Roman Crypts and Catacombs Tour

The one and only tour that takes you to crypts and catacombs from different historical eras, in various locations and with varying styles. Much of what Rome has to offer is buried underground - and through this tour, you can discover the underside of Rome. The tour starts at one of the Roman Catacombs, the Eternal Citys underground burial chambers where long winding passages unfold millennia of history among tombs and inventive handmade memorials, taking you to a time when Christianity was considered a simple cult whose members were executed aspagans and buried as martyrs.

Then its on to Basilica San Clemente where the sound of running water drove one clergyman to dig his way through the floor tiles. What he discovered was the wedding cake layers of history piled on top of each other so that visitors today climb down to a4th century church, the 2nd century remains of a Mithraic temple and finally, an incredibly preserved 1st century Roman street. With ruins reaching 57ft deep, it makes you wonder what lies beneath the rest of Rome.

Your journey through the centuries ends with a bang at perhaps the most memorable (and certainly the most original!) site we visit on any of our tours in any city the Capuchin Crypt and Museum. Here the remains of 4,000 Capuchin monks literally rest in pieces. Their remains have been used to decorate the underground crypt with vertebrae chandeliers, real-life skulls and cross-bones and robe-clad skeletons leering from the walls. Morbid fascination or respectful art? You'll be the judge of that.

Departs

Piazza Barberini in Central Rome.

Start times

Daily during the Summer 2.30pm

Duration

3.5 hours