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Via Appia Antica 136 Rome 00179 Italy
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Rome Catacombs: Visit the Catacombs of San Sebastian
The Catacombs of San Sebastian are located at 136 Via Appia Antica, a short distance from central Rome. The guided tour takes visitors through an underground cemetery extending across three levels and down to a necropolis containing three Roman mausoleums from the 2nd century AD, preserved beneath the basilica.
The complex is connected with the memory of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the martyr Saint Sebastian and the origin of the word “catacomb”. Visits are led exclusively by the catacombs’ own guides and are available in Italian, English, French, German and Spanish.
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Which catacombs can you visit in Rome?
Rome has many early Christian underground cemeteries, most of them excavated along the ancient consular roads. Some are open to the public and can be visited along designated routes.
The best-known sites include the Catacombs of San Sebastian and San Callixtus on the Appian Way, the Catacombs of Domitilla on Via Ardeatina, the Catacombs of Priscilla on Via Salaria and the Catacombs of Saint Agnes on Via Nomentana.
Each complex preserves different historical and archaeological evidence. At San Sebastian, visitors can walk through the Christian burial galleries, see the martyr’s crypt and descend to the area known as the Piazzola, where three Roman mausoleums decorated with original frescoes and stucco work have survived.
Why visit the Catacombs of San Sebastian?
The Catacombs of San Sebastian offer a journey through Roman archaeology, the history of Christianity and the devotion to the Apostles Peter and Paul and the martyr Saint Sebastian.
The complex preserves:
- approximately 12 kilometres of galleries arranged across three levels;
- burial niches, chambers and funerary inscriptions;
- three Roman mausoleums from the 2nd century AD;
- frescoes and stucco decorations;
- the Memoria Apostolorum;
- graffiti left by devotees of Peter and Paul;
- the crypt associated with the burial of Saint Sebastian;
- the remains of the great basilica built in the 4th century.
The underground tour ends inside the Basilica of San Sebastian Outside the Walls, one of the oldest traditional destinations for pilgrims visiting Rome.
The word “catacomb” originated here
Before the spread of Christianity, this area of the Appian Way was known as ad catacumbas, probably because of the shape of the land and the presence of ancient quarries.
The name originally referred to this specific place. It was later used for other early Christian underground cemeteries, which are now commonly known as catacombs.
A visit to San Sebastian therefore leads into the complex from which the word “catacomb” spread to the rest of Rome, then throughout the world, and eventually came to describe other underground burial sites.
The memory of the Apostles Peter and Paul
During the 3rd century, part of the complex became a place of devotion to the Apostles Peter and Paul. The area known as the Triclia still preserves hundreds of graffiti inscriptions left by pilgrims on its walls.
One of the best known contains the invocation: Paule et Petre petite pro Victore — “Paul and Peter, pray for Victor.”
These inscriptions document the joint veneration of the two Apostles. For this reason, the site became known as the Memoria Apostolorum.
In the 4th century, Emperor Constantine ordered the construction of a large basilica dedicated to the Apostles above these ancient structures. The dedication to Saint Sebastian became prevalent only later, after the 13th century. The martyr had been buried in the underground cemetery and was venerated here for centuries by pilgrims and worshippers.
What will you see during the tour?
The guided route passes through a substantial section of the underground galleries, where visitors can observe different forms of burial used by the early Christian communities.
The tour also includes the crypt of Saint Sebastian before continuing into the deeper areas of the complex. Here visitors enter a Roman necropolis containing three mausoleums from the 2nd century AD, which were later incorporated into the developing Christian cemetery.
The mausoleums preserve paintings, stucco work, inscriptions and symbols documenting the transition from the Roman funerary world to the earliest Christian evidence found at the site.
The route also helps visitors understand the different phases built one above another: the Roman necropolis, the Christian cemetery, the Memoria Apostolorum and the basilica constructed at ground level.
Guided tours, duration and languages
The Catacombs of San Sebastian can only be visited with one of the site’s own guides. Visitors cannot enter independently or walk through the galleries with a private guide unless authorised catacomb staff are present.
