Catacombs of St. Callixtus vs Catacombs of the Capuchins

Two of the most striking sites you’ll encounter in Rome during your trip are the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus and the Crypt of the Capuchin Friars. These two Christian burial sites attract many visitors with their history, aesthetics, and philosophical significance—and they’re sure to leave a lasting impression.

If you have plenty of time and a generous budget, ideally you should visit both sites because they are amazing, but if that’s not the case, don’t worry—to help you with the difficult task of choosing which one to visit, below we compare the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus and the Crypt of the Capuchin Friars.

The top-rated option

Rome Catacombs of Callixtus Guided Tour

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The perfect activity if you want to learn all about the history of one of Rome’s most fascinating catacombs from an expert guide.

From $18 at Hellotickets

By booking this guided tour of the Catacombs of San Calixto in Rome, you’ll discover the history behind all the frescoes, tunnels, and tombs they contain without missing a thing, as you’ll be accompanied by an expert guide who speaks your language and can answer all your questions. And best of all, your tour will be in a small group.

These catacombs are the oldest and most important in the Italian capital, as they house the tombs of the early Christians. For 40 minutes, you’ll immerse yourself in a network of tunnels spanning about 20 kilometers, where you can admire sites such as the Crypt of Saint Cecilia, the Crypt of the Popes, and the Cubiculum of the Sacraments, among other places.

Recommended if... you’re passionate about history and don’t want to miss a Rome must-see—plus skip the lines.

The no-line option

Guided tour of the Crypt of the Capuchins and the Catacombs in Rome

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This is the best option if you want to explore the crypt beneath the Church of Santa María de la Concepción in small groups and avoid waiting forever in the entrance lines.

From $26 at Hellotickets

The guided tour of the Capuchin Crypt is a highly sought-after activity among tourists, and this option with instant booking, skip-the-line access, and small group sizes will let you secure your entry and enjoy this unique place to the fullest.

The experience lasts approximately one hour and, of course, you’ll be accompanied by an expert guide. Plus, you’ll also have access to the Capuchin Crypt Museum, as it’s included in the price.

Recommended if... you want to delve deeper into the secrets of the Eternal City’s underground.

Although both sites were intended to house the remains of Christians in Rome, the origins of the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus and the Capuchin Crypt stem from different motivations.

The catacombs of Rome are underground cemeteries that emerged in the first half of the 2nd century AD, where early Christians buried their dead when Roman law did not allow them to be buried within the city. Unlike the Roman pagan rite, Christians did not cremate the deceased but buried them. To address the high cost of land and the space issues that soon arose, they decided to excavate these enormous cemeteries underground.

Features of the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus

The Catacombs of San Calixto are famous for being the largest in Rome (they feature 20 kilometers of tunnels spread across different levels) and for housing the Papal Crypt (which once held the tombs of several popes from the 2nd to the 4th centuries AD).

However, today you will not find ossuaries or human remains in the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus, as during the barbarian invasions of the 8th century AD, the catacombs were extensively looted, and the popes decided to transfer the relics preserved there to various churches throughout the city.

Features of the Capuchin Crypt

To see remains, you’ll need to visit the Crypt of the Capuchin Friars in the Church of Santa Maria della Concezione in Rome, which was built at the behest of Pope Urban VIII in honor of his brother Antonio Barberini, who was a member of the Capuchin Order.

The Catacombs of Saint Callixtus

Since the 5th century AD, when Christians resumed burying their dead above ground, the catacombs of Rome were abandoned, allowing them to remain virtually intact until they were discovered in the 19th century by the archaeologist Giovanni Battista de Rossi, thus becoming a very important and fascinating testament to antiquity.

The Catacombs of Saint Callixtus are the most visited and extensive in Rome, even more so than the Vatican Catacombs. There you can see:

• A multitude of niches where the burials of Christians, many of them martyrs, took place. More than half a million tombs have been identified, and they have only been partially explored.
• The tombs of the early popes, which contained the relics of several martyred pontiffs from the 3rd century AD.
• The tomb of Saint Cecilia, whose remains now rest in the church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere.
• A large number of frescoes, inscriptions, and sculptures, which are imbued with great symbolism related to early Christianity, such as the Chi-Rho, the letters Alpha and Omega, or the anchor cross.

