With your Rome City Pass you can experience one of the first Christian cemeteries from the 3rd century, the burial place of over 500,000 Christians, including 16 popes.
About the tour:
The catacombs tour starts very centrally at Piazza Venezia in Rome. An open panoramic bus takes you comfortably to the catacombs. The catacombs were used by early Christians from the 3rd century AD. They served as a burial place and place of worship for the first Christians in Rome. An expert guide will lead you through the catacombs, which were carved directly into the rock.
This tour takes you to some of the most unusual, mysterious and unusual places that the Eternal City has to offer. Discover the catacombs, which offer an extraordinary insight into the history of Rome. Your expert guide will tell you how this extensive network of underground passages, dating back almost 2,000 years to the 2nd century AD, once served as a burial ground and place of worship for the first Christians in Rome.
This is one of the largest and most important underground cemeteries in Rome. It was used as official cemetery of the Church of Rome in the 3rd century AD. It is the burial sites of approx. around five hundred thousand Christians, and in the Crypt of the Popes we find the graves of 16 popes who are buried here.
The name Callistus Catacombs comes from the deacon Callistus, who was commissioned by Pope Zephyrinus to administer the cemetery at the beginning of the third century
On Wednesdays, the excursion into Rome's underground visits the Domitilla Catacombs. The Domitilla Catacombs stretch over 17 kilometres on four levels underground. When the Christian martyrs Nereo and AChilleo were buried underground in the catacombs, a majestic chapel was built around their tombs during the pontificate of Pope Siricius (384-399), with a forecourt divided by colonnaded aisles. Another highlight is the hypogeum of Flavi. From the 3rd century onwards, the tombs were painted with biblical scenes - although the original, older painting was of a pagan nature. The Domitilla Catacomb is the only one of the publicly accessible catacombs in Rome that has an underground basilica that is open to pilgrims. This basilica was built towards the end of the fourth century under the pontificate of Pope Damasus I (366-384 AD) and is dedicated to St Petronilla, who was buried underground next to the tombs of the martyrs Nereo and Achilleo.
Daily
Thu to Tue: Callistus Catacombs Wed: Domitilla Catacombs
Summer: 9:30/10:30/13:30/14:30 (18 march 2024 - 29 October 2024)
Winter: 9:30/10:30/13:30 (2 January 2024 - 17 March 2024 and 30 October - 31 December 2024)
The tour takes about 2 hours.
Tour times are subject to change, please check on site.
Please note that there are no tours on 25 December, 1 January and Easter Sunday
Please go to one of the following ticket counters to book your ticket:
TOURISTATION VATICANO, Viale Vaticano 97
(opening hours: Monday to Saturday 8:30 - 16:00).
Closed on religious holidays
TOURISTATION NAVONA, Piazza Navona 25
(opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 17:00),
TOURISTATION PIAZZA VENEZIA, Piazza D'Ara Coeli 16, 00186 Roma
(opening hours: Monday to Sunday: April - October daily 9:00 - 17:00 November - March daily 9:00 - 15:00)
Metro: Line B to Colosseo
Meeting Point:
TOURISTATION PIAZZA VENEZIA, Piazza D'Ara Coeli 16, 00186 Roma Italy
(Next to Piazza Venezia. Facing the Vittorio Emanuele Building, keep walking on the right hand side, cross the bus stop and the gardens. There is a small fountain in front of the office.)
Meeting point:
TOURISTATION PIAZZA VENEZIA: Piazza D'Ara Coeli 16
Click here
to see on google maps
Discover the fascinating Catacombs of Callistus with your Rome City Pass >>
Free admission to world-famous sights and museums. Free airport transfer can be added. Discounts included.
incl. VAT and service fees, free shipping via e-mail
