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Skip the Line: Crypts and Roman Catacombs Small-Group Walking Tour

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Roma, Italy
Skip the Line: Crypts and Roman Catacombs Small-Group Walking Tour
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Skip the Line: Crypts and Roman Catacombs Small-Group Walking Tour
Crypts and Roman Catacombs
Crypts and Catacombs
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From $72.01

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Safety measures
icon3 hours 30 minutes  (approx.)
Mobile ticket
iconOffered in: English

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Overview

Go underground to see Rome’s ancient catacombs and crypts on a half-day tour. Visit the Domitilla Catacomb and Basilica of San Clemente with skip-the-line access, plus visit the Capuchin Crypt, where you’ll see a Caravaggio painting and marvel at a chapel made entirely out of human bones. Learn about past burial customs and secret Christian worship spots during this fascinating exploration into the history of Rome.
  • See Caravaggio’s St Francis in Meditation painting in the Capuchin Crypt Museum
  • Learn about the Capuchin monks who used human bones to build and decorate their crypt
  • Head inside the Basilica San Martino ai Monti, adorned with frescoes, and see the Chapel of Our Lady of Carme

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

Visit the Capuchin crypt and two lesser-known gems—all with priority access.
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From $72.01

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Skip-the-line access to the Christian Catacombs of Rome
Air-conditioned vehicle
Small groups of up to 14 people or fewer
Access to the Capuchin Crypt and Museum
Access to the Basilica San Martino Ai Monti
Professional, English speaking guide
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and drinks, unless specified
Fontana del Tritone , P.za Barberini, 00187 Roma RM, Italy
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In Piazza Barberini, at the Tritone fountain located at centre of the square.

This activity will end right where it started.
Your walking tour starts at Piazza Barberini, where you’ll meet your guide and board and air-conditioned coach to the Christian Catacombs.

Descend into the chill of Rome’s mysterious underworld with Skip-the-Line access to three of the city’s strangest discoveries.

Unmask a new side to the Eternal City as you explore the eerie Bone Chapel, adorned with the bones of 4,000 Capuchin monks, and the Christian Catacombs, a series of hidden tunnels where early Christian’s practiced their forbidden faith.

Then travel beneath the Basilica San Martino ai Monti to discover layers of ancient foundations offering an insight to civilizations long fallen.
Itinerary
Stop At:  
Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini
Escape the noise and heat of Rome as you explore its cryptic past on the city’s longest running crypts and catacombs tour. Beat the heat with air-conditioned travel and Skip-the-Line access directly down into cool, shadowed spaces that hide layer upon layer of history. First, you’ll visit the hallowed catacombs where, beneath their persecutors’ feet, early Christians practiced their forbidden faith. Almost 2,000 years ago, this secret network of tunnels doubled as a place of worship and burial ground. As you explore tombs carved out of solid rock, your guide – a local, expert English-speaker – will relate the fascinating history of this sacred spot.
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Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Admission Ticket Included
Stop At:  
San Martino ai Monti
When you exit the catacombs, your bus will take you back within the city walls to the Basilica of San Martino ai Monti. Near the edge of the Parco del Colle Oppio, this unassuming church dates back to the 4th century - it has been rebuilt over the years, but is filled with a great sense of history just waiting to be discovered. Stunning frescoes adorn the walls, from artists such as Pietro Testa, Matteo Riccione and Giannangiolo Canini.
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Duration: 40 minutes
Admission Ticket Included
Stop At:  
Museum and Crypt of Capuchins
Your final destination is the Capuchin Crypt. Capuchin monks used the bones of nearly 4,000 of their brothers to decorate this somber space in intricate floor-to-ceiling designs, lending it the macabre nickname of ‘the Bone Chapel’. Your guide will tell you the theories, but it’s up to you to draw your own conclusions about the meaning of the crypt’s robed skeletons and vertebrae chandeliers. Open your eyes to the city’s hidden side – and you’ll never see Rome the same way again.
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Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Admission Ticket Included
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • A dress code is required for entry into some of the sites on this tour. Knees and shoulders must be covered
  • No photos can be taken inside the venue during the tour
  • Please note this tour involves a fair amount of walking, as well as a large number of stairs, comfortable shoes are recommended
  • Near public transportation
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • This activity is not suitable for people who suffer from claustrophobia
  • Please note that the visit to the Basilica of San Clemente will be replaced by a visit to the Basilica of San Martino Ai Monti until further notice.
  • All customers will need to wear a FFP2 mask throughout the bus journey.
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • Not recommended for those who are effected by claustrophobia
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travelers
  • OPERATED BY City Wonders Ltd
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Learn more about cancellations.

