Catacombs of St. Callixtus

The Catacombs of St. Callixtus lie along the ancient Appian Way on the southern outskirts of Rome, forming one of the largest and most significant early Christian burial sites in the world. Excavated across several levels beneath the Roman countryside, the network of underground galleries stretches for roughly twenty kilometres and once held the remains of hundreds of thousands of the faithful. Several popes of the third century were interred here, and the site takes its name from the deacon Callixtus, who administered the cemetery under Pope Zephyrinus before becoming pope himself.

Administered by the Salesians of Don Bosco, the catacombs preserve remarkable examples of early Christian fresco painting, carved inscriptions, and the celebrated Crypt of the Popes. Visitors today can join a guided tour that leads through the subterranean passages, explaining the funeral rites, symbolic imagery, and historical context that make this site a cornerstone of both Roman archaeology and Christian heritage.