Rome Catacombs tour:
Catacombs at closing time, Appian Way, and aqueducts
Destination
Rome, Italy
Duration
3.3 hours
Tour size
Max 18
Language
English
Overview
Walk the original cobblestones of the Appian Way, stand under the arches of the aqueducts that carried Rome's water, then descend into the catacombs. This is the Rome catacombs tour timed for closing-hour access after most visitors have gone.
- •Walk the cobblestones of the Appian Way, the road Rome built to its empire in 312 BCE
- •Stand at the foot of the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, a 1st-century tomb the size of a small fort
- •Look up at the arches of the Roman aqueducts where they cross the open countryside
- •Descend into the catacombs after most visitors have gone, when the corridors are at their quietest
- •Pass walls lined with frescoes and inscriptions left by Rome's early Christian families
What's included
- Pre-reserved entry to one of Rome's largest Christian catacombs
- Private air-conditioned minibus from central Rome
- Expert English-speaking guide
- Headsets for clear narration
- Small group of 18 guests maximum
You will visit
- The Appian Way
- The Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella (exterior)
- The Roman aqueducts
- One of Rome's largest Christian catacombs (San Sebastiano or Domitilla, depending on departure)
- The Roman Campagna countryside
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What to expect
The Appian Way: Rome's first highway
You leave central Rome by private minibus and reach the Appian Way, the road Rome began building in 312 BCE. The basalt stones underfoot are the originals, polished where generations of carts have crossed them and ruins still stand along the edges. That includes the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, the daughter-in-law of one of the wealthiest men in ancient Rome. The mausoleum was so substantial that medieval lords later turned it into a fortress.
The Roman aqueducts: water carried across the countryside
Then, it's on to the Parco degli Acquedotti, where you’ll find the surviving arches of two ancient aqueducts. These carried fresh water into the city from springs more than fifty kilometers away, on a gradient calibrated so finely that the slope is barely visible to the eye.
"By the time we get to the catacombs, most of the groups are gone. You can hear your own footsteps. That's the part guests remember."
Alessandra,
WalksDevour Rome guide
"The aqueducts are the moment guests stop talking. You're standing under stone that has carried water across this countryside for two thousand years."
Valeria,
WalksDevour Rome product designer
Postcards from Rome
Rome Catacombs tour
Rome Catacombs tour
Rome Catacombs tour
Rome Catacombs tour
Rome Catacombs tour
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