The largest catacombs in Rome

The Catacombs of Domitilla are the most extensive in Rome: a maze of galleries carved into the tuff that stretches for miles across several levels. They sit in the Via delle Sette Chiese area, a short distance from the Catacombs of San Callisto and the Via Appia Antica. Their most remarkable feature is a semi-underground basilica, still in use for worship today and dedicated to the martyrs Nereus and Achilleus: one of a kind among the catacombs of Rome.

The history

The name comes from Flavia Domitilla, a noblewoman of the imperial family of the Flavians, who gave over her land for Christian burials. The galleries, which grew from the 2nd century onward, took in thousands of the dead and became a place of pilgrimage thanks to the tombs of the martyrs. Today they are looked after by the Pontificia Commissione di Archeologia Sacra and can be visited only with a guide.

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What makes these catacombs unique

  • The underground basilica of Nereus and Achilleus, still in use for worship: one of a kind.
  • The sheer size: these are the largest catacombs in Rome, spread across several levels.
  • The early Christian frescoes, including scenes of the Good Shepherd.
  • The tombs of the martyrs and the atmosphere of early Christian Rome.

We go deeper in our guides to what to see at the Catacombs of Domitilla and in the article on the basilica of Nereus and Achilleus.

Guided visit

As with the other catacombs, entry is generally allowed only on a guided tour. For opening hours, tickets, and details, see our guide Catacombs of Domitilla: tickets and hours. To plan your trip, check how to get to the Catacombs of Domitilla.

Which catacomb to choose

Rome offers several catacombs open to visitors: alongside Domitilla, there are San Callisto, Priscilla, and San Sebastiano. To help you decide, see our guide the catacombs of Rome: which ones to visit.

Frequently asked questions

What are the Catacombs of Domitilla? The largest catacombs in Rome, on the Via delle Sette Chiese, famous for the semi-underground basilica of Nereus and Achilleus, still in use for worship, and for their early Christian frescoes.

Why are they called that? After Flavia Domitilla, a noblewoman of the imperial family of the Flavians, who donated her land for Christian burials.

Can you visit on your own? No: entry is generally allowed only on a guided tour, to protect the site and help you find your way through galleries on several levels.

What makes them unique? The underground basilica of the martyrs Nereus and Achilleus, still in use for worship today: one of a kind among the catacombs of Rome.

Where are they located? In the Via delle Sette Chiese area, near the Via Appia Antica and the Catacombs of San Callisto, south of central Rome.

See also

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Article #487 · Category: Monuments · Updated: May 2026