Rome - Catacombs of St. Callixtus

St. Cecilia tomb (Photo)

ROME

The catacombs are the ancient underground cemeteries, used by the Christian and the Jewish communities, above all at Rome. In the beginning they were only burial places. Here the Christians gathered to celebrate their funeral rites, the anniversaries of the martyrs and of the dead.  During the persecutions, in exceptional cases, the catacombs were used as places of momentary refuge for the celebration of the Eucharist. They were not used as secret hiding places of the early Christians.

The Catacombs of St. Callixtus (Catacombe di San Callisto) are among the greatest and most important of Rome located on Appian Way, after the church of "Quo Vadis?". They are the first cemetary of Rome's Christian community, and in it were buried tens of martyrs, 16 popes, and very many Christians.

The Catacombs of St. Callixtus are named after the decon Callixtus who, at the beginning of the 3rd century, was appointed by pope Zephyrinus as the administrator of the cemetery.

In the open area are two small basilicas with three apses, known as the "Trichorae". In the Easter one were perhaps laid to rest pope Zephyrinus and the young martyr of the Eucharist, St. Tarcisius. 

Entering the catacombs, you see at once the most important crypt, called "the little vaticans", as it was the official burial place of nine popes and, probably, of eight dignitaries of Rome's 3rd century Church. Some of the original marble tablets of their tombs are still preserved. The next crypt is that of St. Cecilia, the patron of sacred music. This early Christian martyr received three ax strokes on her neck, the maximum allowed by Roman law, which failed to kill her outright. Farther on, you'll find the famous Cubicula of the Sacraments with its 3rd-century frescoes.

Catacombe di San Callisto/Catacombs of St. Callixtus

Via Appia Antica, 126
00179 Rome, Italy
tel. +39/06/51301580
fax +39/06/51301567
Website: www.catacombe.roma.it

Closed on WednesdaysHours: 9.00 – 12.00 and 14.00 – 17.00
8 € full price; 5 € reduced fee (effective 01/01/2010)

Public transportation tips:

- From Roma Termini Station, take bus 714 to Piazza di S. Giovanni in Laterano (St. John Lateran Square). Then take bus 218 and get off at stop Fosse Ardeatine. The entrance to the catacombs is just opposite the bus stop.

- Bus 118 also heads here from outside the Piramide stop of Metro line B. Or you can take Bus 218 from the San Giovanni Metro stop.  

- If you're not near to Roma Termini Station, then take any train(s) to metro station San Giovanni on Metro Line A. Walk north, through the Aurelian Walls, straight up the street until you see the bus stop. Get on bus 218 and get off at Fosse Ardeatine.

-  If you are on the Metro B line or close to Piramide Metro Station, then go to the Piramide Metro station and take the bus 118. Get off at the stop Catacombe S.Callisto (about 14 stops).