Case Romane del Celio – the underground of the Basilica of St John and St Paul
Discover the catacombs from the 3rd century AD and the Middle Ages
Highlights
Gallery
What awaits you on site
A fascinating insight into antiquity: an underground section of a residential building from the 3rd century AD
The archaeological complex of the Roman houses of Caelian, under the Basilica of Saints John and Paul in Rome, is a historically fascinating place. According to tradition, this is where the saints were buried after their martyrdom. The area, which was discovered in 1887 by Father Germano of St Stanislaus, the rector of the basilica, consists of more than 20 underground rooms on different levels, some of which are painted with frescoes from the third century AD and the Middle Ages.
Admire the original decoration from the Roman Empire
The exceptional state of preservation of the rooms decorated with frescoes, the high artistic value and the religious interest make the Roman houses of Celio a fundamental stage in the exploration of ancient Rome. The spacious interiors, originally shops and storerooms of a multi-storey residential building (insula), were transformed into an elegant domus in the 3rd century AD. Here you can admire some of the most beautiful frescoes of late antiquity.
Visitor information
Opening hours
Monday to Sunday and holidays 10:00 am - 4:00 pm (the ticket office closes one hour earlier)
Via del Clivo di Scauro,
00184 Rome, Italy
