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Appian Way Catacombs Group Tour

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Rome, IT
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Appian Way Catacombs Group Tour

1 (1)
Rome, IT
Share
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Step back in time and explore the mysterious catacombs of Rome on the thrilling Appian Way Catacombs Group Tour. Descend into the underground tunnels, spanning over 60 kilometers, and uncover the secrets of this ancient burial ground. Marvel at ancient frescoes, carved inscriptions, and niches filled with skeletal remains. As you delve deeper into the catacombs, you'll discover the final resting place of popes, martyrs, and even apostles. With an expert guide leading the way, you'll gain a unique insight into the history and significance of this sacred place. But the adventure doesn't stop there. The tour also takes you through the Appia Antica Archaeological Park, the Terme di Caracalla, Circus Maximus, and more, allowing you to experience the splendor of ancient Rome. Don't miss the chance to embark on this captivating journey into the past.

About this experience

  • Free Cancellation For a full refund cancel at least before the start of your booking
  • 2 hours - 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Suitable for 1-15 Participants
  • Small Group Tour
  • Guided Experience
  • Exclusive tour to the Catacombs on the Ancient Appian Way
  • Explore underground tunnels with ancient frescoes and crypts
  • Visit the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus and see the burial of famous people
  • Discover the well-preserved Terme di Caracalla
  • Pass by the Circus Maximus and the Palatine Hill
  • All fees and taxes
  • Assistance on site and from our office
  • Group Tour into The Catacombs max 20 people
  • Transfer by minivan
  • Professional art historian guide to visit the Catacombs
  • Food and drinks
  • Guide service during the transportation
  • Gratuities

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More about this experience

Introduction

Discover the fascinating world of the Catacombs beneath the Ancient Appian Way in Rome with the Appian Way Catacombs Group Tour. This in-depth experience takes you on a journey through time, exploring the underground tunnels that stretch over 60 kilometers and contain the burial of famous people like popes and martyrs. Immerse yourself in the rich history and mystery of the catacombs as you witness ancient frescoes, crypts, niches with remains of skeletons, and small chapels that continue to be used for religious rites even after 2000 years. Led by an expert guide, this exclusive tour offers a unique perspective on the true story of Jews and Christians who looked after and venerated their dead in this subterranean world.

What to expect?

During the Appian Way Catacombs Group Tour, you can expect a total duration of 120 to 150 minutes. The tour starts near the Colosseum, where you will be comfortably transported in an air-conditioned vehicle to the world-renowned Catacombs. You will explore the San Calisto, San Sebastiano, or Santa Domitilla catacombs, depending on the day, and have the opportunity to see ancient frescoes, crypts, niches with remains of skeletons, and small chapels. The expert guide will provide valuable insights into the history and significance of these underground tunnels, making it an unforgettable experience for both young and old.

Who is this for?

The Appian Way Catacombs Group Tour is for anyone who wants to appreciate the true story and mystery behind Rome's catacombs. This tour is suitable for history enthusiasts, art lovers, and those with a curiosity for ancient civilizations. Whether you're traveling solo, with a partner, or as a family, this tour offers a unique and educational experience for all.

Why book this?

Embark on the Appian Way Catacombs Group Tour for a truly immersive and exclusive experience. With the guidance of an expert tour guide, you will delve into the depths of the catacombs, discovering ancient frescoes, crypts, and niches that have stood the test of time. The chance to witness the burial sites of famous figures, such as popes and martyrs, adds an extra level of intrigue and reverence to this tour. Not only will you gain a deeper understanding of Rome's history, but you will also be able to appreciate the significance of these underground tunnels in the context of religious rites and practices. This tour offers a unique perspective on the city's rich heritage and is a must for anyone seeking a truly authentic and immersive experience in Rome.

