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Archaeological site · Roma, Lazio
Catacombe di San Sebastiano
Catacombs beneath the basilica of São Sebastião on the Via Appia Antica, with three decorated Roman mausoleums and the martyr's tomb. Guided visits only.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Catacombe di San Sebastiano
The Catacombe di San Sebastiano lie beneath the basilica of the same name on the Via Appia Antica. The place was known as ad catacumbas because of a depression in the ground, and it is from this that the word "catacomb" came to denote all Christian underground cemeteries. It is one of the catacombs that remained accessible throughout the Middle Ages.
The guided tour walks through galleries with loculi and reaches three Roman mausoleums from the 2nd century, with brick facades, inscriptions and well-preserved paintings that show how pagans and Christians shared the same ground. Another section preserves hundreds of graffiti left by pilgrims invoking the apostles Peter and Paul, whose memory was venerated there.
In the crypt is the tomb of São Sebastião, a 3rd-century martyr. In the basilica above, one of Rome’s seven traditional pilgrimage churches, are the recumbent statue of the saint and a bust of the Savior attributed to Bernini.
The visit is conducted only with an in-house guide, in several languages, and lasts about 40 minutes. The Catacombe di San Callisto are a few minutes’ walk away, and the Mausoleo di Cecilia Metella is slightly further along the same road.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 40 minutes for the guided tour; plus 15 minutes for the basilica.
Best time
Any day from Tuesday to Sunday: the catacombs are closed on Mondays and have an annual closure in December. Check dates on the official website.
How to get there
Bus 118 from the Circo Massimo or Colosseo metro station (line B), or bus 660 from the Arco di Travertino station (line A), to the Catacombe di San Sebastiano stop.
Tip
Booking is recommended, especially for groups and in high season. Unlike San Callisto, here the weekly closing day is Monday, which makes it easier to plan a visit to the Via Appia on any day of the week.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Catacombe di San Sebastiano
Do the Catacombs of São Sebastião open every day?
They are open Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays, as well as for an annual period in December and on some holidays. Check before you go.
Is the visit guided?
Yes, only with an internal guide, in various languages, and it lasts about 40 minutes.
What's special about the Catacombs of São Sebastião?
Three very well-preserved 2nd-century Roman mausoleums, pilgrims' graffiti addressed to the apostles Peter and Paul, and the tomb of São Sebastião.