, the catacombs did not serve as a refuge during the persecution, at least for a long time, since there was very little space and air in the tunnels underground. The Roman authorities knew about the existence of burial places, but did not touch them, because these areas, regardless of the religious beliefs of the dead, were considered protected and inviolable.

In any case, the catacombs were used by early Christians not only for burials (many Christians wished to be buried next to the martyrs and saints), but also for worship and prayers at a time when Christianity was under the ban of pagan emperors.

In the 5th century, burials in the catacombs ceased, but since that period they have become popular with pilgrims who wanted to pray at the graves of Christian martyrs and saints.

2. Catacombs of Rome on the Appian Way

Appian Way (Via Appia Antica)- one of the 7 main roads that connected the capital of the empire with the seaport of Brundisium (modern Brindisi), located on the "heel" of the Apennine "boot". Today uhthat road will lead you to a unique park where there are practically no tourists, but very crowded on weekends - the Romans themselves like to relax here: have picnics, play ball or just lie in the sun.By the way, scenes for films such as Mama Roma, The Great Beauty and the TV series Rome were filmed in the park.

Along the Appian Way there are mausoleums and columbariums of the Roman nobility, as well as largest catacombs of Rome with unique frescoes and drawings on the walls and ceilings. The most interesting and large-scalecatacombs open to the public on the Appian Way: the catacombs of St. Callisto (San Callisto), the catacombs of St. Sebastian (San Sebastiano), the catacombs of St. Domitilla (Santa Domitilla). A visit to the catacombs is carried out as part of organized groups. The guide, as a rule, is a priest or a monk who knows history well and understands the symbolism of these underground early Christian necropolises.

The catacombs of St. Callistus, the catacombs of St. Domitilla and the catacombs of St. Sebastian are close to each other, so it is possible to visit them all at once. Plan your day carefully, using information about the opening hours of the catacombs, if you want to visit all three attractions in one trip.

How to get to the catacombs on the Appian Way by public transport?

ROMA ATAC bus:

• No. 660 from the metro station "Colli Albani" (red line A)
• No. 118 from Colosseo metro station or Circo Massimo metro station (blue line B)
• No. 218 from San Giovanni metro station (red line A)

3. Catacombs of St. Callistus (San Callisto)

Catacombs of San Callisto- the most popular among tourists (and therefore the busiest), but also of the greatest interest. They are also considered the oldest and longest (over 20 km, 4 levels, going 20 meters deep into the earth). Here were the remains of 16 popes, as well as more than 50 Christian martyrs. These catacombs got their name in honor of the deacon and later Pope Callistus, who in the 3rd century AD. significantly expanded and improved them.

The underground necropolis includes several significant areas, consisting of crypts and cubes. Crypt of Popes- the most important and revered crypt of the cemetery, called the "little Vatican", because here was the official burial place of nine popes and, possibly, eight dignitaries of the Roman Church of the 3rd century.

IN Crypt of Saint Cecilia, the patroness of church music, who died a martyr's death, her remains were kept for several centuries, until in 821 they were transferred to the church in Trastevere, built in her honor.

Statue of St. Cecilia - a copy of the famous work made by Stefano Maderno in 1599

Near the crypt of popes are sacrament cubes– 5 small rooms that serve as family crypts. They are valuable for their frescoes from the beginning of the 3rd century, which depict early Christian symbols and scenes of the sacrament of Baptism and the Eucharist.

Mystery Cubicles

The address: Via Appia Antica 110/126

Working hours: 9.00 - 12.00, 14.00 - 17.00. Closed Wednesday, December 25, January 1, Easter Sunday. Catacombs of San Callisto will be closed from January 25 to February 21, 2018.

Price: adults - 8 €, children from 7 to 15 years old - 5 €, free for children under 6 years old. The price includes a guided visit.