Good to know

It is important to note that the catacombs visited during the tour may vary depending on the day. However, regardless of which catacombs you explore, you can expect to see ancient frescoes, crypts, niches with remains of skeletons, and small chapels. The tour duration is approximately 120 to 150 minutes, providing ample time to absorb the history and atmosphere of the catacombs. The meeting point for the tour is at Via Delle Terme di Tito 72, in front of Oppio Bar, where your driver will be waiting with a signboard displaying your name. Comfortable transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle ensures a pleasant journey to and from the Catacombs.

Reviews

Previous visitors of the Appian Way Catacombs Group Tour have praised the knowledgeable and passionate guides who provide fascinating insights into the history and significance of the catacombs. Many have expressed their awe at the well-preserved frescoes and the unique experience of exploring underground tunnels that hold the remains of important figures from history. Overall,

How long before the event do I need to book?

  • You can book at any time before the event

Vouchers accepted in the following formats

  • Mobile

Is an adult required for the booking?

  • At least one adult or senior required per booking

Your Itinerary

Rome

(Pass by)

Starting, with a small group, from our travel agency, near the Colosseum, you will be comfortably transported on an air-conditioned vehicle, in one of the most interesting and visited places in Rome, the "catacombs" on the Via Appia Antica. Definitely an exclusive tour, accompanied by an expert guide, for those who want to appreciate the true story and the mystery, an experience guaranteed to excite young and old. With this tour, we will guide you through time to discover a subterranean and parallel world in which for centuries Jews and Christians have looked after and venerated their dead.

Appia Antica Archaeological Park

(Pass by)

Pass along the majestic Aurelian Walls and come to the archaeological area of the Via Appia Antica, immersed in the green Roman countryside, you will descend into the ancient world of the Catacombs, a complex network of underground tunnels among the longest in the world, which occupies an area of about fifteen hectares, consisting of about 60 kilometres of tunnels on several levels. The catacombs that we will visit (San Calisto, San Sebastiano or Santa Domitilla), for your tour will change depending on the day, but from where we go, you will have the opportunity to see ancient frescoes, crypts rich in inscriptions carved in the walls, niches with still remains of skeletons, small mausoleums, sarcophagi, tombs and small chapels that still today, after about 2000 years, are still used to celebrate religious rites. Here you will find the burial of famous people like popes, martyrs and, according to legends, even some apostles.

Catacombs of Saint Callixtus

The Catacombs of Saint Callixtus 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 that occupies an area of 90 acres, with a network of galleries about 12 (About 19 Km) 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. 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.

Terme di Caracalla

(Pass by)

The Thermae Antonianae, one of the largest and best-preserved thermal complexes of antiquity, was built at the behest of Emperor Caracalla on the Piccolo Aventino between 212 and 216 AD, in an area near the first stretch of the Appian Way. The rectangular plan of the building is typical of the great imperial baths; you entered the central body of the building by four doors on the north-eastern facade: on the central axis you can observe in sequence the caldarium, the tepidarium, the frigidarium and the natatio; on the sides of this axis are arranged, symmetrically around the two gyms, other environments. The original decoration was very sumptuous: written sources tell about huge marble columns, floors in coloured oriental marbles, mosaics of glass paste and marble on the walls, painted stuccos and hundreds of statues and colossal groups, both in the niches of the walls of the rooms and in the gardens.

Circus Maximus

(Pass by)

The Circus Maximus (Latin for "largest circus"; Italian: Circo Massimo) is an ancient Roman chariot-racing stadium and mass entertainment venue in Rome, Italy. In the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills, it was the first and largest stadium in ancient Rome and its later Empire. It measured 621 m (2,037 ft) in length and 118 m (387 ft) in width and could accommodate over 150,000 spectators.[2] In its fully developed form, it became the model for circuses throughout the Roman Empire. The site is now a public park.

