Catacombe di Porta d'Ossuna, Palermo Travel Guide

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Explore Palermo's largest early Christian underground cemetery, the Catacombe di Porta d'Ossuna, offering a glimpse into the city's ancient past.

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Catacombe di Porta d'Ossuna

Explore the Catacombe di Porta d'Ossuna, Palermo's largest early Christian underground cemetery, dating back to the 4th-5th centuries AD. Discovered in 1739, these catacombs offer a glimpse into the city's early Christian roots and served as a refuge during World War II.

A brief summary to Catacombe di Porta d'Ossuna

Corso A. Amedeo, 110, Palermo, Metropolitan City of Palermo, 90138, IT
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Sunday 10 am-1 pm

From Eve

Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Catacombe di Porta d'Ossuna.

Wear comfortable shoes, as the catacombs involve walking on uneven surfaces underground.
Photography is not allowed inside the catacombs due to copyright regulations.
Tours are available in Italian and English; check the ArcheOfficina website for the most up-to-date tour schedules.

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Explore Catacombe di Porta d'Ossuna on the Map

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Getting There

Public Transport

From Palermo Centrale train station, take bus lines 104, 108, 124, 110, or N5. Several bus stops are near Corso Alberto Amedeo, including Lascaris Imera and Finocchiaro Aprile Tribunale. A single ticket costs €1.10 and is valid for 90 minutes.
Walking

The Catacombe di Porta d'Ossuna are located on Corso Alberto Amedeo, a walkable distance from the Palazzo dei Normanni. From the palace, walk east along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, then turn left onto Corso Alberto Amedeo. The walk is approximately 15-20 minutes.
Taxi/Ride-share

Taxis and ride-sharing services are readily available in Palermo. A short trip from Palermo Centrale train station to Corso Alberto Amedeo will typically cost between €8-€12, depending on traffic and demand.

Discover more about Catacombe di Porta d'Ossuna

The Catacombe di Porta d'Ossuna, located on Corso Alberto Amedeo in Palermo, represent the largest early Christian underground cemetery in the city. Carved into the natural Papireto depression, northwest of Palermo, the catacombs date back to the 4th and 5th centuries AD. The name 'Porta d'Ossuna' comes from the adjacent ancient gate named after the Duke of Ossuna, Pietro Giron.The catacombs were discovered in 1739 during the construction of the Cappuccinelle convent. The site was explored by the Prince of Torremuzza and later studied by Joseph Führer and Victor Schultze in 1907. The entrance today is marked by a circular vestibule built in 1785 by Ferdinand I of Bourbon, which features a celebratory inscription. The original entrance was located to the southwest, where a ramp with seven steps and a trapezoidal basement, likely used for funeral banquets, can still be seen.The catacombs are structured along an east-west axis with several perpendicular corridors, containing arcosolia, loculi, and cubicula. Although the walls were once painted, only traces of plaster remain. During World War II, the catacombs served as a shelter for the population during bombings. A funerary inscription for a young girl, discovered in the 18th century, is now held at the Antonio Salinas Regional Archaeological Museum.Tours, led by archaeologists from the ArcheOfficina Cooperative, are available in both Italian and English and last approximately 40 minutes. These tours delve into the history of early Christianity in Sicily and the legends surrounding the catacombs, including their use as hideouts by the Beati Paoli and as air raid shelters.