Location: Rome
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10 Cemeteries in Rome That You Shouldn't Miss
Rome wasn't built in a day--and you'll need much more than a day to take in this timeless city. The city is a real-life collage of piazzas, open-air markets, and astonishing historic sites. Toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, contemplate the Colosseum and the Pantheon, and sample a perfect espresso or gelato before spending an afternoon shopping at the Campo de’Fiori or Via Veneto. Enjoy some of the most memorable meals of your life here, too, from fresh pasta to succulent fried artichokes or a tender oxtail stew.
Restaurants in Rome
1. Catacombe SS. Marcellino e Pietro - Mausoleo di S. Elena
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 127 reviews
Excavated below this location between the 3rd and 5th centuries CE, the Catacombs of the SS. Marcellino and Pietro house many tombs of very rich Christians who have left us wuonderful frescoes recently restored to their original splendor through laser technology. With its 18,000 square meters of galleries and chambers at about 16 meters below ground level, these catacombs represent an authentic tresure trove of Subterranean Christian Rome.
2. Catacombs of Saint Callixtus
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,801 reviews
Official underground cemetery of the Church of Rome in the 3rd century AD. Around half a million Christians were buried here, among them many martyrs and 16 popes. They are named after the deacon St. Callixtus who, at the beginning of the 3rd century AD, was assigned by Pope Zephyrinus to the administration of the cemetery. Since 1930 they have been entrusted to the custody of the Salesians of Don Bosco.
Reviewed By enjoyos - Munich, Germany
Very nice tour guide, impressive catacombs, interesting history! Only a handful of tourists because of Covid-19.
3. Colombario di Pomponio Hylas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By CarolnRobb - New York City, United States
We had read about this unusual burial crypt and realized it was difficult to arrange. We contacted our guide Silvia Prosperi and she was about to obtain the permit and arrange for the appoint with the Parks Department representative to open it. We learned there are many sights like this that can only be opened by appointment.
4. Mausoleo delle Fosse Ardeatine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 217 reviews
Reviewed By Passport770189
Another German atrocity for all the world to see, this time perpetrated against its former ally, Italy, whose foolish dictator Mussolini ignored his Fascist colleagues' advice to stay out of Germany's war and away from Hitler. Read up on the Italian partisans' Via Rasella attack on German troops occupying Rome that led Hitler to order the massacre in Robert Katz's "Death in Rome," which also details the massacre itself. Via Rasella is near the Spanish Steps, and also worth seeing to get a feel for what went on. Better yet, visit Rome's Museo Storico della Liberazione, located on Via Tasso in the former Gestapo HQ, to get a real feeling of how brutally savagely and treacherously Germany treated its former friend. Then, your visit to the caves will be a much more informed, and rightly indignant and emotional one.
5. Cimitero Acattolico per Stranieri
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 741 reviews
Reviewed By Margo7850p
What a wonderful place to visit. Few tourists visiting Rome reach one of the most interesting and suggestive places, which is the non-Catholic cemetery near the Pyramid of Cestius.Tourists from around the world are looking for the grave of John Keats, who died in Rome at the age of 26 in 1821. His name is not on the tombstone; only the words 'young English poet' appear. An epitaph was also engraved: "Here lies the one whose name is written on the water." There is also often visited by the Romans and tourists the tomb of the second poet of English Romantic Percy Bysshe Shelley. You can also see the tombstone of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's son, August. The stone has the inscription: "Goethe filius". A very special cemetery in the heart of Rome.
6. Catacombe di Santa Domitilla
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 422 reviews
Reviewed By lady_britts - Bexley, United Kingdom
I must say that when we saw that this was on the purple route on our Big Bus tour, I was initially reluctant. But this place is fascinating and incredibly interesting. The tour starts with you walking downstairs under the gift shop & you suddenly find yourself in a church, that is underground. After lighting a candle & thinking of my family in the semi-underground basilica we ventured on to a section of the 17 km of galleries and corridors that are set over four different levels that are the catacombs. Having held over 150,000 burials, this is a very tightly packed underground cemetery, with many twists and turns. Thankfully you're following a tour guide, as it would be very easy to get hopelessly lost down there & end up starring in your very own horror film. Having said that, it's not even remotely creepy but it is dark and if you're claustrophobic, this is not the place for you. It's a fascinating and a very impressive place where you can also see the earliest examples of Christian art dating back to the late 2nd century. Do remember that the catacombs are set 16 metres underground, so it's chilly down there - unless it's the summer then it'll be the best place to be! Highly recommended.
7. Catacombe di Priscilla
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 378 reviews
The Catacombs of Priscilla, sits on the Via Salaria, with its entrance in the convent of the Benedictine Sisters of Priscilla. It is mentioned in all of the most ancient documents on Christian topography and liturgy in Rome; because of the great number of martyrs buried within it, it was called “regina catacumbarum – the queen of the catacombs.” Originally dug out from the second to fifth centuries, it began as a series of underground burial chambers, of which the most important are the “arenarium” or sand-quarry, the cryptoporticus, (an underground area to get away from the summer heat), and the hypogeum with the tombs of the Acilius Glabrio family. The noblewoman Priscilla, who granted the Church use of the property, was a member of this family; her commemoration is noted on January 16th in the Roman Martyrology, which speaks of her as a benefactor of the Christian community in Rome. This cemetery was lost like all the others after the entrances were blocked to protect it from thievery; however, it was also one of the first to be rediscovered, in the sixteenth-century. A large portion of the funerary inscription, sarcophagi, stone and bodies (presumed to be those of martyrs) were subsequently taken away; nevertheless, the catacomb does preserve some particularly beautiful and important paintings, the most significant of which are included on the regular visit.
Reviewed By nicholasmC8460IQ - Enfield, United States
This was such a great decision to visit. The tour was very interesting, and the guide was very informative. I would certainly recommend this tour, well worth the trip.
8. Rome War Cemetery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 22 reviews
Reviewed By adelec317
Our visit was to pay our respects to my husbands uncle who died a few months after Italy was liberated. We found it very easy to get to as its within walking distance of the colosseum. On arriving there all we could say was Wow! So peaceful, no-one would know there was a main road on the otherside of the wall. Its beautifully kept,the gardners look after the graves exceptionally well and with the respect those laid to rest there deserve. Theres stone seats/benches that visitors can use to sit,reflect and take it in. The visitors book is readily available to write in and lots of information within a seperate book detailing the soldiers and also gives each soldiers grave numbers. Well worth a visit!
9. Cimitero Monumentale e Sacrario Militare del Verano
10. Catacombe San Sebastiano
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 728 reviews
A series of underground passages containing the tombs of the early Christians.
Reviewed By ajttx - Katy, United States
Full disclosure, I am biased. My son, who died of leukemia a year ago today was named after St. Sebastian. My wife and daughter and I visited today. That said, just from a historical perspective it was a great site. The Basilica got a bit emotional for us though.