Chiesa del Domine Quo Vadis

(Pass by)

The church of the “Domine Quo Vadis” is one of the first churches located on the Via Appia Antica, about 800 meters beyond Porta San Sebastiano. The Church has medieval origins but was rebuilt in 1600. It takes its name from the oral tradition according to which the apostle Peter, fleeing from the city to avoid martyrdom, meets Jesus to whom he addresses the following words “Domine quo Vadis (Lord, where are you going)?” And the Lord replied “Venio Romam iterum crucifigi (I am coming to Rome to be crucified again)”. Peter, aware of the rebuke, turns back to face his destiny and Jesus disappears but, in disappearing, he leaves the impressions of his footprints on the road. As evidence of the incident, within the Church, there is a stone with the imprints “of His holy feet”, left by Jesus precisely on the site where the Church now stands. The stone is actually a copy: the original is in fact preserved in the Basilica of San Sebastiano.

Porta San Sebastiano

(Pass by)

The Porta San Sebastiano is the largest and one of the best-preserved gates passing through the Aurelian Walls in Rome (Italy). Originally known as the Porta Appia, the gate sat astride the Appian Way, the regina viarum (queen of the roads), which originated at the Porta Capena in the Servian Wall.[1] During the Middle Ages probably it was also called Accia (or Dazza or Datia), a name whose etymology is quite uncertain, but arguably associated with the river Almone, called "acqua Accia", that flowed nearby. The present name is attested only since the second half of 15th century, due to the vicinity to the Basilica of San Sebastiano and its catacombs. The original structure was constructed by Aurelian ca. AD 275 and included a double-arched opening surmounted by bow windows and two semi-cylindrical towers. The façade was faced with travertine. After a later restoration, the towers were enlarged, increased, and linked, through two parallel walls, to the preexisting Arch of Drusus.

Roman Walls

(Pass by)

The Aurelian Walls (Italian: Mura Aureliane) are a line of city walls built between 271 AD and 275 AD in Rome, Italy, during the reign of the Roman Emperors Aurelian and Probus. They superseded the earlier Servian Wall built during the 4th century BC. The walls enclosed all the seven hills of Rome plus the Campus Martius and, on the right bank of the Tiber, the Trastevere district. The river banks within the city limits appear to have been left unfortified, although they were fortified along with the Campus Martius. The size of the entire enclosed area is 1,400 hectares (3,500 acres).[1] The wall cut through populated areas: in reality, the city at the time embraced 2,400 hectares or 6,000 acres.[citation needed] Pliny the Elder in the first century A.D. suggested that the densely populated areas, 'extrema tectum (the limits of the roofed areas) extended 2.8 kilometres (1.7 mi) from the Golden Milestone in the Forum (Natural History 3.67).[2]

Palatine Hill

(Pass by)

The Palatine Hill, (/ˈpælətaɪn/; Latin: Collis Palatium or Mons Palatinus; Italian: Palatino [palaˈtiːno]) which is the centremost of the Seven Hills of Rome, is one of the most ancient parts of the city and has been called "the first nucleus of the Roman Empire."[1] The site is now mainly a large open-air museum while the Palatine Museum houses many finds from the excavations here and from other ancient Italian sites. Imperial palaces were built here, starting with Augustus. Before imperial times the hill was mostly occupied by the houses of the rich. The hill originally had two summits separated by depression; the highest part was called Palatium and the other Germalus (or Cermalus). Using the Forma Urbis its perimeter enclosed 63 acres (25 ha); while the Regional Catalogues of the 4th century enclose 131 acres (53 ha).

Colle Aventino

(Pass by)

The Aventine, one of the seven hills of Rome, was once a suburb of the ancient Roman city before becoming an important centre of Christian worship. Today it is still a place for a pleasant walk away from the noise of the modern city below.

Reviews

(1)

1 (1)

Nicole_S

This trip claims to offer a private English speaking tour. They lie. First off it’s only 8-11 euros to enter the catacombs. Second the guide is included. It’s a public guide for anyone who buys a ticket. They also stated it’s in English, we were only able to understand a few words. I requested a portion of my money back and was denied, I will now be filing a claim with my credit card company as this tour was a joke and falsely advertised.
Collected by Evendo, Tripadvisor & Viator
2024-04-26 10:01