Underground Rome: Private Catacombs Half-Day Walking TourPrivate Tour

Discover the underground belly of Rome and explore the Basilica di San Clemente, including its subterranean Roman house and pagan temple and the Rome Catacombs on this private half-day tour.

Adults: 2 Children: 0
Total

Things to know

Duration:

3 hrs

Categories:

Art, City Highlights, History, Local Experience, Off the beaten path

Private Tour:

You and our own professional guide. 100% exclusive

Transport Mode:

Walking tour: including the cost of all taxis and transfers between sites

What's included:

A friendly, professional English-Speaking tour guide for your own private group, Rome Catacombs entrance tickets, Basilica di San Clemente entrance tickets, Private Transportation only between sites

What's not included:

Hotel Pick-Up & Drop-Off, Food & Drink, Gratuities
Meeting points: Your guide will meet you in front of The Space Cinema Moderno Roma, P.za della Repubblica, 43/45, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

What makes this tour special

Discover the underground world of ancient Rome on this exciting, fascinating, and adventurous tour of the Catacombs and the excavated site of Basilica San Clemente.

On your private half-day tour you will:


Drive just beyond the ancient city walls to visit the labyrinth of underground ancient Christian burial chambers called the Catacombs, then discover the layers and layers of Rome, excavated below the Basilica San Clemente (near the Colosseum): walk through a pagan temple, an ancient roman house, and an early Christian church - all underground!

You will often hear historians and locals alike refer to Rome as a lasagna! On this tour, you will literally walk your way through these layers of history, as you discover the different excavated street levels of Rome and the miles and miles of underground graves, dug for and by the ancient Christians two thousand years ago known as the Catacombs.

Driving just beyond the Aurelian Wall, you’ll descend into an extensive and complex web of graves; the Christian catacombs. You’ll walk down galleries lined with rectangular empty niches – each one contained a body once.

Your guide will explain the different styles of graves, the burial rituals, and funeral rites, decode the extraordinarily well-preserved frescos and symbolic carvings and talk you through the dramatic sacking of the tombs by Barbarians after the fall of Rome.

One of the most evocative things about the catacombs is seeing the pick axe marks and scrapes of the fossari (the gravediggers) in the soft tufa rock and the tiny terracotta oil lamps that lit their way as they dug these dark tunnels. It is a truly fascinating, exciting, and humbling experience entering these unique places with your private guide.

In the Basilica San Clemente, you’ll learn why Rome was built layer on layer, not in a day but over several hundred years. You’ll learn why so many Christian churches were built on top of pagan temples and hear the stories of the martyrs depicted in frescos in the Middle Ages.

Your guide will talk you through a day in the life of an ancient Roman as you walk through a first-century apartment, and explain the initiation rites of the warrior-like cult of Mithras as you gaze into the inner sanctum and see the original altar of Mithras and the bull.

This tour ends at the Basilica of San Clemente, located right next to the Roman Colosseum.


Please note: the dress code for this tour must be observed (covered knees and shoulders). The catacombs and excavations are chilly and humid at 13 celsius, so please bring something warm to wear!
Also, due to local regulations, during the visit to the Catacombs you will be part of a larger group. For the rest of the tour, you will be alone with your dedicated private guide. 

What you'll see

Book with Travel Curious, an exceptional experience guaranteed

Putting People and Planet First

Prioritising Your Safety

Flexible cancellation

Do not worry, we have you covered with our flexible cancellation terms.

Avoid the crowds

Travel like a VIP, avoid crowds, and unnecessary queues.

Authentic Experiences

Bespoke local tours handcrafted for you by our global travel specialists

Professional Guides

All guides are handpicked, trained and licensed to ensure you are immersed in the local culture

Carbon offset for

kg CO2e

Carbon Footprint

kg CO2e

Carbon Offset

Forestry Conserved

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FAQ

QWill there be other people on the tour or is it just us?
AAll of our tours are 100% private and exclusive, which means that it will just be you, your group and your guide on the tour.
Your tour will be completely tailored to your needs and we will make sure to find a guide that best suits your group.
QAre entrance tickets and transport included in the cost of the tour?
AIn the ‘Things to Know’ section at the top of this page you will find details of whatever entrance tickets and transport are included in the tour. If you have any questions about this, then you can either use the chat button in the bottom right hand corner, send an email to or call 1-212-710-1322 (US) or +44 20 3009 2392 (UK).
QWhat is your cancellation policy?
AOn tours cancelled more than 48 hours before the scheduled departure time, we are happy to offer our customers a full refund - minus a 5% credit card fee and the cost of any tickets that have been purchased.
For tours cancelled less than 48 hours before the scheduled departure time, we are unfortunately unable to offer refunds. If you would like to reschedule a tour, this is usually possible if we are given enough notice, but we cannot guarantee the same guide.
Changes made to bookings may be subject to rebooking fees to cover the cost of tickets purchased, transport, guide rescheduling and administration.
To cancel or change your booking, please contact us at or call 1-212-710-1322 (US) or +44 20 3009 2392 (UK).
QWho do I contact if I have any questions about this tour or if I want to make changes to my tour?
AAt Travel Curious, we provide a free concierge service to help you plan your time abroad and they will be able to answer any questions you may have about this tour or any other tours. We are normally able to customise or personalise tours to suit your needs.
Please do get in touch by either using the chat button in the bottom right hand corner, sending an email to or calling 1-212-710-1322 (US) or +44 20 3009 2392 (UK).
QAm I able to book more than one tour?
AAbsolutely, you can book as many tours as you like! You can add them to your cart by clicking the ‘Book Now’ button or you can get in touch and we can put together an itinerary for you. To get in touch, you can either use the chat button in the bottom right hand corner, send an email to or call 1-212-710-1322 (US) or +44 20 3009 2392 (UK).
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