This special access, after-hours walking tour takes you into the Catacombs after closing, introducing you to one of Rome’s most important cities of the dead. You’ll also get to see the chilling Orazione e Morte bone crypt, decorated with skulls and bones. Not a tour for the easily spooked, but a wonderful exploration of early Christianity in Rome and Ancient Roman beliefs surrounding death and the afterlife that informs as much as it thrills.
Start your tour at St. Mary of Eulogies and the Dead Church to explore the ancient burial site below the church recently re-opened after seven years of restoration. You'll meet a nun inside the church who will escort you down a short staircase into the bone crypt, decorated with the skulls and bones of abandoned corpses.
Both a shocking and fascinating sight, the bone crypt is truly understood with the help of a knowledgeable guide. Before entering, your expert guide will explain the early Christians' interesting beliefs on life and death, which motivated the creation of such a macabre memorial.
Afterwards, hop on a private bus and travel outside the city to the Roman Catacombs as visitors are dispersing for the evening. It's then—as the doors officially close to the public—that you and your small group will step inside for a VIP visit like no other...
The bodies might be gone, but that doesn’t mean you won’t feel a thrill of excitement as you become one of the first people to descend into the Catacombs after closing since the era of Imperial Rome. And because you’ll be there outside normal opening hours, you’ll have the passageways to yourself and won’t have any trouble hearing your expert Catacombs guide as they divulge the dark stories of the birth of Christianity.
Learn why the Romans chose to take their burials “off site” and discover some of the most intriguing artifacts and decorations that adorn the tombs with the help of a dedicated, expert Catacombs guide.
Following your fascinating VIP visit you’ll have time to reflect on all you’ve learned with your guide as you hop on a private, air-conditioned minibus and head back to central Rome. Don't be shy about asking questions!
This special VIP experience of Rome’s most interesting burial sites will no doubt leave a lasting impression—and one you’ll likely meditate on for years to come!
Guide: English