Catacombs of Saint Callixtus and other Rome, Italy Off The Beaten Path Tips

There are about 67 known Catacombs in Rome. Catacombs are actually underground cemeteries for the Christians for the first four centuries. The dead were placed on shelves cut into the walls of rock after the body was wrapped in loin cloth. The shelves were then cemented and names of the deceased were carved at the side. Catacombs contained some surviving examples of early Christian art. (I saw some decorated candlesticks and slabs at the sides of some of the catacombs that I had visited.) In the 1840's Pope Gregory XVI took steps to preserve the catacombs and their treasures. In the early days, Christians hid in the catacombs to worship out of fear of retaliation by the Roman authorities. Thus today, Masses are sometimes conducted in the catacombs. I think one of the worth going catccombs is Catacombs of Saint Callixtus. It was carved out of soft volcanic rock and was the ancient burial place of the first popes. Their resting places were more elaborated with separate tombs or entire underground chapels.

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