On the Appian Way, the Catacombs of San Callisto take you below ground into one of Rome’s largest early Christian burial networks. A guided tour, available in several languages, leads through long corridors and past ancient frescoes, the Crypt of the Popes, the Crypt of St. Cecilia and the Cubicula of the Sacraments. Founded in the late 2nd century, the cemetery holds a significant place in the history of the early Roman Church. Above ground, gardens and orange trees offer a quiet place to wait for your tour.
A cemetery of the early Roman Church
The catacombs were founded at the end of the 2nd century and became the official cemetery of the newly established Roman Church. They take their name from Pope Calixtus I, who was born in 217 and died in 222.
Archaeologists have explored about 20 kilometres of tunnels. The network contains the tombs of 16 popes, along with those of martyrs and many other Christians. The scale of the burial grounds gives a sense of how extensive the early Christian community in Rome was.
What you see underground
Guided tours lead through the corridors and introduce the catacombs’ burial spaces and early Christian art. The Crypt of the Popes and the Crypt of St. Cecilia are key stops, along with the Cubicula of the Sacraments and arcosolia. Ancient frescoes remain on the walls, giving the underground visit a solemn character.
Tours last about 45 minutes and are available in English and other languages. Photography is restricted inside, so take time for pictures in the gardens above ground instead.
The Appian Way setting
San Callisto lies along the Appian Way, a stretch of parkland with other ancient monuments, including the Catacombs of San Sebastiano. The site’s gardens and orange trees provide a green, peaceful setting above ground.
Two apsed funerary buildings, the eastern and western trichora, are visible above ground. Bus 118 and Bus 218 are public transport options for reaching the catacombs.
FAQ
How long does a tour of the Catacombs of San Callisto take?
Tours last about 45 minutes.
Can you take photographs inside the catacombs?
Photography is restricted underground. You can take photos in the gardens outside.
How do you get to the Catacombs of San Callisto?
Bus 118 and Bus 218 are public transport options for reaching the site on the Appian Way.
What can you see at the Catacombs of San Callisto?
The tour includes ancient corridors and frescoes, the Crypt of the Popes, the Crypt of St. Cecilia and the Cubicula of the Sacraments.