4. Catacombs of St. Sebastian

These catacombs are named after Saint Sebastian,a Roman legionnaire who professed Christianity and was martyred. The Romans did not use the word "catacombs" in the modern sense, their cemeteries and burials were called "cemeterium" (tomb). Tomb of Saint Sebastian was in a place called ad catacumbas, which means "next to the depressions (pits)" - because of the tuff (travertine) mines, which was used to build Roman buildings. Since then, the custom has gone to call underground burials catacombs.

At the entrance to the catacombs, a room called triclia has been preserved. Many scientists believe that it was here that the remains of the apostles Peter and Paul were temporarily housed (you can learn more about them on our quest), as evidenced by symbols and inscriptionsdedicated to the most revered saints in Catholicism. Also in these catacombs is the crypt of St. Sebastian, where his relics were kept before being transferred to the church. The crypt has been restored, on a part of the ancient column there is a bust of St. Sebastian by Bernini.

The address: Via Appia Antica, 136

Working hours: 10:00 – 17:00. Closed on Sundays, December 25th and January 1st.

Price: adults - 8 €, children from 7 to 15 years old - 5 euros, free for children under 6 years old. The price includes a guided visit.

5. Catacombs of Saint Domitilla

The catacombs of Saint Domitilla are among the largest in Rome and are quite well preserved. Their length is 17 km, they have 4 levels and 150,000 graves., dating back to the II-V centuries AD. The catacombs are located under the Roman basilica of Saints Nereus and Achilles, on the site of the family burial place of the Flavians (the Roman imperial dynasty, under which the construction of the Colosseum, also called the Flavian amphitheater, began).

The capital of Italy is full of mysteries. One of these are the catacombs of Rome, which are underground labyrinths. Since the 1st century, the deceased saints have been buried in them. Underground passages attract tourists with mystery, design and the opportunity to touch the history of the popular city.

History

The first Christians were buried in tuff catacombs, as they considered this burial option the most worthy. So almost 750,000 people were buried in Rome. But in the 5th century, burials lost their significance and were discontinued. Pope Melchiad was the last to have his remains buried in underground labyrinths.

For some time, these places attracted pilgrims who wanted to pray at the graves of the martyrs, but due to the fact that the relics of the saints were gradually removed, the interest faded more and more. In the 16th century, professor-theologist Onufriy Panvinio was the first to study the tombs, his research was continued by Antonio Bosio.

Full-scale research work in the underground began in the 19th century. They are managed by a specially created Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archeology.

The catacombs of Rome are divided into:

• Christian;
• syncretic;
• Jewish

In total, there are more than 60 known tombs, with a total length of about 160 km. A significant part of them passes under the Appian Way.

Christian catacombs

The Roman catacombs, created for the first Christians, are considered the oldest. There are a lot of them, but only 5 are open for tourists, which are mentioned below. The visit is conducted with a guide as part of a full-fledged excursion tour. The rest of the labyrinths are not equipped with electric lighting and are dangerous, so entry into them is possible only with the permission of the Pontifical Commission.

The burial places are named after the martyr who lived in the early Christian years. It is noteworthy that initially these were pagan tombs, which eventually became Christian. The transition of religion is visible in the images, where pagan and Christian subjects are intertwined.

It is believed that in the 3rd century, the apostles Paul and Peter rested in the catacombs of Rome. Of the memos about this, only the inscription has survived: "Saints Peter and Paul rested here." In the 4th century, the eponymous temple of San Sebastiano Fuori le Mura was built over the graves, where the relics of Sebastian were transferred.

The address: via Appia Antica 136.

Working hours: daily, from 10:00 to 16:30 , except Sunday.

Price: 5 euros for children and beneficiaries, 8 euros for adults.

Official site

These burials are the oldest. Previously, this territory was owned by Aquilius Glabrius, to whose family Priscilla belonged. It is believed that she was executed for her loyalty to Christianity. In the catacombs of Priscilla, a chapel was erected with Greek inscriptions and drawings depicting the heroes of the Bible. The most significant drawing is the Virgin Mary with a child.

