VIP Rome Catacombs Night Tour with Capuchin Crypts
VIP Rome Catacombs Night Tour with Capuchin Crypts
Rome, Italy
Experience Rating
2 hours 30 minutes (Approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Overview
This after-hours visit to the Capuchin Crypts and Rome Catacombs will give you an insightful overview of the burial methods of ancient Rome. Uncover the skeletal remains of more than 3,700 bodies and witness some of the catacombs’ most ancient frescoes.
What's Included
Air-conditioned vehicle
Gratuities
Departure & Return
Departure Point
Piazza Barberini, 00187 Roma RM, Italy
Departure Time
5:30 PM
Return Details
Returns to original departure point
What To Expect
Itinerary
Stop At:
Museum and Crypt of Capuchins
From the outside, it just looks like a church. But on the inside, discover something entirely different. You’ll descend the steps of the Santa Maria della Concezione church to discover five chapels, each dedicated to a different area of the body. You may think that the bones and skeletal remains you’ll find are organized in a macabre art form; however, this was not at all the intention.
As you explore the Crypt of the Resurrection, Crypt of the Skulls, Crypt of the Pelvises, Crypt of the Leg Bones and Thigh Bones and Crypt of the Three Skeletons, your guide will explain the purpose of the Crypts. Symbolizing mortality and passage of life through the Earth, the Crypts will set the stage for your next experience: the site of ancient Roman burials.
Burial practices in ancient Rome were one of the most controversial topics of that time period. Christianity was a new religion at the time, with a fundamental belief that your spirit ascended to heaven after death. While the city did not allow burials within the city limits and most people, Pagans, were cremated after death, the Christians needed a new solution.
They decided to build a system of underground tunnels where they could bury their dead in a legally and religiously sound manner. On this after-hours visit, you’ll see what are often known as the “Queen of Catacombs,” which stretch for over five miles.
After entering the almost entirely empty Catacombs, your guide will provide insight on the biblical art inside. Most famously, you’ll see early inscriptions such as Moses striking water from a rock, the Madonna and Child and the Sacrifice of Isaac.