The dark side of Rome: St Sebastian and Callisto Catacombs

About this tour

Venture beneath Rome's surface to explore two sprawling early Christian burial grounds on this 8-hour guided tour from Civitavecchia. The Catacombs of St Callixtus—over 20 kilometres of tunnels dug between 198 and 217 AD—served as the city's first communal Christian cemetery. You'll then descend into the Catacombs of St Sebastian, originally built atop a pagan shrine and later renamed for the saint in the 4th century. Between underground sections, walk the Appian Way itself, where ancient paving stones and tomb structures frame your passage through two millennia of Roman history.

Highlights

• Navigate 20 km of St Callixtus's original underground passages
• St Sebastian's catacombs: pagan roots to Christian transformation
• Walk actual stones of the legendary Appian Way
• Licensed guide contextualises archaeological detail throughout
• Air-conditioned transport and port pickup included
• Quiet, atmospheric alternative to central Rome crowds

What to expect

You'll descend into cool, dimly lit galleries carved from volcanic tufa. St Callixtus contains burial niches stacked vertically, some inscribed with early Christian symbols and names. The passageways are narrow but navigable; your guide explains burial practices, religious symbolism, and daily life in Rome's underground Christian communities. At St Sebastian, you'll see how the site evolved from pagan worship to Christian sanctuary. Between catacombs, you'll emerge onto the Appian Way—a surprisingly peaceful stretch lined with cypress trees, grassy verges, and scattered ruins. The surface walk offers breathing room and perspective before returning to the coach.

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