The Original Rome Capuchin Crypts and Catacombs Tour

This tour of the Rome Capuchin Crypts and the Catacombs runs twice daily, 9:45 AM and 2:30 PM.

The 9:45 AM tour visits the following:

• The Capuchin Crypt aka ‘The Bone Chapel’, and Museum
• San Sebastiano Catacombs
• Case Romane del Celio

The 2:30 PM tour visits the following:

• Catacombs of San Sebastiano, Domitilla or San Callisto (depending on the opening times)
• The Basilica of San Clemente
• The Capuchin Crypt and Museum

While both tours visit the catacombs and the Capuchin Crypt, the morning tour additionally goes to Case Romane del Celio while the afternoon tour visits the Basilica of San Clemente.

For a long time, the Catacombs of Rome have been one of the best kept secrets of the city. On this tour, you will explore the vast network of tunnels that were created over 2,000 years ago to bury the first Roman Christians. unveil several stories and legends that stem from the Catacombs. An expert guide will lead you through the labyrinthian corridors and unveil several stories and legends that surround the frescoes and iconography seen in the Catacombs.

Your visit to the Capuchin Crypts and Museum will introduce you to St. Francis' religious ideologies and help you understand the significance of skeletal remains used as decorations in ancient Christian traditions. The highlight of the Capuchin Crypt is the Bone Chapel - an ornamental decoration that was made using the mortal remains of over 4,000 Capuchin friars.

The Case Romane del Celio is an underground excavation of the 3rd-century villa of a wealthy patrician family. Today, the site is located under the church of SS. Giovanni e Paolo and dates back to the 2nd and 4th century AD. Case Romane del Celio has over 20 rooms, each decorated by stunning wall frescoes that have survived with astonishing clarity.

Uncover the layers of Rome at the Basilica of San Clemente. Situated next to the Colosseum, the basilica reflects the Roman spirit of reusing ancient buildings and monuments. The church is built on top of a forgotten 4th-century basilica. This 4th century ruin contains the first reference of vernacular Italian written in the world. And that's not it, there's another layer of Rome buried beneath the basilica. The 4th century ruins themselves were found sitting above a mysterious 2nd-century Oriental shrine.