Ever since 6th grade when my teacher, Sister Laura, taught us about the Appian Way (the main road used in Rome during ancient times) I have wanted to visit it. I have also been intrigued by the catacombs which were ancient, underground burial sites used by Christians, Jews, and pagans alike. In order to satisfy both of these desires then, it would make sense to visit the Catacombs of San Callisto which are underneath part of the Appian Way. These catacombs were built near the end of the 2nd century. One of the oldest parts is the crypt of Lucina, where the crypt of the Popes (16 popes total), Saint Cecilia (whose body was moved to her church in Trastevere in 820 CE), and the Sacraments are preserved. They take up about 90 acres and contain galleries about 12 miles long. The catacombs are four levels which total more than twenty meters in depth. These were serious burial grounds and are now considered the official cemetery of the Church of Rome. Anyone interested in the history of the Christians, Jews, or pagans would find this space extraordinarily interesting; I doubt an experience like this could be found anywhere else.
The catacombs are open to the public Thursday through Tuesday from 9AM to noon and then reopen from 2 to 5:30PM. It costs €5 for adults and €3 for children (ages 6-15). Children under the age of 5 are free, and the entire area is closed in February. Information taken from: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/rome/A20684.html
Picture taken from:
http://images.43things.com/place/217359s110.jpg
No comments:
Post a Comment