Catacombs of Marcellinus and Peter

The Catacombs of Saints Marcellinus and Peter lie beneath the Via Casilina, at the third mile of the ancient Via Labicana, and together with the imperial mausoleum above them form one of the richest ensembles of early Christian Rome. The galleries were dug between the second half of the third century and the early fifth century and extend over about three hectares, with some 4.5 km of passages on several levels. They take their name from the martyrs Marcellinus and Peter, who according to tradition were executed under Diocletian in 304 and buried here; the place was known in antiquity as "ad duas lauros", at the two laurels.

Their fame rests on their paintings. More than eighty decorated chambers hold one of the most complete galleries of late antique art: the story of Jonah told in several scenes, Daniel among the lions, the raising of Lazarus, Moses striking water from the rock, Orpheus with his lyre, and a series of banquet scenes linked to funeral meals, both real and symbolic. The frescoes were cleaned with laser technology in a restoration programme that made the catacombs visitable. In the early 2000s excavators also found an extraordinary area of mass graves with thousands of skeletons, wrapped in textiles and plaster, dating from the first to the third century.

Above ground stands the Mausoleum of Helena, built by Constantine around 315–326 as the tomb of his mother, whose red porphyry sarcophagus is now in the Vatican Museums. Its walls were lightened with amphorae set into the concrete, which earned it the medieval nickname "Tor Pignattara", the tower of pots, the name of the whole district today.

Getting there

The catacombs are at Via Casilina 641 in the Tor Pignattara district, about 3 km south-east of the centre of ancient Rome; Casal Bertone is about 2.5 km away. Ciampino Airport (CIA) is about 10 km away.