Welcome to the most sacred and important of all the Roman catacombs; the great catacombs
of San Callisto.
If you are interested in Roman and religious history, then this is a place you can't skip.
The size of the catacombs is stunning.
The tunnel complex stretches out for almost 19 kilometers and is structured in five levels.
The deepest parts of the catacombs reach an impressive depth of roughly 20 meters.
The history of these catacombs dates back almost 2000 years.
The original catacombs are believed to have been a private Christian underground burial
place.
The reason for it being underground was because Christians, prior to Emperor Constantine the
1st were often persecuted for their religious beliefs.
In fact, the government of Rome persecuted all those who chose not to practice the religion
of the state.
During these times, the Christian religion was not as dominating as it is today which
forced the Christians to literally hide underground.
The underground cemetery was expanded during the end of the 2nd century by a deacon of
Rome.
The catacombs were expanded to not just include more tombs, but also chapels, meeting areas,
dining rooms and even places to sleep.
The man responsible for the expansion later became a Pope under the name Callixtus the
1st.
As you probably guessed, the name of the catacombs -- San Callisto - derives from this man.
Sometimes they even go by the name of Catacombs of St. Callixtus.
After the expansion, the catacombs quickly became the official burial site for Rome's
Christians which was followed by additional expansions.
Over the course of history, more than 50 martyrs and 16 popes have been buried here, making
it one of the most important Christian cemeteries, if not the most important.
The catacombs were rediscovered by the Italian archeologist Giovanni Battista in 1854.
When he discovered the tunnels, he called them "the little Vatican - the central monument
of all Christian cemeteries".
After you've visited the catacombs, I'm sure you can see why he used grand words like these.
Inside the underground complex, you can discover the Crypt of the Popes and investigate the
crypt of St. Cecilia - the patron of sacred music.
You can also find several ancient frescoes, sculptures and other wall paintings along
the impressive tunnels.
The catacombs are truly an example of great underground architecture.
These catacombs are the most visited ones of all the ancient underground tunnels in
the region.
Tens of thousands of people visit the site each year to experience the phenomenal tunnels.