Rome Underground: Catacombs Tour, Aqueducts and Appian Way
Recommended by 96% of travelers
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Rome, Italy
- 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Group discounts
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Immerse yourself in Roman history and learn information you’d unlikely encounter on your own on this small-group tour of Rome’s underground. Explore the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella and learn about its history. Then, visit the Catacombs of San Sebastiano or Domitilla (depending on the day), home to stunning frescoes and thousands of centuries-old bones. Learn about early Christianity from your guide while meandering the endless darkened tunnels.
- Go beyond the main attractions and delve deeper into Roman history
- Learn about the Mythraic, a secret religion remains a mystery to many
- Benefit from your guide's insights into local history
- A small group size means more attention from your guide
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
Unlike many Appian Way tours, this offers air-conditioned transportation so you can beat the summer heat.
What's Included
- Entry to the catacombs of San Sebastiano or Domitilla (depending on the day)
- Appian Way (Via Appia Antica)
- Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella (exterior)
- Ancient Roman Aqueducts
- Private, air-conditioned transport
- If option selected: Colosseum Entrance Ticket (€18)
- Small groups of 18 people or fewer
- Expert Catacombs tour guide
- Expertly guided walking tour
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Piramide00154 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a yellow WalksDevour sign. This tour meets in front of the Piramide metro station, located across from Piazzale Ostiense.
End points
This activity ends in a different location. See details below:
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Itinerary
Travel back in time as you explore the historic Appian Way, one of the earliest roads built by the Romans. With centuries-old paving stones beneath your feet, follow the path once used by legions, merchants, and travelers.
Along the way, discover ancient tombs and ruins that tell the story of Rome’s expansion. Pause to admire the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, an imposing circular tomb dating back to the 1st century BCE. Learn about the powerful family that built this monument and how it has endured through time. Then, stand in awe beneath the remains of Rome’s ancient aqueducts. These towering structures once supplied fresh water to the ancient city, demonstrating the engineering prowess of the Roman Empire.
Finally, it's time to experience the eerie and fascinating Catacombs of San Sebastiano in a crowd-free setting as the last visitors of the day. Venture into underground tunnels lined with ancient frescoes and early Christian burial sites, gaining insight into Rome’s hidden past.
Enjoy a hassle-free experience with private, air-conditioned transport between sites and a guide to bring history to life. Step beyond the city center and uncover Rome’s lesser-known wonders on this immersive tour.
Along the way, discover ancient tombs and ruins that tell the story of Rome’s expansion. Pause to admire the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, an imposing circular tomb dating back to the 1st century BCE. Learn about the powerful family that built this monument and how it has endured through time. Then, stand in awe beneath the remains of Rome’s ancient aqueducts. These towering structures once supplied fresh water to the ancient city, demonstrating the engineering prowess of the Roman Empire.
Finally, it's time to experience the eerie and fascinating Catacombs of San Sebastiano in a crowd-free setting as the last visitors of the day. Venture into underground tunnels lined with ancient frescoes and early Christian burial sites, gaining insight into Rome’s hidden past.
Enjoy a hassle-free experience with private, air-conditioned transport between sites and a guide to bring history to life. Step beyond the city center and uncover Rome’s lesser-known wonders on this immersive tour.
1
Appian Way (Via Appia Antica)
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Parco Archeologico dell'Appia Antica
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
4
Catacombe San Sebastiano
1 hour 20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
5
Rome
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
- Due to the tight nature of the catacombs, those with claustrophobia may want to consider another tour.
- This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
- Please note, the tour visits the catacombs of San Sebastiano or Domitilla (depending on the day).
- If Catacombs with Colosseum option is selected: The full names of all participants must be provided at the time of booking and match the names on their ID. The Colosseum requires all guests (including children) to present government ID at the time of entry. Therefore any guest that does not submit their name in advance of the tour, or who does not bring their ID to the meeting point, will be refused participation without refund. Name corrections are possible up to 7 days before the visit. After this, changes may not be possible.
- Please note: This tour offers multiple options. Take a moment to choose the one that best suits your interests.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 18 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 1,615 reviews
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It was a great experience outside of Rome. We were able to see some beautiful scenery, learn some interesting history, and escape the crowds of Rome. Alessandra was an excellent guide.
The meeting point sent to us said Piramide. We left at 1 for a 2:30 tour. Got to where the gos directed us to a building labeled Piramide. It was a metro station and no one there knew where this ticket redemption center was located . We walked all around asking if anyone knew and could not find it. At 2:40 we gave up because the tour would have left and they will not refund! Very disappointing. Would not recommend!
An interesting, informative tour. Easy to find guide at agreed location. It was a very humid day so the air-conditioned coach was welcomed. There were times when the commentary for Appian Way & Aquaducts in the heat was too long, would have been better to walk and listen, tour could have been shorter due to the stopping. Guides were knowledgeable.
