{"id":1015,"date":"2016-02-05T09:15:30","date_gmt":"2016-02-05T14:15:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=1015"},"modified":"2016-05-09T23:07:37","modified_gmt":"2016-05-10T03:07:37","slug":"along-the-appian-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=1015","title":{"rendered":"Along the Appian Way"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a9 2016 \u00a0Snapping the Globe, L.L.C. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n

There are sixty known subterranean burial chambers in Rome, built along Roman roads, like the Via Appia, the Via Ostiense, the Via Labicana, the Via Tiburtina and the Via Nomentana.\u00a0 San Callixtus, Domitilla\u2019s Catacombs, Saint Sebastian and Priscilla, among the sixty, each present a wealth of history.<\/p>\n

After much research on the subject, a decision was made to visit San Callixtus catacombs as it was the oldest, the largest and held the tombs of almost all of the popes of the third century.\u00a0 Further research provided information on travel to San Callixtus.\u00a0 Since the catacomb is closed from 12:00-2:00 pm, a decision was made to try and reach the destination for the re-opening after lunch.<\/p>\n

Our journey to San Callixtus was certainly a lesson in discerning correct data from the internet.\u00a0 There is a lot of information available on the internet, but careful attention should be paid as to when this information was posted.\u00a0 Bus lines, hours and admissions change constantly.\u00a0 A post that suggests certain routes may be outdated, as was the case for this adventure.<\/p>\n

Beginning our journey to San Callixtus on the metro, we arrived at the Piramides stop with the intention of taking the #118 bus.\u00a0 Emerging from the station, we began to search for the bus stop.\u00a0 After walking the entire block around the station and not locating it, we finally asked a local gentleman for directions. \u00a0 Unfortunately, what we discovered was that bus #118 no longer runs from this station and his\u00a0suggestion was that we backtrack on the metro to Circus Maximus in order to catch the same bus there.<\/p>\n

Walking up to the street from the Circus Maximus metro station, I quickly spied the bus stop across the street.\u00a0 When the first bus arrived, we found that tickets could not be purchased from the driver and we had to return to the metro station to purchase a ticket (which is the same ticket as a metro ticket).\u00a0 If you have just arrived on the metro, you should be able to use your same ticket for the bus (tickets are good for 100 minutes), however, make sure that you have purchased a ticket for your return, as we did not see any places to purchase tickets near the catacombs.<\/p>\n

Finally boarding the bus, we were soon headed toward the Appian Way\u2026or so we thought.\u00a0 We soon realized that the bus comes from the Appian Way, passes Circus Maximus, heads down to Piazza Venezia and then returns to Circus Maximus on its way back to the Appian Way.\u00a0 So, if you decide to catch the #118 bus from Circus Maximus, take a left while facing the actual\u00a0Circus Maximus when you walk out of the metro station and catch the bus on the same side of Via del Circo Massimo.\u00a0 This will eliminate an extra 10 minutes of a very bumpy bus ride.<\/p>\n

The bus did not have signage or announcements stating the upcoming stops.\u00a0 We had never been in this part of Rome and were concerned about knowing where to disembark, so after asking the bus driver to alert us, he soon made us aware that we were arriving at San Callixtus.<\/p>\n

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Entering through the front gate, we proceeded down the pathway to the ticket office.\u00a0 After purchasing our tickets, we walked over to the entryway but found that guests are not allowed to enter the catacombs unescorted.\u00a0 The guided tours depart on the half hour and we had just missed one.\u00a0 Occupying ourselves, we walked around the immediate area and visited the gift shop.\u00a0\u00a0 When we were nearing the half hour mark, we took our places near the signs which designated the different language groups.\u00a0 Soon, the tour guides began to arrive and began summoning us, by group, to the entrance.\u00a0 Our tour guide, a Filipino brother, ushered us off the main pathway where he could deliver the history of the catacombs.\u00a0 This is also where he shared the most devastating information that I could have received\u2026no pictures!\u00a0 This news was very disappointing as I was looking forward to documenting our look into this historical place.<\/p>\n

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Ticket Office and Gift Shop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Catacomb Entrance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Finally, it was our turn to descend the steep stairs into the catacombs.<\/p>\n

The catacombs of St. Callixtus are among the most important in Rome.\u00a0 Originating around the middle of the second century, there are more than fifty martyrs, 16 popes and many Christians buried within the complex.\u00a0 St. Callixtus became the official cemetery of the Church of Rome at the beginning of the third century after the deacon Callixtus was appointed by Pope Zephyrinus as the administrator of the cemetery.<\/p>\n

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Gallery in San Callixtus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rome\u2019s Christians did not have their own cemeteries in the first century.\u00a0 Unless they owned land, they resorted to common cemeteries, where pagans were also buried.\u00a0 \u00a0During the second century, the first large-scale catacombs were carved through soft volcanic rock outside the city\u2019s limits because burial within Rome\u2019s walls was forbidden by law.\u00a0 Underground burial quickly became popular due to the high price of land and for the sense of community it gave. \u00a0In addition to burials, the catacombs also served as\u00a0hiding places for Christians during times of persecution.<\/p>\n

During our tour though the many labyrinths beneath the earth, there were countless open chambers in which bodies had been\u00a0placed and bound in linen.\u00a0 Each chamber was then sealed with a slab bearing the name, age and the day of death.\u00a0 No bones still exist in St. Callixtus to the degree as one would see in the catacombs of Paris.<\/p>\n

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Chamber of the Sacraments<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most notable in San Callixtus is the area known as “the little Vatican” or the area of the Popes”.\u00a0 Here, the nine popes and eight dignitaries of Rome\u2019s third century church were laid to rest.\u00a0 Another area of interest is the Crypt of St. Cecelia, the patron saint of music, who was martyred in the third century and entombed where a statue now lies in remembrance.\u00a0 In 821, her relics were transferred from San Callixtus to Trastevere to the basilica dedicated to her.<\/p>\n

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The Popes’ Crypt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Crypt of St. Cecilia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Statue of St. Cecilia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tours of San Callixtus usually last approximately 30-40 minutes; however, our tour guide was very thorough and provided a great deal of information.\u00a0 Our tour eventually lasted almost an hour.\u00a0 Walking away from San Callixtus, we felt very satisfied with the type of tour we were given and with the number of people in our English speaking tour group.\u00a0 Because San Callixtus has the largest parking lot, it tends to attract immense numbers of tour groups and tour buses.\u00a0 Expect long waits during summer months and busy times of the year.\u00a0 And make sure to visit the gift shop to purchase postcards of the interior!\u00a0 Remember, no pictures!!!<\/p>\n

After, visiting San Callixtus, you can return to the bus stop in front of the entrance to catch the #118 and #218 buses or wander down the road at the rear of the property.\u00a0 Following this road takes you to the Church of St. Mary in Palmis and the #118 or #218 bus stop for your return back to the center of Rome.<\/p>\n

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For more pictures check out my Facebook page, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @SnappingtheGlobe.<\/p>\n

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Transportation<\/strong><\/p>\n