The Crypt of the Capuchin Friars

Before entering the Crypt of the Capuchin Friars, you’ll first visit the Museum of the Convent of the Immaculate Conception, which won’t take long since it consists of only a few rooms. Here, you’ll not only learn about the history of the Capuchin Order but also admire the painting “Saint Francis of Assisi in Meditation,” which the artist Caravaggio created for this convent.

Afterward, you’ll have time to see the famous Crypt of the Capuchin Friars, a place that will leave you speechless and may remind you a lot of the Chapel of Bones in Évora (Portugal) or the Gothic Church of Sedlec (Czech Republic). This is what it contains:

• Chapels decorated with the bones of more than 4,000 monks who died between the 16th and 19th centuries, named after the bones most abundant in each one (skulls, femurs, pelvises, tibias, etc.).
• Complete skeletons of friars dressed in their habits.
• Garlands, rosettes, stars, and even a clock made from bones.

If you want to see them separately, starting at €15 you can get a general admission ticket to explore the Catacombs of San Calixto, while starting at €59 you can get a general admission ticket to visit the Capuchin Crypt, which is located next to the Museum of the Convent of the Immaculate Conception and alongside other underground tunnels.

Are there any discounts or reduced prices?

That’s right! At the Catacombs of San Calixto, there are discounted tickets starting at €12 for certain groups, allowing you to save a little on your visit. This small discount applies to:

• Children between 7 and 16 years old
• Student groups
• Students up to age 25 studying archaeology, art history, cultural heritage, and architecture who provide the appropriate certification.
• Priests, religious figures, seminarians, and novices who present the appropriate certification.
• Admission is free for children under 6 and for people with disabilities (>74%) and their companion.

In the case of the Capuchin Crypt, the website of the Church of Santa María de la Concepción does not specify who is eligible, but it does mention that reduced-price tickets are available for individual and group visitors.

The catacombs of Rome, and specifically those of San Calixto, can only be explored through an organized tour with an expert guide, as you will venture deep into the earth to traverse the tunnels that make up this ancient underground cemetery, which are somewhat narrow and dark.

Starting at €15, you can find options on Hellotickets to explore the Catacombs of San Callisto, but there’s also the option to take a guided tour that shows you both sites. On the website, you can also find activities that combine a visit to the Capuchin Crypt with other Catacombs of Rome starting at €58.

This way, in just a few hours, you can visit two different tourist attractions to learn about the funeral customs of the early Christians and their secret places of worship, as well as the symbolism behind the decorations adorning both the catacombs and the crypt.

Catacombs of Saint Callixtus

The Catacombs of Saint Callixtus are open Monday through Sunday from 9 AM to 12 PM and from 2 PM to 5 PM. They are closed on Wednesdays, New Year’s Day (January 1), Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day (December 25).

Guided tours take place every half hour and last approximately 40 minutes. In the morning, the last guided tour begins at 12 PM, while in the afternoon it begins at 5 PM (on Holy Thursday at 4:30 PM).

Crypt of the Capuchin Friars

The Capuchin Friars’ Crypt is open daily from 10 AM to 7 PM, with last admission at 6:30 PM.

Closed on Easter Sunday, November 2 at 3 PM, Christmas Eve (December 24) at 2:30 PM, Christmas Day (December 25), New Year’s Eve (December 31) at 2:30 PM, and New Year’s Day (January 1).

The Catacombs of Rome are one of Rome’s top attractions. Since it’s such a popular spot, there are always quite a few visitors, so I recommend visiting early in the morning when there are fewer people. However, the tour inside isn’t conducted in very large groups.

As for the Crypt of the Capuchin Friars, the Church of Santa Maria della Concezione isn’t one of Rome’s best-known churches, so there are usually fewer tourists visiting it compared to the Catacombs of San Calixto.

The Catacombs of San Callixtus are located at Via Appia Antica 126, which was one of the most important roads of the Roman Empire, and you can reach them by taking bus 118 near the Colosseo metro station.