This was a great tour thanks largely to the wonderful guide, Antonella. She was very informative and friendly with an amazing sense of humor.
Exceptional guide. Very interesting. Highly recommend. Lots of unknown history. Would recommend to anyone that wants to learn more of Romes history.
Our tour guide was full of the richness of history from ancient Roman to Christian history and woven them together beautifully.
Great guide. The big stone walk along the Arian way might be difficult for some wiry mobility issues but doable if you watch your step.
This was a fantastic tour. The guide was amazing as well. Everything advertised was included. The guide never stopped giving us information as we drive from place to place. Giving us the history as we went..
Antonella was an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable about ancient Rome history. She explained the history of the Appian Way, the aquaducts and the catacombs so clearly. The guide through the catacombs was excellent as well. Highly recommend this tour..especially being in the air conditioned bus on a warm day.
Antonella was amazing!!!! She covered it all ... the history, local lore, and how the natural landscape plays a part. We thoroughly enjoyed it.!
Great tour. It was amazing . Our guide was very informative she provided so much helpful information.
It was a perfect family excursion for a hot day. We found a great restaurant and wine bar close to the pickup location for a delicious lunch beforehand.
It was interesting and the guide was very knowledgeable about where we were, however, it was not worth $90 per person. I would’ve chose another way to spend 3 hours and the money.
Kiara was a great guide with great enthusiasm and information, clear English that was easy to hear with provided audio ear piece. Air con van was very nice on a hot day. Will recommend for others.
We had an amazing time on the tour. We learned so much, had so much fun and would strongly recommend!
Paris was our guide. She was wonderful!! We learned so much!! She was so pleasant and easy going. I wish we could have taken pictures in the catacombs, but totally understand. Great take!!
The information about this tour indicates that knees and shoulders should be covered which was not the case. We had purchased 2 scarves at the last minute because of this which were not needed
The air conditioned van was wonderful as was our guide!
It was very interesting to see the ruins or remains of the aqueduct. Walking the original, Appianway was another highlight, and the tour of the catacombs really brought forth some of the early life of the Romans. The whole experience was brought together by an amazing guide, Julia.
Annamaria was an excellent tour guide and the tour was brilliant highly recommend as you’ll see things your never be able to see on foot
It was a great tour. I love you for detailed information about the history. Love the tour guide, Anika!
Fascinating tour. Our tour guide was very theatrical & at times a little too chatty, but he was very knowledgeable.
We absolutely loved this tour. Our guide was informative and friendly. The guide that we had in the catacombs was awesome and so easy to understand. Be aware if you book this tour that there are a lot of steps to go up and down as well as walking on very rocky roads that would be impossible for a walker or wheelchair to maneuver, so if that is a difficulty you might want to reconsider this tour. We had to cancel one of our people out when we found out how many steps there actually were. Other than that everything went smoothly and was very enjoyable.
Catacombs were amazing but Appian way was just ok. Honestly, catacombs were so close to Rome it would be easy to take a taxi and get the tour they offer which is exactly what you receive on this tour.
Despite the extremely hot weather, I found the visit to the aqueducts and the opportunity to explore the underground structures and catacombs absolutely fascinating. It was a unique and memorable experience. Paris, our tour guide, was extremely friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable.
I was unable to attend this tour. I am sure it would have been great like the others I have been on. The taxi drivers dropped me off at the wrong place and i was unable to get to the correct location in time. I am sure it would have been a great tour like the others i have been on.
Interesting tour with lots of historical information given by a knowledgeable, friendly guide who spoke excellent English.
Its fun. you ride in a van and it has good aircondisioning.................. idk what else to say...
This was a highly informative, jam packed tour with so much excellent historical information on Rome. Easy to find the group at the subway station and from there we set out to the catacombs. Would recommend to anyone looking for a tour that's a little off the beaten path.
Highly recommended! I was concerned when I booked due to the length of the tour and the summer heat but everything went very smoothly from the comfortable minivan with AC to the very kind and experienced guide, Ana Maria who knew how to pace the group to meet everyones needs and expectations. I would book that again with no hesitation!! Thank you!
Our tour guide was amazing at making the history come to life. It was nice to get out of the heat into the catacombs when it's 100 degrees out.
Federico was our tour guide and he was passionate, knowledgeable, and engaging. I planned this tour last minute and it was one of the highlights of our trip. The tour takes you outside the city and away from the crowds. We learned quite a bit of history along the way and were able to imagine how Rome looked with his descriptions coupled with images he provided. We moved around in a bus with AC, so we were grateful for that. The catacombs were fascinating and a nice relief from the heat above. I reached out to the company with a question and they were prompt with their response. Totally worth it and highly recommend!
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