Skip the Line: Crypts and Roman Catacombs Small Group Walking Tour

Rome, Italy

Avoid the queues and crowds with an exclusive private viewing of the Capuchin Crypt and Catacombs. By pre-booking this tour you'll skip the lines and crowds at the Capuchin Crypt, which is very small and crowded when open to the general public. The tours are conducted in small group of maximum 25 people so you can appreciate "underground Rome" in a relaxed environment.

The Catacombs of the early Christians, underground fountains and crypts filled with literally thousands of bones are just a few of the wonders awaiting you on this incredible experience. You will see the most interesting and mystifying sites of Rome's underground sights on this small group walking tour. Highlights include:

• The Capuchin Crypt: chapels decorated entirely by human bones - this tour skips the line and you can enjoy a private, exclusive viewing of the chapels
• Domitilla Catacombs: ancient Christian burial ground
• Church of San Clemente: built over an ancient 4th-century church, which in turn was built over an older Roman house containing Christian artifacts and a pagan temple

As you descend into the Eternal City's subterranean burial chambers, winding catacombs and ancient crypts, you'll discover the secrets of imperial and early Christian Rome. You'll travel to a time when Christianity was considered a cult, and whose members were executed as pagans and buried as martyrs.

USD $68.95

Traveler Reviews

Review by: RICHARD S	April 2012
Excellent and very atomospheric giving an great overview of the early church and the persecution and conditions they facedn whilst alive and also their bodies they left behind

Review by: jacksonking33	April 2012
It was amazing to find out what is under the streets of Rome. Great tour, personable and very knowledgeable guide who seemed to take alot of pride in his work. The only reason we gave it 4 stars, was the fact they did not have headsets and being in such narrow and small areas the group was strung out and could not hear alot of the much narrative.

Review by: Mark B	April 2012
We loved the tour overall. We would recommend the tour. The bone church was cool and so was san clemente church. The countryside is beautiful on the drive out to the catacombs.

Review by: Sue B	April 2012
Very interesting .Our guide Shannon was lovely and made the whole experience fun and interesting .

Review by: Joy W	March 2012
My adult daughter and I really enjoyed this tour. It was the one tour she requested we do while in Rome. It was nice to be transported by bus after so much walking on our own. Our guide was so knowledgeable and provided a lot of interesting information on all of the stops. The other guide was good as well. All 3 stops were fascinating but I was just itching to take photos and none were allowed except outside. I think the crypt made the biggest impression on us. You have to be there in person to really appreciate and feel the atmosphere. Definitely worth it.

Review by: JoAnn A	March 2012
Great! Loved the tour and our guide, Shannon, really added to it with her knowledge and enthusiasm.

Review by: Damian W	March 2012
Guide was good and passionate about the subject, were not too many people on this tour which worked in our favor, drop- off and pick- up was fine and easy to work out. Last church with the bones was really interesting.

Review by: Peter H	March 2012
Excellent tour. Very informative and interesting. The tour operator was very knowledgeable and pleasant as well throughout the entire tour. She deserves a raise !

Review by: Patrick J D	March 2012
With my wife, we have been on probably 40 tours in Europe. This tour was easily among the top few of all-time. Our guide was very knowledgeable and her presentation style was very engaging. We really enjoyed it and have already recommended the tour and our guide to our friends.

Review by: Viveka W	March 2012
Only based on earlier reviews chose this excursion and it was well worth its price! The guide was EXCELLENT (native English speaker is very important for tourists I would say). The sights are something you will remember for the rest of your life. And it was not that creepy you'de think beforehand! On top of sharing data abot the spots programmed our guide also managed to present a lot of interesting stories of other places- when we had to reroute the driving because of some demonstration. So Italian :)

Review by: Lauren D	March 2012
Great tour! I learned a lot of history from the tour guide. She gave us plenty of stories on the bus between sites so there wasn't a moment wasted.

Review by: Jonathan S	March 2012
This was another very informative tour and the tour guide was top notch. We were surprised when she indicated we would be stopping at San Clemente Church as that was not indicated on the itinerary and what a nice surprise it was. Again we can't say enough nice things about our guide (sorry can't recall her name, but know that she was from Indiana in the USA). I was a little disappointed with the Crypts, thought it was underground as well, did not realize it was above ground and free to get into if we would have just went on our own. However, going on your own you won't get the history behind the skeletons nor the dirt where some are buried, and everything else in this very interesting portion of the tour.

Review by: Sarah O	March 2012
it was VERY good!!

Review by: Karie R	March 2012
This was a great tour with a lot of interesting history. We especially enjoyed the Church of San Clemente. Tiffany was very knowledgeable and easy to understand for anyone from the United States(she is from the U.S.) This was a plus for us! I can't imagine visiting any of these sites without a tour guide. There is so much history.

Review by: DCavanaugh	March 2012
Excellent tour and guide.

Review by: Howard S	February 2012
Wonderful. Excellent guide who was sympathic and sensitive to the places we visited. Knowlegeable.5 star trip.

Review by: Graeme G	February 2012
Interesting

Review by: Leslie D	February 2012
We would have liked to have had the chance to go a bit slower and see more of what we had to rush through, but considering all that there was on the tour to see, it was great! Our guides were extremely helpful with any and all questions.. I can't imagine not taking this tour. You would miss so much not understanding what you were looking at.

Review by: STEVEN L	February 2012
Super interesting. Very worth seeing. Unfortunately, we were not able to photograph anything.

Review by: Kylie R	January 2012
This tour is a must see, very interesting. We really enjoyed this tour and found it very informative. The tour guide was a lovely Irish girls so communication was great. She was very happy to answers all of questions related or not to the tour. Definitely recommend.

