Guided Tours

From Rome: Capuchin Crypt, Christian Catacombs & San Nicola Basilica Guided Tour

Tour guide leading a group through the historic Roman Catacombs, exploring the eerie Capuchin Crypts, and marveling at the Basilica of San Nicola on a guided tour in Rome

Guide with tour group at Roman catacombs

Tour group exploring the ancient Rome Crypts and Catacombs, with a special visit to the eerie Capuchin 'Bone Chapel'

Discover a spine-chilling array of bones, a maze of underground tombs, and the Basilica of San Nicola on this 3-in-1 expertly guided tour.

Highlights

Begin at the Museum and Crypt of the Capuchin Friars, where over 4,000 skeletal remains are artistically displayed in underground chapels!
Travel in a spacious coach to the Appian Way catacombs, exploring the galleries of either Domitilla, St. Callixtus, or St. Sebastian.
Admire the ancient ruins beneath the Basilica of San Nicola, including the Forum of Holitorium, an ancient vegetable market.
Gain enriching historical insights from your expert English-speaking guide at each site.
Did you know? In the Middle Ages, the ancient temples under San Nicola were repurposed into a prison, giving it the name, 'in Carcere' (in prison).

Inclusions

Half-day tour around the Roman Catacombs, Capuchin Crypt, & San Nicola Basilica
Expert English-speaking guide
Groups of up to 20 guests
Round-trip AC coach transfers from central Rome
Entry to the Museum & Crypt of the Capuchin Friars with audio guide
Guided tour of St. Callixtus/Domitilla/St. Sebastian Catacombs with entry
Entry to San Nicola in Carcere

Exclusions

Guided tour of the Museum & Crypt of the Capuchin Friars

Itinerary

Cancellation policy

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Reviews

4.3

1K ratings

5/5

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Beth

5/5

Nov, 2024

The tour guides were very informative and funny which made the experience feel more personal. The tour included plenty of features and was a highlight of our trip. Great day!

Anna

5/5

Sep, 2024

The experience was excellent! The organization was great, everything was thought of. The guides were knowledgeable and passionate, which made the tour extremely enjoyable. I was especially lucky to get Semih as the guide! He was very engaging, attentive and funny. He also shared a link to his list of restaurant recommendations, which was an awesome bonus! Definitely will book more tours!

Kellie

5/5

Sep, 2024

Great staff. Great tour for the catacombs only. I booked multiple with this site. Just don't book the colosseum and Roman hills. They never showed up to the tour and no tickets are there to request refund. It's like I didn't pay $169 for the tour of all three events. Vatican was also a nightmare to get tickets finally got them. Head out tour so far is not a reliable ticket source. We spent another $120 to tour. I got no ticket no entry and paid $169. No refund just out my money.

Penelope

4/5

Aug, 2024

Really enjoyed our day out exploring the Crypts and Catacombes. The guides were very knowledgeable. However, this was not a small group tour as advertised. We were in smaller groups at the start of the tour for the Capuchin Crypts but then one of the three guides left us and each group size was well over 20 people for the remainder of the day. Our guides tried very hard to make sure we could see everything/hear them but practically there were far too many in each group for exploring the confined spaces of the catacombs and San Nicola. The end point of the tour was also advertised as Piazza Barberini but there was no option to get the coach back there and we were left some significant distance away at San Nicola on a exceptionally hot day, with metro lines closed. It would have been helpful to have been warned of this in advance because we had to change our evening plans as a result.

Rahel

4/5

Jul, 2024

Our guide, Peter (maybe Pete, we not 100% sure), was the highlight of our tour. He is a very informative and entertaining guide. Made the tour 10x more fun.

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Your experience

The bone chapels

Your first stop is the Museum & Crypt of the Capuchin Friars, housing Caravaggio’s painting of St. Francis and many artifacts from the order's history of creating altruistic projects around the world. Lined along the rear end of the museum are the Capuchin Crypts: resting places of 4000 Capuchin Friars, whose skeletal remains were artistically arranged in the European tradition of memento mori, a simple reminder that all must die.

The sacred Christian catacombs

On a private AC bus, you'll travel along the ancient Appian Way to the extensive catacombs, dug into the ground some 2000 years ago. Follow your historian guide through the network of sacred tunnels associated with the first Christians in ancient Rome. Descend into the labyrinthian corridors carved into the soft volcanic rock as you discover intriguing iconography, fascinating frescoes, and breathtaking burial grounds. You will either visit the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, St. Sebastian, or Domitilla!

Basilica of San Nicola in Carcere

Below the altar of the church, lies the ancient Forum Holitorium. Nestled along the Tiber, this historic market once bustled with commercial and religious activities. Wander its streets, tracing the path of triumphal parades, and explore the awe-inspiring temples of Janus and Juno Sospita. Admire the resilience of ancient columns and stunning frescoes standing tall through fire and flood.

Know before you go

What to bring

Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring along a layer for chilly underground temperatures.

What's not allowed

Note that the following are not allowed on this tour: Large items, pets, food and beverages.
Photography and videography is prohibited inside the catacombs and crypts.
Strict dress code: Clothing that covers the knees and shoulders.

Accessibility

This experience is not wheelchair accessible, and not recommended for those with claustrophobia or serious mobility issues.

Additional information

Please arrive on time, as latecomers will not be accommodated.

My tickets

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.
Please display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID to your guide.
If you have purchased reduced price tickets, please carry your valid photo ID proof for verification. Students must show their valid Student IDs.
Kindly ensure that you arrive 20 minutes before the start time of your tour to avoid any delays.

Meeting Point

Please check your final voucher for the meeting point details and specific instructions.