Rome Undergrounds

When we say “all roads lead to Rome,” we are referring to the Appian Way. In the days of the Empire, “the queen of the long roads” served as the most vital highway in and out of the city. While the road itself is a majestic and picturesque park, however, the catacombs beneath it tell their own story. In an excursion over a kilometer long, your guide will educate you about the construction, rediscovery and excavation of the tunnels, their varied uses and purposes over the millennia as well as its occupants: slaves, saints and martyrs, laid to rest in tomb-lined tunnels. Behold the necropoli where the same Christians buried their dead rather than follow the Roman practice of cremation.

Walk the paths taken by early Christians in the Roman Empire and, once you resurface from the catacombs, follow their footsteps to some of the oldest Christian buildings in the world. Choose between the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, Rome’s largest church built in the name of the Virgin Mary, or the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, the massive cathedral that serves as the seat of the papacy.

This tour is perfect for those interested in the history of Christianity in ancient Rome, and the route itself is emblematic of that: beginning with a long journey, then rising into the monumental places of worship that stand today.