THE CATACOMBS OF SAINT CALLIXTUS
PRACTICAL ADVICES
LE CATACOMBE DI SAN CALLISTO
Via Appia Antica, 110/126 - 00179 ROMA - Italy
Tel. 0039 - 06 - 513 01 51
Fax 0039 - 06 - 513 01 567
E.Mail: scallisto@catacombe.roma.it
How to arrive:
Facing the Old Appian Way (Via Appia Antica) from Porta S. Sebastiano, the Catacombs of St. Callisto are near the small church “Quo Vadis?” on one side and the Basilica of St. Sebastian on the other.
By public transport:
- From Stazione Termini
take Metro A (Anagnina) or bus 714 (Palazzo Sport) to the stop at St. John Lateran Square (Piazza di S. Giovanni in Laterano), then bus 218 and stop at Fosse Ardeatine. The entrance to the Catacombs is opposite (n. 2 on the map).
take Metro B (Laurentina) to the stop Circo Massimo. Then bus 118 (Lagonegro) and stop at Catacombe di San Callisto (after Quo Vadis? - church, entrance n. 4 on the map).
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From Piramide di Caio Cestio (Tube Piramide Metro B / Railway Station Ostiense) take bus 118 (Lagonegro) on to the Catacombs of St. Callisto (after Quo Vadis? - church, entrance n. 4 on the map).
By coach or chartered bus:
The access to the private parking area is only possible by the entrance in front of the Quo Vadis? - church (n. 1 on the map), coming from Porta S. Sebastiano. Therefor you are advised to ride:
- from Via Cristoforo Colombo to the end (Porta Ardeatina, Mura Latine), then turn right as far as Porta S. Sebastiano, where Via Appia Antica starts, on the right.
- Or, from the centre to Viale delle Mura Latine as far as Porta S. Sebastiano and there, at the traffic lights, turn left to Via Appia Antica.
The parking area inside is large, located at about 1000 m near the entrance to the Catacombs.
There is also a small public parking area near the Fosse Ardeatine, beside the entrance n. 2. To this parking you can arrive
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from Via Cristoforo Colombo through Piazza dei Navigatori and Via delle Sette Chiese, going on until the crossroads of Via Ardeatina. The parking area is opposite to entrance n. 2.
From outside Rome:
On coming by coach or with your car from the Great Ring Road (Grande Raccordo Anulare) you can take:
- Exit 24 (uscita 24 „Roma centro – Fosse Ardeatine“), along the Via Ardeatina to the Fosse Ardeatine, and there use the public parking opposite the Catacombs or - for cars only - continue the Via Ardeatina to Quo Vadis? and then take entrance n. 1.
For coaches it is advisable to go on Via delle Sette Chiese as far as Piazza dei Navigatori, Via Cristoforo Colombo and then, as shown above, at Porta S. Sebastiano, take Via Appia Antica.
- Exit 27 (uscita 27 “Via Cristoforo Colombo”): go on the Via Cristoforo Colombo (direction “centro”) as far as Porta Ardeatina, and then as shown above.
Important: The access to Via Appia Antica is usually forbidden to coaches and private cars on holidays. Nevertheless it is allowed when you explain to the policemen that you are going to the Catacombs of S. Callisto (which are considered as museum), and that there is a parking place inside.
INFORMATIONS
- The catacombs of St. Callixtus are open all year round, except on Christmas, New Year’s Day and at Easter. They are closed on Wednesdays and from 27 January 2010 to 24 February 2010
- Visiting hours: 9.00 - 12.00 14.00 - 17.00
- The price of admission is € 8.- full price; € 5.- reduced fee.
The reduced fee is
- for school classes, presenting a certificate from their School;
- for youth from age 7 to 15;
- for soldiers and police in uniform or with identification card.
Free entrance is granted
- to children up to the age of 6;
- to Professors, teachers and catechists accompanying students groups – one per 15 students allowed;
- to Students of the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology (with ID issued by the Pontificial Commission of Sacred Archaeology);
- to Priest and religious of the Order that manages the catacomb;
- to the disabled, with a helper;
- to Guides and drivers of groups paying full-price tickets . Tickets can not be transferred to others member of the group;
- to Members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard and of the Vatican Police Force currently serving.
Full price tickets
Anyone who does not qualify for the above categories must pay full price tickets
It is strictly forbidden to take photos or to film inside the Catacombs.
REGULATIONS FOR VISITS
- It is not necessary – even if advisable - to book in advance the mere visit of a group. Please contact us in time, when the group consists of more than 50 people.
- Booking is necessary for the celebration of Holy Mass.
2.1 The booking must specify the requested day and hour of the Mass, the number and language of the participants.
2.2 The groups must provide their own priest.
2.3 The time for the celebration is from 09.00 to 11.00 and from 14.00 to 15.30.
2.4 The Catacombs will provide what is required for the Mass, including the Liturgical Books with
the text of the Mass of the Martyrs and the corresponding readings in Latin and in seven other languages (Italian, English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Polish) and the vestments for three priests.
2.5 The time allowed for the Mass is 30 minutes, not longer, to respect the timetable arranged with the next groups.
The booking may be requested by Fax, E.Mail or Post.
- The form the visit will take.
The visitors follow a guide in their own language, without any further recompense, but in time of great flow, groups of the same language, arriving at the same time, will be joined together in the grounds above the catacombs.
There they receive a full introduction to the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus (history, symbols, crypts and galleries, frescoes and inscriptions). Then they will be accompanied underground, without stopping for further explanations, through the crypts and galleries.
We cannot satisfy the request for a longer visit and further explanations underground nor can we take different routes.
The visit (introduction beforehand and the walk through the Catacombs) will last about 30/40 minutes.
- The payment of the admission is made
- in cash at the tickets office,
- by vouchers, if the Tourist Agency has drawn up a contract with our administration,
- by credit cards (CartaSì, Bancomat, Eurocard/ Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Diners).
