CATACOMBE DI SAN CALLISTO

On the right of via Appia Antica, after the small Quo Vadis church, the catacombs of Saint Calixtus are the largest and most important in Rome. Dating from the 2nd^century AD, they are part of a burial complex that occupies an area of 15 hectares with a network of galleries almost 20 km long, on different levels and reaching depths of over 20 m. Dozens of martyrs, sixteen pontiffs and numerous Christians are buried here. The catacombs take their name from the deacon St. Calixtus, who was entrusted by Pope Zephyrus with the administration of the cemetery, and so the Catacombs of St. Calixtus became the official cemetery of the Church of Rome. On the surface, you can see two small basilicas with three apses, called Tricore. The underground cemetery comprises a number of different areas. The Lucine crypt and the area known as "of the Popes and Saint Cecilia" are the most ancient nuclei (2nd^century ). The other areas are called Saint Miltiades (mid 3rd^century ), Saints Gaius and Eusebius (late 3rd^century ), Occidentale (first half of 4th^century ) and Liberian (second half of 4th^century ).

The Popes' Crypt. This is the most sacred and important of the catacombs, known as the "Little Vatican", because nine popes were buried here, and probably eight Church dignitaries from the 3rd^century . In front of the tomb of Pope Sixtus II, Pope St. Damasus (4th^century ) placed a marble slab with an inscription celebrating the memory of the martyrs and Christians buried in these catacombs.

Sainte-Cécile crypt. Next door is the crypt of Sainte-Cécile, patron saint of music. Born into a noble Roman family, she was martyred in the 2nd^century . Buried where her statue now stands, she was venerated here for at least five centuries. In 821, her relics were transported to Trastevere, in the basilica dedicated to her. The statue of Saint Cecilia is a copy of Maderno's famous work, sculpted in 1599. The crypt was entirely decorated with frescoes and mosaics (early 9th^century ).

Cubicula of the Sacraments. Passing through imposing galleries full of loculi, we reach five small rooms, veritable family tombs. They are particularly important for their frescoes. Dating from the early 3rd^century , they depict the sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist.