In Rome we count more than 60 catacombs and each of them hides something unique and lots of incredible stories. What are the best catacombs in Rome to see, and can you visit them?
Here’s some useful info.
What are the Catacombs of Rome?
The catacombs are simply underground cemeteries.
The name Catacombs comes from the words ad catacumbas, which in Ancient Greek means “in the quarry”.
This name comes from the catacombs of San Sebastian on the Appian Way, where an underground cemetery was dug right next to a quarry of tufa stone. People started to refer to it as the cemetery “by the quarry”, and since the word “catacombs” refers to underground cemeteries.
Which are the best Catacombs to visit in Rome?
With over 60 catacombs in Rome, choosing where to go can be challenging. All the catacombs are located outside of the ancient Roman city walls (the Aurelian walls).
This means you won’t find catacombs in the very city center today, but you’ll have to move in less central areas of the city.
These are our favorite catacombs in Rome that we suggest visiting.
Catacombs of San Sebastiano
As mentioned above, the Catacombs of San Sebastiano are the first catacombs of Rome. This is where the word “catacomb” originated from, and then used to refer to all the underground cemeteries.
The Catacombs of San Sebastiano are located on the Appian Way, in the east suburb of Rome. It features 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) of galleries and more than 100000 burials.
The reason we love these catacombs are the three ancient Roman mausoleums you get to see during the itinerary. Those were three collective tombs that were discovered only in the 1920s. The decorations are unbelievable and you are going to struggle to believe they are 2000 years old and that they were never restored since their discovery!
That’s why we chose to include the Catacombs of San Sebastian during our Rome Oldest Catacombs tour with Best of the Appian Way, where we also visit the Appian Way, the first road the Romans made!
Catacombs of Saints Marcellino and Pietro
These catacombs are among the less known but more spectacular catacombs of Rome. What makes these catacombs really worth visiting is the fact that they are the richest in frescoes. You will discover some very intense decorations that the ancient people left for their dear ones.
They are located on the via Casilina, where most tourists don’t venture to. You can easily reach these catacombs with a 20 minute tram ride from Termini station. Advance booking is required.
Catacombs of Domitilla
The Catacombs of Domitilla are located on the Via Ardeatina, near the Appian Way. These are one of the longest network of corridors among the Catacombs of Rome.
These catacombs feature more than 17 kilometers of galleries, across 4 different levels underground. With an estimate of over 15000 bodies.
During the guided visit you will be able to explore the second level (counting from overground).
The highlights of this catacomb is the underground basilica dedicated to Achille and Nereo, (two of the first Christian martyrs), and the fascinating frescoes that include a lot of the Christian symbolism, still visible in such vibrant colors.
To visit this catacomb you need to pay an entry ticket. That includes the guided tour by the internal guide to the site, which you can purchase directly on site.
Catacombs of San Callisto
The catacombs of San Callisto are the biggest catacombs of Rome. Over half a million Christians were buried here, including 16 popes and several martyrs!
These catacombs feature a network of galleries of about 20 kilometers located across many floors.
The most important highlight is the Crypt of the Popes. Which is also the most sacred place of the Catacombs of San Callisto.
Another highlight is the crypt of Saint Cecilia. This is where the body of the patron saint of music was located, before Pope Pasquale I moved it to the church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere.
We visit this church and Cecilia’s crypt in Trastevere during our best-selling tour “Hidden Gems of Trastevere, Tiber Island & Jewish district“.
The Catacombs of San Callisto are located on the Appian Way.
Want to discover more of Rome underground?
Take a look at our small-group underground tours. On these tours you discover the hidden layers of Rome beneath famous sights, always in intimate groups of no more than 12 people.
Our tours are not packed, not rushed, and not stuck in tourist spots — because this is how we’d show Rome to a close friend. You can learn more about how our Rome tours work, the best Rome tours or browse all our small-group walking tours to see the experiences currently available.
