Rome, known as the Eternal City, is famed for its ruins, monuments, basilicas and piazzas. However, beneath its bustling streets and historic edifices lies a hidden world that offers an even deeper connection to its ancient past. This blog article delves into Rome’s subterranean treasures, including its catacombs, underground temples, ancient aqueducts, and sewers.
The catacombs were created as subterranean burial places primarily for Christians and Jews between the second and fifth centuries AD. During this period, burying the dead within city limits was prohibited by Roman law, necessitating the creation of these fascinating tunnel systems with underground cemeteries. Many tunnels are kilometers long and sometimes have four floors. The catacombs provided not just a final resting place but also a space for religious rituals and ceremonies during times of persecution.
In Rome, only a few of the many catacombs are open to the public, those of San Callisto, San Sebastiano, San Domitilla, San Agnese and San Priscilla. Booking a tour with a guide is the easiest way to visit the catacombs and monuments. It is recommended to wear comfortable footwear as you will be walking through underground tunnels.
The Catacombs of San Callisto, one of Rome’s largest and most significant, cover approximately 20 kilometers. Established in the mid-2nd century, they feature several remarkable crypts, including the Crypt of the Popes, where many early popes were interred.
Situated along the ancient Appian Way, the Catacombs of San Sebastiano are among Rome’s oldest. These catacombs are named after the Christian martyr Saint Sebastian and offer a glimpse into Rome’s early religious history.
Often referred to as the “Queen of the Catacombs,” the Catacombs of Priscilla are renowned for their exquisite frescoes that date back to the 2nd century. The artwork here includes some of the earliest known depictions of the Virgin Mary and the Magi (‘wise men’).
The catacombs are not merely burial sites; they are rich with early Christian art and inscriptions. These frescoes and symbols, such as the fish (Ichthys), the anchor, and the Good Shepherd, communicated faith and hope in the promise of resurrection to those who faced persecution.
Dedicated to the god Mithras, a deity popular among Roman soldiers, the Mithraeum were secretive underground temples used for worship and initiation rites. These enigmatic sites offer a fascinating look into the mystery religions that coexisted with early Christianity.Perhaps one of Rome’s most intriguing sites, the Basilica of San Clemente, reveals layers of history. Descending beneath the current 12th-century basilica, visitors find a 4th-century church and, even deeper, a 2nd-century Mithraeum and Roman buildings. This site exemplifies how Rome’s history is literally built upon itself.
One of the world’s oldest sewage systems, the Cloaca Maxima, is the great sewer in Rome that flows into the Tiber, it was essential to Rome’s sanitary needs. Initially constructed in the 6th century BC, it has been in use for millennia, a testament to Roman engineering prowess.
Rome’s aqueducts were marvels of ancient engineering, bringing fresh water from distant sources into the city. While many have crumbled, some remnants can still be explored today, offering insights into how this advanced infrastructure supported Rome’s growth and prosperity.
Archaeological work continues to uncover the secrets of Rome’s underground. Recent excavations have unveiled new sections of catacombs, hidden chambers, and forgotten tunnels, further enriching our understanding of ancient Rome.
Modern technology plays a crucial role in unearthing and preserving these subterranean wonders. Techniques such as ground-penetrating radar and 3D modeling allow archaeologists to explore and document these fragile sites without causing damage.Exploring Rome’s underground reveals a city beneath the city, a place where history is etched into every wall and tunnel. These hidden sites not only add depth to our understanding of Rome’s past but also offer an intriguing experience for the adventurous traveler. Next time you visit Rome, don’t just look around but look down and discover the secrets buried beneath its storied streets.
A stay near the Pantheon sharpens an appreciation of the ancient Romans. An eternal city converges in the surrounding neighborhood of this once pantheistic temple. Residues of lauded ages still resonate here, astutely representing Rome’s exquisite history. Here also the Renaissance idea of virtù (capacity, proficiency) is an model source and surviving standard of culture. No passage to Rome is fit to omit this mysteriously splendid continuum of cultural ascension.
With a vast number of cultural treasures spread around the whole Eternal City, your short stay in Rome may need to change into a longer stay. However, we believe it’s all a matter of selection, and we’re here to help you make the most of your time in this wonderful city. And what better place to start than the astonishing and mysterious Catacombs of Priscilla reopened to the public?
What is history? Well, one of the most correct answers would be ‘Rome is history’. Indeed, the capital of Italy earned its name of the Eternal City because there’s a piece of history in every nook and cranny of this magical place, despite all the transformations that have occurred over time. Below is a list of 5 top less-popular ‘survivors of the past’, still available to see once you’re there for even a short stay in Rome.
Since Roman sculptures bear a close resemblance to those by ancient Greeks, their aesthetic and artistic qualities are considered indisputable and unsurpassable. After all, after so many centuries they still fail to amaze, leaving visitors of the Eternal City breathless, inspired and craving for more.
Central Italy’s sunny climate may not conjure images of the ice rinks and snow-covered streets that we’ve come to associate with the holiday season, but Rome is arguably the original city of Christmas, having celebrated the first recorded mass in 1300 AD. Today’s Rome hasn’t lost the spirit, and you’ll find a myriad of ways to celebrate the holidays in the Eternal City, from 3,000 nativity scenes to midnight mass with the Pope.
If you’re lucky enough to be in Rome for New Year’s Eve, get ready for the party of a lifetime. The entire city, from the Piazza del Popolo to the Colosseum, ignites in celebration, resulting in a fantastic and unforgettable experience that you won’t find anywhere else.
A beautiful old church and the home of Bernini’s Ecstasy of Saint Teresa
Santa Maria della Vittoria as featured in the movie Angel’s and Demons is a stunning little Baroque style church and worth a visit on any leisure or business short stay in Rome. The church is also a popular destination as it houses Bernini’s famous statue Ecstasy of Saint Teresa.
You will not regret a visit to this beautiful and perfectly built Late Renaissance Church. St. Peter’s Basilica is located inside the walls of the Vatican City and to this day retains its sophisticated beauty. Its history and aesthetic interior and exterior make it an incredibly popular attraction for all ages and interests during a leisure or business short stay in Rome.
Rome, by any account, is an ancient city. Although a variety of sources point to different years, most agree that its foundations were laid sometime between 700 and 800 B.C. Things worked a bit differently before the age of democracy and the internet, so it’s not surprising that Rome’s founder was an illigitemate, wolf-suckling, fratricidal teenager.
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