In the vicinity of the Via Appia, there are remains of villas, mausoleums, catacombs, and even a circus. Walking along it is like taking a trip back in time to Ancient Rome.

On the other hand, the Crypt of the Capuchin Friars is located at 27 Via Vittorio Veneto, just a few minutes’ walk from the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. To get there, you can take a stroll or take the metro (Line A, Barberini station).

Taking a tour to visit the Catacombs of San Calixto or the Capuchin Crypt works up an appetite. Fortunately, there are several restaurants in the vicinity of both tourist attractions where you can refuel. Here are a few examples:

Catacombs of Saint Callixtus

• Tuarua (Via delle Sette Chiese 300): a perfect café for a quick bite, such as a sandwich and a coffee.
• Cecilia Metella (Via Appia Antica 125-129): a very pleasant restaurant where you can enjoy a delicious plate of Italian pasta. It features a beautiful garden where you can relax outdoors on sunny days. Good value for money.
• Trattoria Cotto e Magnato (Via Cornelio Magni, 27, Eur Colombo area): a family-run trattoria where you can enjoy the best home-style Italian cuisine. Friendly and efficient service.

Crypt of the Capuchin Friars

• Ristorante Ciao Bella (Via Vittorio Veneto 12): a pleasant place to eat in the center of Rome. Good service, and the wood-fired pizzas are delicious.
• Il Gazebo (Via Veneto, 24 Hotel Imperiale): the menu is simple but of excellent quality. The pasta and veal are the restaurant’s best dishes. Attentive service.
• Fraschetteria Giampiccolo (Via Dei Cappuccini 26): a cozy and quiet restaurant where you can enjoy delicious fresh pasta and a rich tiramisu for dessert. Fast service.

Unfortunately, taking photos or videos is not allowed in the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus or the Crypt of the Capuchin Friars.

It’s a shame because you’d surely like to have a memento of the experience, but looking on the bright side, this will allow you to fully immerse yourself in the experience, paying closer attention to all the details of the spaces you see along the tour and to the guide’s explanations, which are very interesting. And not so much on finding a good angle or enough light to take a good photo.

Avoid the catacombs if you’re claustrophobic

The Catacombs of San Calixto are underground, and the tunnels that make them up are extensive, dark, and narrow.

Although you’ll be accompanied by a guide and there’s enough space to move around calmly and without trouble, if you’re prone to claustrophobia in confined spaces, consider whether this is the right activity for you before buying tickets.

Prepare yourself for what you’ll see in the Capuchin Crypt

Due to the unique decoration of the chapels in the Capuchin Crypt, this place can be quite shocking. If you’re a very sensitive person, my advice is to prepare yourself a bit for what you’ll see there before you go and to consider whether the visit is appropriate for children, as the scene is a bit gruesome.

Follow the dress code

When visiting the Catacombs of San Calixto or the Capuchin Crypt, remember to wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees to gain entry, as these are spaces with a sacred significance for the Catholic religion.

In the catacombs, the temperature is around 16°C and humidity is high, so it’s advisable to wear a warm layer to stay warm during the tour.

Wear comfortable shoes

The floor of the catacombs isn’t always flat, so wearing comfortable shoes that provide good support for your feet is essential to fully enjoy your visit.

Don’t bring a camera

Since taking photos or videos is prohibited in the catacombs and the crypt, there’s no need to bring your camera. That’s one less thing weighing down your backpack!

If you have enough time during your trip to Rome, my advice is to visit both sites, as they are very different spaces that will surprise you with both their history and their aesthetics. Otherwise, it might be a good idea to focus on your preferences and look at your travel plan to help you decide. Here are some tips!

• If it’s your first time in Rome: the Catacombs of San Callisto
• If you’ve been to the city before: the Crypt of the Capuchin Friars
• If you want a peaceful visit: the Catacombs of San Callisto
• If you’re short on time: the Crypt of the Capuchin Friars
• If you’re on a tight budget: the Catacombs of San Callixtus
• If you don’t want to get tired: the Crypt of the Capuchin Friars
• If you’re interested in the history of Rome and Christianity: the Catacombs of Saint Callixtus
• If you're interested in unique and off-the-beaten-path tours: the Crypt of the Capuchin Friars