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What is the policy on face masks and attendee health during Skip the Line: Crypts and Roman Catacombs Small-Group Walking Tour?
A:The policies on face masks and attendee health are:

  • Face masks required for travelers in public areas
  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
See all safety measures taken by Skip the Line: Crypts and Roman Catacombs Small-Group Walking Tour.
Q:
What is the social distancing policy during Skip the Line: Crypts and Roman Catacombs Small-Group Walking Tour?
A:The policy on social distancing is:

  • Social distancing enforced throughout experience
See all safety measures taken by Skip the Line: Crypts and Roman Catacombs Small-Group Walking Tour.

Traveler Photos

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Traveler Tips

  • "There is a good amount of walking involved so if you have mobility issues, beware." See review

Reviews

4.5
star-4.5
2,750 Reviews
5 stars
1,987
4 stars
500
3 stars
133
2 stars
79
1 star
51

Reviews by Viator travelers

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Showing 1-10 of 2,750 reviews
star-5
Memorable explanations!
Steven_W
, Jul 2022
Claudia, our guide made this experience memorable by her insightful ways to explain the past in a way that took us back in time and helped us to truly understand the way of life centuries ago! Thank you for an unforgettable and unique experience:)
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star-5
Incredible Experience
Talia_L
, Jul 2022
The catacombs weren't originally on our radar, we heard of it on another tour and were interested. We were lucky to get into this tour, it was a highlight of our trip! The guide Francesca was INCREDIBLE! She was knowledgeable, friendly and just amazing! She speaks four languages and was able to address all questions. The history of the catacombs is so interesting.
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star-4
Overall was a good tour
Joseph_S
, Jul 2022
Was not told of the requirement to have shoulder and knees covered so could not visit the Capuchin church
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star-5
If you can only do one thing in Rome - DO THIS!
Nicole_B
, Jul 2022
The tour starts with the crypts and the rooms of skeleton bones. It’s insightful and tastefully done. You then walk a little ways to a bus and visit the catacombs (my 17 year-old’s favorite part of this excursion.) After the catacombs you head back into Rome and visit one of the oldest church buildings in Rome where Constantine was baptized. This tour is rich in history and the guides are phenomenal. It was the highlight of our time in Rome. I would do this tour again in a heartbeat.
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star-4
Very interesting experience and a great way to stay cool while all your co-travelers are frying in Rome!
Vivian_C
, Jul 2022
This was a very interesting and cool tour in more ways than one. Rome has been sweltering and getting down into the catacombs and crypts was heavenly due to the drop in temperature. The subject matter is also very cool for those interested in church history, Roman history and world history given the influence of Rome and the church on western civilization Our guide was Fiona, originally from Australia who has lived in Rome for over 2 decades (sorry to Fiona in case you didn't want me to give hints about your age!) who was very knowlegeable about the subject matter. FYI: These are sites maintained by the Catholic church so they are serious about the dress code (shoulders and knees covered) and enforcing no pictures be taken.
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-5
An exceptional guide in Angela 🙏
Joanna_C
, Jul 2022
We had an exceptional guide in Angela. I cannot remember when I was so well informed, not just about the tour and the places we visited, but Italian history, Rome and the early church. The tour was elegantly handled by her, no mean feat when you are leading a group of 12 through the dark catacombs. Her intelligence and passion for her subject shone through.
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-5
Interesting tour and learned a lot.
Gregory_H
, Jul 2022
Sabina was the guide and she did a great job explaining various parts of the tour s d keeping things on time. With three stops that’s a lot to ask. The smaller group size made it enjoyable.
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star-5
Humbling and eerie
Joel_C
, Jul 2022
This is a very strange tour that is not to everyone's liking, but if you are into history or religion, or even art you will find this engaging. The best way to describe the crypts is bone art, but it goes beyond that. Seeing the monk's dedication to death as a transitory state and understanding how they came about is quite interesting. We learned a lot. There are no pictures allowed due to revering the dead. The catacombs were really awe-inspiring, and huge. You could literally get lost in them. Underground, cool and wet/humid so plan for that. All in all this was a great tour.
