Catacombs of Rome
Subterranean burial tunnels
The Catacombs of Rome are underground burial tunnels beneath the city, carved into soft volcanic rock beginning in the second century.
Early Christians and Jews buried their dead in these networks of passageways, which extend for hundreds of miles.
The catacombs contain carved niches for bodies, frescoes, and inscriptions, making them important sites for early Christian art and archaeology.
Several remain open to visitors: We toured the Catacombs of San Callisto.
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
- burialPlacing deceased underground
- burial chambersSpaces for interring remains
- tombsChambers for the dead
- eternal restEuphemism for death
skulls · bones · tunnels · ancient · Christian · martyrs · darkness · passages · crypts · frescoes · labyrinth · sacred · holy ground · pilgrimage · torches · stone · damp · carved stone
- burial sitesgrave, tomb, tombs, crypt, crypts
- Italian SitesColosseum, Pompeii, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Trevi Fountain, Vatican
- Lazio SitesColosseum, Pantheon, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Vatican
- Roman ruinsColosseum, Roman Forum, Pompeii, Pantheon, Roman baths
- Italian ShrinesTurin Shroud, Shroud of Turin
- Ancient WondersGreat Pyramid, Colossus of Rhodes, Lighthouse of Alexandria, Temple of Artemis, Statue of Zeus
Catacombs of Romenecropolis
Ancient cemetery complex
churchyard · memorial park · burial mound · tumulus · barrow
Catacombs of Romeskyscraper
Very tall urban building
tower · cathedral spire · St. Peter's Basilica · Colosseum · Pantheon