Catacombs of St.Callixtus Guided Tour

Discover the eerie religious history of Rome by taking a guided tour of the Catacombs of St. Callixtus. As one of the most important catacombs in Rome, it marks the final resting place of early popes and Christian martyrs who were persecuted for practicing their faith.

With this guided tour, you’ll take a 40-minute journey through the intriguing sections of the catacombs, where the remains of half a million Christians were entombed. You’ll learn how early Christians buried their dead during times of persecution and hear stories about the ancient popes who were entombed in the catacombs. The tour guide will also share stories about the martyrs who lost their lives for their faith, providing a comprehensive and insightful experience of Rome’s religious history.

As you walk through the ancient crypts, you’ll come across mysterious symbols etched into the stone, each with their own unique meaning. You’ll also be able to explore the enormous 3rd-century catacombs, giving you a deeper understanding of the subterranean story of the Eternal City.

About Catacombs of St.Callixtus

About one and a half Kilometres along the Appian Way are the Catacombs of St. Calixtus. Like many others in Rome and its surroundings, these Catacombs were a place of refuge for the early Christians.

The rise of Christianity was not uncontested; on the contrary, it was opposed because it was considered a force hostile to the state, damaging to the institutions and to the very security of the empire. This is understandable when one considers that a religious movement of this kind, which preached the equality of all and respect for the human personality, must certainly have been inconvenient to the rulers and men in the government. It must not be forgotten that in Roman society, as in all the preceding civilizations, slavery was practiced, and that in any case, neither servants nor foreigners enjoyed the same rights as Roman citizens.

For this reason, all followers of the new religion, in its early years and for some centuries after, had to hide, practicing their rites in secret and meeting in secret. This was the origin of the catacombs, a series of corridors, warrens, rooms, and underground sepulchers, which for centuries were the refuge of the Christians as well as their early, marvelous church. Indeed, with the years, underneath the pagan Rome, monumental, solemn, and majestic, a second Rome gradually coming into existence a Christian Rome, poor and humble, enveloped in darkness and mysticism. These two cities, one above the other, swarmed with life, but in each of them, there was a completely different life and civilization.

The Catacombs of St. Calixtus are undoubtedly the most important at Rome; they are called after the Deacon Calixtus, who enlarged the labyrinth of galleries and crypts already in existence, making them the abode and cemetery of the Christians and Popes of the time.

Without listing in detail the remains to be found here, it need only be said that most of the tombs are those of 3rd-century popes and that there are crypts of great artistic value owing to the ancient frescoes which are still in excellent condition.

Getting There

Getting to the Catacombs of St. Callixtus is easy. From Termini Station, take the Metro A (direction Anagnina) to San Giovanni, then bus 218 (direction Ardeatina) to stop Fosse Ardeatine. You’ll find the entrance to the catacombs in front of you. Alternatively, take the Metro B (direction Laurentina) to Colosseo or Circo Massimo (bus stop: Terme Caracalla/Porta Capena), then bus 118 (direction Appia/Villa Dei Quintili) to the stop Catacombe di San Callisto (Via Appia, 110).

Don’t miss the opportunity to delve into the religious history of Rome by booking a guided tour of the Catacombs of St. Callixtus. Experience the intriguing stories and symbols of this ancient underground burial site firsthand, providing you with a deeper appreciation of Rome’s rich religious heritage.