Underground Catacombs Rome
The catacombs are subterranean pathways that have been utilized as a place of burial for a long time, dating back hundreds of years. Beginning in the second century and lasting until the fifth century, the underground Catacombs Rome was used to bury Jews, Pagans, and Early Christians in Rome.
According to the definition of the word catacomb, which literally means “next to the quarry,” it was discovered that the earliest grave excavations in Rome were carried out on the outskirts of the city, just close to the location of a quarried stone quarry.
The reason for the catacombs!
The Christians did not agree with the pagan practice of burning the remains of their dead, which is why they opted to build these large subterranean graves to alleviate the issues caused by a shortage of room and the expensive cost of land.
It is estimated that the catacombs have a staggering amount of subterranean pathways that constitute true labyrinths that are several kilometers long, with rows of rectangular niches excavated out throughout their length.
The bodies were wrapped in a sheet and put in niches, which were subsequently covered with gravestones either of marble or, more usually, baked clay, depending on the region. In the following years, the name of the deceased was carved into the cover of the book, along with a Christian symbol.
For reasons that are unclear, Roman legislation at the period forbade the burial of the dead within the city walls, which is why all of Rome’s catacombs were placed outside the city walls. These segregated and secluded spaces under the earth’s surface provided the ideal haven in which the Christians could bury their own with the use of Christian symbols without fear of being discovered.
The end of persecutions
When the Edict of Milan was signed in the year 313, the persecution of Christians came to an end, and they were free to begin erecting churches and acquiring land without fear of being confiscated. Despite this, they continued to use the catacombs as burial grounds until the 5th century.
During the barbarian conquest of Italy in the 8th century, numerous catacombs were looted on a constant basis, prompting the Popes to order that the few relics that remained be relocated to the city’s churches. Following these relocations, some catacombs were abandoned altogether and remained forgotten for hundreds of years.
Catacombs of Rome
There are more than sixty catacombs in Rome, which are made up of hundreds of kilometers of underground passages that contain thousands of graves and are connected by hundreds of kilometers of underground passageways. The public may now visit only five of them, which are as follows:
- Catacombs of San Sebastiano (Via Appia Antica, 136): Catacombs of San Sebastiano are located in the heart of the city. San Sebastiano, a soldier who became a martyr after turning to Christianity, is credited with giving the tombs their name. The catacombs are 12 kilometres in length. They are, together with those of San Callisto, the most beautiful that can be found everywhere.
- Catacombs of San Callisto (Via Appia Antica, 126): The tombs of San Callisto, with their extensive network of corridors spanning more than 20 kilometres in length, were the final resting place for 16 popes and hundreds of Christian martyrs. The store is open from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 14:00 to 17:00 p.m. on Thursdays through Tuesdays.
- Catacombs of Priscilla (Via Salaria, 430): These catacombs have several frescoes that are extremely important in the history of art, including the first portrayals of the Virgin Mary in the world. Tuesday through Sunday, the store is open from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 14:00 to 17:00 p.m.
- The Catacombs of Domitilla:It is named after the granddaughter of Vespasian, who discovered them in 1593. The Catacombs of Domitilla are located on Via delle Sette Chiese, number 280, and stretch for more than 15 miles. The store is open from Wednesday to Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 14:00 to 17:00 p.m.
Colosseum Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Tour
Our Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour is great for individuals who wish to learn about the history of Rome by visiting some of its most important historical sites. The Colosseum and the remains of the Roman Forum will be accessible without waiting in line thanks to our Skip-the-Line access.
After your tour of the Eternal City with our experienced history guide, you will have a better understanding of how Romans governed the known world. Experience our most popular Colosseum tour, which has received over 4,000 positive ratings, and save time by taking advantage of Skip-the-Line access to all three sites: the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.
Your experienced, local history guide will share his or her stories and observations that will bring ancient Rome to life in small groups of no more than 20 people. In order to ensure that you don’t miss a single word while taking in the breathtaking scenery, dedicated audio headphones are provided. Visiting Rome and these wonderful places at this time of year is the best time of year since there will be fewer crowds and increased safety measures in place.
Now is the best time to schedule and create some once-in-a-lifetime experiences. You can visit whatsinitalytours.com and book the best Colosseum Roman Forum tour, Amalfi Coast tour and Palatine Hill Tours now!
