Catacombs of St. Callixtus

thelittleowl (Atlas Obscura User)

The catacombs of St. Callixtus are among the greatest and most important of Rome. They originated about the middle of the second century and are part of a cemeterial complex which occupies an area of 90 acres, with a network of galleries about 12 miles long, in four levels, more than twenty meters deep. In it were buried tens of martyrs, 16 popes and very many Christians. They are named after the deacon Callixtus who, at the beginning of the third century, was appointed by pope Zephyrinus as the administrator of the cemetery and so the catacombs of St. Callixtus became the official cemetery of the Church of Rome.

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. The underground cemetery includes several areas. The area of the Popes is the most important and venerated crypt of the cemetery, called “the little Vatican” as it was the official burial place of nine popes and, probably, of eight dignitaries of Rome’s 3rd century Church.

In the walls you can still see the original inscriptions, in Greek, of five popes. On four tombstones, near the name of the pope, there is the title of “bishop”, since the Pope was regarded as the head of the Church of Rome, and on two of them there is the Greek abbreviation of MPT for “Martyr”.

The Crypt of St. Cecilia: the popular patron saint of music. Of a noble Roman family, she was martyred in the 3rd c. and entombed where the statue now lies. She was venerated in this crypt for at least five centuries. In 821 her relics were transferred to Trastevere, in the basilica dedicated to her. The statue of St. Cecilia is a copy of the celebrated work sculptured by Stefano Maderno in 1599. The crypt was all covered with mosaics and paintings (beginning of the IX Century).

On the wall, near the statue, we see an ancient painting of St. Cecilia in an attitude of prayer; lower down, in a small niche, is a fresco representing Christ holding a Gospel. On the right side is the figure of St.Urban. On the wall of the shaft is the painting of three martyrs: Polycamus, Sebastian and Quirinus. Passing through imposing galleries full of loculi, we reach five small chambers, truly family tombs, commonly known as the cubicles of the Sacraments, and particularly important for their frescoes.

The frescoes can be dated to the beginning of the III century and represent symbolically the sacraments of Baptism and of the Eucharist. We find depicted also the prophet Jona, a symbol of the resurrection.

Know Before You Go

How to arrive:

Facing the Old Appian Way (Via Appia Antica) from Porta S. Sebastiano, the Catacombs of St. Callisto are near the small church “Quo Vadis?” on one side and the Basilica of St. Sebastian on the other.

By public transport:

From Stazione Termini

takeMetro A (Anagnina) or bus 714 (Palazzo Sport) to the stop at St. John Lateran Square (Piazza di S. Giovanni in Laterano), then bus 218 and stop at Fosse Ardeatine.
The entrance to the Catacombs is opposite (n.2 on the map).
take Metro B (Laurentina) to the stop Circo Massimo. Then bus 118 (Lagonegro) and stop at Catacombe di San Callisto (after Quo Vadis? - church, entrance n.4 on the map).
From Piramide di Caio Cestio(Tube Piramide Metro B / Railway Station Ostiense) take bus 118 (Lagonegro) on to the Catacombs of St. Callisto (after Quo Vadis? - church, entrance n.4 on the map).

By coach or chartered bus:

The access to the private parking area is only possible by the entrance in front of the Quo Vadis? - church (n.1 on the map), coming from Porta S.Sebastiano. Therefor you are advised to ride:
from Via Cristoforo Colombo to the end (Porta Ardeatina, Mura Latin), then turn right as far as Porta S.Sebastiano, where Via Appia Antica starts, on the right.
Or, from the centre to Viale delle Mura Latine as far as Porta S.Sebastiano and there, at the traffic lights, turn left to Via Appia Antica.
The parking area inside is large, located at about 1000 m near the entrance to the Catacombs.
There is also a small public parking area near the Fosse Ardeatine, beside the entrance n.2. To this parking you can arrive from Via Cristoforo Colombo through Piazza dei Navigatori and Via delle Sette Chiese, going on until the crossroads of Via Ardeatina. The parking area is opposite to entrance n.2.

From outside Rome:

On coming by coach or with your car from the Great Ring Road (Grande Raccordo Anulare) you can take:

Exit 24 (uscita 24, „Roma centro – Fosse Ardeatine“), along the Via Ardeatina to the Fosse Ardeatine, and there use the public parking opposite the Catacombs or - for cars only - continue the Via Ardeatina to Quo Vadis? and then take entrance n.1.
For coaches it is advisable to go on Via delle Sette Chiese as far as Piazza dei Navigatori, Via Cristoforo Colombo and then, as shown above, at Porta S.Sebastiano, take Via Appia Antica.

Exit 27 (“Via Cristoforo Colombo”): go on the Via Cristoforo Colombo (direction “centro”) as far as Porta Ardeatina, and then as shown above.

Important: The access to Via Appia Antica is usually forbidden to coaches and private cars on holidays. Nevertheless it is allowed when you explain to the policemen that you are going to the Catacombs of S. Callixtus (which are considered as museum), and that there is a parking place inside.