Catacombs and Appian way Tour
Description
On this half-day tour of the catacombs outside Rome you will visit the Catacombs of San Callisto and learn why burial in this way became a necessity. You will walk a part of the Via Appia Antica, the so-called ‘Appian Way’, one of Ancient Rome’s oldest and most important roads’ used for military expeditions and along which thousands of slaves were crucified during Spartacus’ revolt. You will also see the Circus of Maxentius and one of Rome’s aqueducts, vital for providing enough water for the capital of an empire, learning about its complicated structure and construction.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Uncover the mysteries of the unknown Catacombs of San Callisto, also referred to as the Cemetery of Callixtus. This walking tour of Rome takes you around the intriguing grounds containing the tombs of several different popes from the 2nd to 4th centuries. Delve into the underground and learn the secrets behind this cryptic graveyard and why these catacombs are one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Italy. Your guide will reveal the legends, burial rituals and process during this period of time as you wander among these ancient and mysterious tombs.
Second in size to the more famous Circus Maximus, Maxentius in the best preserved Circus in Rome. Built between 306 and 312, Circus of Maxentius rests between the basilica and catacombs of San Sebastiano and the tomb of Cecilia Metella.
The tour continues with an external visit to the Mausoleum of Caecilia (Cecilia) Metella, built in the 1st century BC to honor the daughter of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus (a prominent member of Roman nobility.)
The Appian Way (completed in 312 B.C) was one of the earliest and longest roads of Ancient Rome. It was also the most significant- both symbolically and strategically. Symbolically in that all roads really did lead to Rome (like that famous saying) most likely and maybe even literally at this point. And strategically because, the Appian Way was the main route for all supplies and the military, connecting Rome to Brindisi in southeast Italy.
Admire the magnificent Claudian Aqueduct, regarded as one of the 4 greatest aqueducts of Rome. Erected in 52 AD, this aqueduct spanned over 40 miles long, most of which was underground. By the 3rd century AD, Rome had a total of 11 aqueducts since original construction began. Yet what remains is a breathtaking vision of one of the most incredible engineering feats of its time. The ancient aqueducts are still impressive by today’s standards.This sightseeing tour is the perfect option to see some of the best, secret sites in Rome.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Not recommended for claustrophobic people
Reviews(17)
This was a nice trip in a not so busy space. Our guide was gracious and knowledgeable. We enjoyed the catacombs but wished we could have snapped a few pictures as it will be difficult to explain them to family back home.
Our tour guide did a great job! Van driver was safe and polite. But the van was disappointing because the windows had design that obstructed our vision. We couldn’t see out of the van windows while our guide was pointing things out. The windows have a design over them, making it impossible to see the sights and impossible to take pictures. Please correct this for future visitors.
Wonderful tour with Catrina. We had a wonderful experience and learned a lot about the history and people of Rome. The tour of the catacombs is very informative, but the highlight for our group was the Appian way and aqueducts.
Wow! This tour was so unexpectedly good! We ended up being the only family on this tour. So, we had our tour guide and driver to ourselves for the day. They were the most lovely people! We traveled with them in a very comfortable van. Our guide gave us information about sites in the city of Rome along the way as we drove towards our various destinations. At the Catacombs, we had a group tour. Afterwards, our guide met us and took us to the sites along the Apian way and the Aqueduct, giving us information and taking pictures in key places for our family.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a memorable experience on the Catacombs and Appian Way Tour. It’s fantastic that you had a private experience—it sounds like a perfect day! We're especially glad to know that your guide and driver made you feel comfortable and enriched your journey with their insights and kindness. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and hope to welcome you and your family back for another adventure in the future!
Warning. The Tours and Tours operator for this tour contacted me the day before to say they were going to cancel my tour since my husband and I were the only registered customers. I should have known not to book with a company with only 15 reviews. Normally I select one with at least 500 reviews. Then they informed me to wait because they might have a solution to problem. I had to contact them to inquire if problem fixed. The problem was not fixed. My tour was cancelled but they offered a completely different tour instead. My advice is to register w/ a company with more reviews to ensure your plans aren't cancelled last minute. Lesson learned!
Thank you for sharing your experience. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by the last-minute cancellation of your original tour. We understand how frustrating it is when plans change unexpectedly, especially after you’ve made your booking. As a smaller operator, sometimes low bookings can lead to necessary adjustments, but we recognize the importance of clear communication and timely updates. Your feedback highlights areas where we need to improve, particularly in proactive communication and offering alternative solutions. We appreciate your advice and hope that, despite this experience, you might consider giving us another chance in the future. We’re committed to growing and improving our services to provide a more reliable and enjoyable experience for all our guests.
The tour guide and the catacombs tour guide were excellent Don Sam at the site. The van we were in was mechanically excellent but the mesh over the windows made it impossible to see outside. THIS VAN SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR TOURS. We could not see what the guide was pointing out.
Thank you for your feedback and for highlighting Don Sam’s excellent guiding. We’re glad the van was mechanically sound, but we sincerely apologize that the mesh over the windows affected your ability to enjoy the sights. Your comment is very helpful, and we will review our vehicle options to ensure a better viewing experience for future guests. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention and hope to provide you with an improved tour next time.
This was a great way to see some of the ancient ruins and countryside outside of Rome! The catacombs were good but the highlights of the tour were the Appian Way and the Claudian Aqueduct. I saw many other tour operators for the Catacombs but this is the only one that I found which combined these three activities. I was nervous about booking because there were so few reviews but this tour exceeded my expectations! The Catacombs were crowded with other tour groups but not the Appian Way nor the aqueduct. Overall, this was an excellent experience and allowed me to visit some interesting sights that I would have otherwise missed.
Cathia was a great tour guide! We especially loved to see the original Appian way and the Aqueducs. The catacombs were also interesting.
This tour was great, and Catia was an awesome guide! The meeting location was clearly defined and easy to locate. We really enjoyed the catacombs and getting out of the busy city to see the Appian Way. We had quite a large group, and Catia had assistants to help her keep everyone together. The only part that was not perfect was that there were too many people for one vehicle so we were divided into two vehicles. Catia was in the other vehicle. She continued to provide information during the ride from place to place, but the sound quality was not good in the vehicle she was not riding in. Consequently, we missed some information. The reason I chose this tour was that it included a visit to the aquaducts. I'm so glad we got to see that - I don't think most other tours go in that far. That was a really beautiful area. I'm also glad we did not choose an Ebike tour. We saw many bikers, and it looked absolutely frightening to me. I would only do that if you're a skilled biker. There are many, many tourists to maneuver around, uneven cobblestone streets, and crazy drivers. I would highly recommend this tour.
Just amazing experience. The guide was great and I loved walking the Appian Way. It was a great tour. The catacombs are sobering. The separate group for the catacombs was a bit too big.
