Catacombs of Priscilla

The Catacombs of Priscilla lie beneath the Via Salaria in northern Rome, extending through several kilometres of underground galleries carved from the soft tufa rock. Named after a member of the Acilian family who donated the land, the site served as a Christian burial ground from roughly the second century onwards and holds some of the earliest known images of the Virgin Mary, along with vivid frescoes depicting biblical scenes. The complex is administered by the Benedictine Sisters of the Priscilla Monastery, who have overseen its preservation for well over a century.

Visitors today can explore the galleries on a guided tour, which takes in the Greek Chapel, decorated with third-century frescoes, and the cubicles where early Christian communities buried their dead. The Guided Tour of the Priscilla Catacombs offers a structured introduction to the archaeology and religious significance of one of Rome's most important early Christian sites, illuminating a chapter of the city's history that unfolds entirely underground.