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Priscilla Catacombs

Typology: Catacombs

Address

Address: Via Salaria, 430
Zone: Quartiere Trieste (Roma nord)

Contacts

Opening times

For the opening times and guidelines please check the official website

Visits are guided and it is not possible to descend into the catacomb independently.
Temperature in the catacomb approx. 13 degrees

Information

Children from 7 to 15 years old; students with a letter of presentation accompanied from their school; Military in uniform or with military ID.

Limited parking for buses

FREE ENTRANCE
Children up to 6 years old, teachers or scholastic group leaders (one free entrance for every 15 students); group leaders: one group leader and one driver for every group of at least 20 people; assistants to the physically challenger.

Modalità di partecipazione: Booking recommended

Description

The catacomb of Priscilla is the oldest general cemetery of Early Christian Rome and the best preserved. It is located along the via Salaria. The first nucleus of the catacomb - among the largest in Rome - dates back to the second century, as proven by several inscriptions with the names of Peter and Paul. It takes its name from Priscilla, the mother of the Senator Pudens in whose house St. Peter, according to ancient tradition, found refuge. Not far from the modern entrance to the cemetery is the elegant subterranean chapel or crypt known as the Capella Greca, from two Greek epitaphs found there; this crypt is ornamented with very ancient symbolic frescoes, the most important of which is the celebrated Eucharistic painting in the apse, known as the Fractio Panis, because in it a figure (the priest) is breaking bread and giving it to persons seated at the same table. There is also here a very ancient fresco of the Blessed Virgin holding to her breast the Infant Jesus. In the fourth century a basilica was raised on this site - known as S Silvestro - now mostly rebuilt.
Note: It is possible for groups to celebrate mass in the catacomb with their own officiant, by telephone booking a few days before.Guided visits in Italian, English, French, German and Spanish for small groups with no booking required. For groups over 10 people, it is advisable to book beforehand.

Services

» Multilingual guided visits
» Point of Sale for Souvenirs, Books and Postcards
Last checked: 2023-11-24 14:22