The tour lasts approximately 40–45 minutes and is available in:
- Italian;
- English;
- French;
- German;
- Spanish.
For organised groups, audio guides in other languages may be available on request.
Departure times depend on the language selected and on existing reservations. Advance booking is therefore recommended.
Tickets for the Catacombs of San Sebastian
Official admission prices for tickets purchased on site are:
€10 for a full-price ticket;
€7 for a reduced ticket.
Free admission is available for the categories listed on the regulations page.
Visitors can reserve a place free of charge and pay on arrival, or purchase their ticket online in advance. Online tickets include the booking fee charged by the authorised ticketing provider.
The guided tour led by the catacombs’ own staff is included in the admission price.
Prices offered by external platforms, tour operators and resellers may include commissions, transport, additional visits or other services. Always check the official Catacombs of San Sebastian website to find the actual admission price.
Opening hours
The Catacombs of San Sebastian are open from Tuesday to Sunday:
9:15 am–5:15 pm
The last admission is at 4:45 pm.
The catacombs are closed every Monday. Additional closures apply on certain public holidays and during the annual closing period indicated on the official visitor information page.
Before travelling, visitors are advised to check the current opening hours and the availability of tours in their preferred language.
How to reach the catacombs from central Rome
The entrance is located at:
136 Via Appia Antica, Rome
The bus stop is directly outside the Basilica and Catacombs of San Sebastian.
You can take:
bus 118 from the Colosseum or Circo Massimo, Metro Line B;
bus 660 from Arco di Travertino, Metro Line A.
The stop is called “Basilica e Catacombe di San Sebastiano”.
The complex is located along the first section of the Appian Way and can be included in an itinerary through the Appian Way Archaeological Park, together with the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella and the Complex of Maxentius.
Practical information
The temperature inside the galleries remains between approximately 16°C and 17°C throughout the year. Visitors are advised to bring a light jacket during the summer.
The route includes approximately 100 steps. Because of the structure of the archaeological site, the underground tour is not accessible to wheelchair users.
Visitors must wear clothing appropriate for a sacred site. Animals are not allowed inside the catacombs.
Anyone with mobility or respiratory difficulties, or concerns about entering confined underground spaces, should consider the nature of the route before purchasing a ticket.
Groups, schools and pilgrimages
The Catacombs of San Sebastian welcome organised groups, schools, parishes, associations and pilgrimages.
Large groups can request:
a reserved time slot;
a tour in their chosen language;
assistance with the booking process;
information about possible religious celebrations;
educational routes and materials for schools.
Requests must be sent to the booking office in advance.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a tour of the Rome catacombs last?
A guided tour of the Catacombs of San Sebastian lasts approximately 40–45 minutes and is always led by one of the site’s own guides.
How much does it cost to visit the Catacombs of San Sebastian?
Tickets purchased on site cost €10 for adults and €7 for visitors entitled to a reduced rate. Tickets purchased online include an advance booking fee.
Do I need to book in advance?
Advance booking is recommended, particularly if you want a tour in a specific language or wish to avoid finding your preferred departure time fully booked. You can reserve free of charge and pay on arrival, or purchase your ticket online.
Can I visit the catacombs without a guide?
No. For safety reasons and to protect the archaeological site, visitors can only enter with an authorised guide from the Catacombs of San Sebastian.
Which languages are available?
Guided tours are available in Italian, English, French, German and Spanish.
Where are the Appian Way catacombs?
The Catacombs of San Sebastian are located at 136 Via Appia Antica. Buses 118 and 660 stop directly outside the entrance.
Why are they called catacombs?
The word derives from the ancient place name ad catacumbas, used for the area of lower ground between Porta San Sebastiano and the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella. The name was later extended to other early Christian underground cemeteries.
Book your visit to the Catacombs of San Sebastian
Choose your date, check availability in your preferred language and book a guided tour of the Catacombs of San Sebastian on the Appian Way.
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