The address: via Salaria, 430.

Working hours: every day, from 09.00 to 17.00, except Monday.

Price: 8 euros for a full ticket and 5 euros for a reduced one.

Official site

The dungeon is named after the granddaughter of the Roman emperor Vespasian - Domitilla, who was martyred for her faith in Christ. So many people were buried here that the niches for the bodies are arranged in four floors, each of which is at least 5 meters high.

The tomb is interesting in design. On its walls there are paintings with a unique image of Jesus Christ, as well as early Christian symbols with certain meanings. This dungeon is a real art that opens the door to the ancient world.

The address: Via delle Sette Chiese, 282.

Schedule: daily, from 9.00 to 17.00, except Tuesday.

Price: adult ticket - 8 euros, reduced ticket - 5 euros.

Official site

Agnes of Rome, after whom the tomb is named, was canonized for her unwavering faith. There are no traditional Christian drawings on the walls, but there are epitaphs in several galleries.

Above the labyrinth, in 342, the Basilica of Sant'Agnese Fuori le Mura was erected, where the relics of St. Agnes have since rested. Constance insisted on this - the daughter of Emperor Constantine the Great.

The address: via Nomentana 349.

Working hours: 9.00-15.30.

Price: 8 euros - full ticket, 5 euros - for beneficiaries and children.

Official site

This underground complex is the largest in Rome. Its length is more than 20 km, and in the galleries there are 170,000 graves on four floors. The burial places are named after the Roman clergyman Callistus, who during his lifetime organized the funeral of Christians.

The labyrinths have not yet been fully explored, so tourists can visit only part of them. Among the galleries, there are three main crypts where the skeletons rest:

1. Cave of the Popes, named after the 6 popes whose relics are kept within its walls. Many saints are buried here.
2. The crypt of the holy sacraments, where there is enough space for the burial of the whole family. The room is decorated with frescoes depicting the sacrament of baptism, the rite of the future resurrection and communion.
3. Crypt of St. Cecilia, which is the burial place of Cecilia of Rome - a martyr who canonized saints. She led almost 400 Romans to God and was faithful to her faith until her last breath.

Each gallery is amazing in its own way and decorated in a unique style. According to drawings and inscriptions, historians and scientists study real events, legends, and the culture of Christianity.

The address: via Appia Antica 110/126.

Schedule: 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., every day except Wednesday.

Price: adult ticket - 8 euros, preferential - 5 euros, children under 6 years old admission is free.

Official site

Jewish catacombs

Archaeologists know the Jewish catacombs under Villa Torlonia and Vigna Randanini. They were discovered in 1859, but the entrance was walled up until the end of the 20th century. Only then they were restored and allowed to visit. Scientists have determined the age of the burials - approximately 50 BC.

The architecture of the Jewish and Christian catacombs is almost the same. The only difference is that the Jewish tombs were first created in the form of separate crypts, and only later connected by special passages.

The design is striking in its beauty and majesty, the drawings depict various animals, birds, symbols and figures. Only images of episodes from the Old Testament are missing, which is also a distinctive feature of these dungeons.

Syncretic catacombs

The mystery of the Roman catacombs lies in the questions of who and when exactly created them. For example, syncretic burials were made under temples, but their design combines the motifs of Christianity, as well as Greek and Roman philosophy. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately determine the year of their formation.

The most famous syncretic catacombs is the underground church discovered near Termini Station in 1917. Its depth is 12 meters, and stucco molding with images of mythological characters flaunts on the walls.

How to get there?

The main question that worries tourists is: "How to get to the Roman tombs?". Underground labyrinths are located in different parts of the city, so there is no definite answer to it. To build a route, you need to choose a specific excursion. Most of the catacombs have official websites where you can see the directions.

For example, the most visited catacombs of Priscilla are located near the Villa Ada park. Buses No. 92 and 86 run in this direction, the desired stop is called Piazza Crati.