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star-5
Amazing storyteller
TerriL_O
, Jun 2022
Simi, our guide, is an amazing storyteller. He was very informative, entertaining and clearly has a passion for the subject. We enjoyed it very much.
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star-4
Informative and interesting
Dolly_P
, Jun 2022
The tour was pretty interesting with lots of historical information but after the catacombs, I was ready to be done.
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-5
The tour was very...
Jeffrey_L
, Jun 2022
The tour was very informative. Our guide Gabriel was great. You take an air conditioned bus to the catacombs, which is nice on a hot day.
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star-5
We really enjoyed this...
Danielle_D
, Jun 2022
We really enjoyed this tour! A great way to beat the heat. They send you on air conditioned buses to each location. And the catacombs are underground, so very cool! The tour was great- very informative and interesting history. Our guide, heather, was great!
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star-2
Misleading Tour Description - Nice guides
Jennifer_A
, Jun 2022
The guides were very nice and knowledgeable however the group was huge. I booked a tour that said max of 14 people and our group had 27 and the other guide had the same. They said another guide had Covid but the group would have still been more than we booked. We took a huge BUS to the catacombs and ran through without time to browse and look around. Since the bus was booked it is clear it was always the plan to have so many people on the tour. Spent more time driving to places than viewing things (and if you were in the back - you couldn’t see what they were talking about). Disappointing.
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-1
My experience was very bad
Stephen_J
, Jun 2022
My experience was total dissatisfaction..on a scale of 1(low ) to 10, your score was zero..you cancelled the tour less than 24 before, and provided no explanation. I requested an alternative time for the same afternoon, and you never responded. The next day, I requested a refund, and you left me a message saying it would take 2 weeks. This service level is horrible !
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-5
Great family outing
Alisa_A
, Jun 2022
Seeing the catacombs is something we will never forget! It was very interesting and the church w 4 levels of building, built in various centuries was very impressive
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-1
Watch for transportation strikes!
Tina_W
, Jun 2022
Transportation strike and no taxis caused us to miss the tour due to not being able to get to our departure point. Understand the refund policy but this was out of our control. This would have been a wonderful tour. Pleaded my case but did not receive a refund
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star-5
Our guide, Claudia, was...
Sara_N
, Jun 2022
Our guide, Claudia, was fantastic. Easily the best guide we booked during our trip. The tour was excellent.
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star-5
Great value on an amazing trip
Joey_P
, Jun 2022
Second trip with Viator. Our guide Gabriel was incredible. Very knowledge and just an all around enjoyable guide. The trip started with the Capuchin Crypt museum. The bones were incredibly interesting and really unique. Following this was a tour to the Catacombs. This trip is led by the workers at the catacombs, but it was excellent as well. Finally, a trip to one of the first churches in Rome was interesting. Like everything else in Rome, having a guide with knowledge was super helpful. The ride to and from the catacombs was comfortable (air conditioned) and definitely a nice rest on a hot day in between sights.
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-5
So fun and interesting
Heidi_M
, Jun 2022
Peter was amazing! He provided great history and insight into each location but was able to add humor and make it relatable to us. The catacombs were amazing (and I was a bit nervous because I’m a little claustrophobic, but it wasn’t too tight). It’s also cooler down there which is great in the summer. I was especially interested in seeing the Capuchin Crypts and it did not disappoint. Definitely a highlight of the trip.
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star-5
Hidden city in the eternal city
IAKOVOS_E
, Jun 2022
Everything was great including the tour guides. The roman catacombs were astonishing and the Crypts were something really different. We were not tried at all. It was really worth it 😀
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