Review by: Danielle M	January 2012
tour was great. guide was well informed. was a bit long, but so super cool.

Review by: Martha D	January 2012
The tour was excellent! We loved our guide! She was so knowledgeable and such a joy!

Review by: Rochelle W	January 2012
Graham was our tour guide and although we didn't get headsets like in our other 'dark rome' tours (vatican city and colosseum) our group was small enough to address us all as a group without anyone not being able to hear. He was very knowledgeable and could answer all our questions. The final stop at the crypts that are still active is a sight to see! good fun and interesting tour. something we didn't expect to find out about rome on our travels

Review by: dveronica	January 2012
Great guide and great time...however our tour was cut short due to street closings.

Review by: Joan D	January 2012
This was an interesting and well given tour. the tour guide was easy to understand and took his time in explaining in detail to enhance tour.

Review by: Sherri B	January 2012
Our guide did a good job conveying a lot of detailed information about the catacombs in an understandable way as well as the building design for the basilica. The shuttle ride, with the added commentary on important sites on our way, like the church of Domine quo vadis, made the evening go by smoothly. I recommend this trip for anyone who wants to gain more than a superficial understanding of the city. The catacombs are absolutely amazing to see just on their own and make the tour worth the price. These sites are not as easy to find as the Trevi Fountain or the Vatican so I appreciated being guided to these spots.

Review by: Sarah W	January 2012
Really interesting tour, it is definitely worth your time other than visiting the Vatican and Imperial Rome. Our tour guide Peter was great, meeting point at Barbernini Fountain was easy. Getting in and out of the city on a tour bus was actually a welcome change from walking around Rome all day every day. The christian catacomb and Crypts were facinating but a bit creepy, so if you have little kids, you might want to beware. The Church of San Clemente was fantastic with four separate levels representing 4 completely different time period all accessable to visitors. Definitely go on this tour if you can spare the time.

Review by: chutney	January 2012
Metting point was perfect and as advertised. Bus took us to the first catacomb which were fantastic. we utilized a local as a guide since the normal catacombs were damaged during recent floods and our guides were not as familiar with the ones we visited. the entire trip was well worth every penny. thanks for a wonderful tour. would certainly recommend.

Review by: Francisco F	January 2012
Amazing tour, very knowledgeable guide.

Review by: Charles A	December 2011
The tour was amazing and I saw things that blew my mind. It was astounding to see tombs and artwork that were far underground and were beautifully created. Our tour guide was also very knowledgeable and was engaging with the rest of the people in the tour.

Review by: Eric W	December 2011
Tour was excellent. Guide was fantastic, enthusiastic and well educated. Our group of 12 was a good size. Also thought the value was great.

Review by: Kymberli M, United States of America	July 2010
This is SUCH an interesting tour!! We got to see some things that I didn't even know exist in Rome. Highly recommended.

Review by: Anonymous, Canada	July 2010
disturbingly beautiful

Review by: Anonymous, Finland	July 2010
The guide was really nice and knew things well and was very entertaining to listen to The crypts were amazing, so was the Catacombs, so I was very happy to take that tour.

Review by: amanda w, United Kingdom	July 2010
Fantastic tour and fantastic guide with lots of knowledge

Review by: John S, United States of America	July 2010
A wonderful tour lead by a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide! If you plan to take any tours, you need to use this company- marvelous!

Review by: Brian B, Canada	July 2010
eerie and interesting.....a must

Review by: Joseph G, United States of America	July 2010
Tour guide, Danielle, was articulate, knowledgeble, attractive and very informative. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire tour and will highly recommend Viator to friends and family.

Review by: Kimberly R, United States of America	July 2010
This tour was very fascinating. Our guide was very knowledgable and led us through a catacomb, and underground passageway under an old church and through the Capuchin crypts.

Review by: Suzanne S, United States of America	July 2010
All the tours we booked with you were wonderful, on time and professional guides. The guide for this tour was fantastic. A must do tour of Rome. It is so amazing you could wander around Rome for days and never realize all the wonders to see. Do this tour you will not be disappointed,

Review by: Kristen R, United States of America	July 2010
Wow! Once again, our guide was wonderful, friendly and extremely knowledgeable. The history was incredible. So worth it!!

Review by: Barbara N, Australia	June 2010
The whole tour was fascinating, and the guide excellent.

Review by: Ian R, United Kingdom	June 2010
Most enjoyable.

Review by: Anonymous, Latvia	June 2010
It was very interesting and the tour guide was really good

Review by: Clare H, Ireland	June 2010
Very different to all the other tours available in Rome. From the older catacombs to the church over a church over a temple, the guides are really interesting and you get a real sense of the age of Rome. The final part of the tour brings you to the Capuchin bone displays which have to be seen to be believed. An excellent tour and Dark Rome are the best tour company in Rome.

Review by: SUDHIR A, India	June 2010
The Crypts and Catacombs tour was a different type of experience, eerie, but enjoyable, thanks to the smart and very knowledgeable guides. I would highly recommend this tour to all would be travellers to Rome

Review by: Thomas B, United States of America	June 2010
The tour was excellent, the guide was most knowledgeable, the schedule was punctual and the guide's commentary was understandable and very detailed. The experience was much more complete than was possible without the tour. The schedules were prompt, buses were always on time and clean and modern.

Review by: Maury P, United States of America	June 2010
Good tour, informative and guides made it fun.

Review by: Amanda P, United States of America	June 2010
Loved, loved, loved this tour! Mike and Jeromiah were great guides. They made our experience wonderful. The tour itself was perfect. Not too long, not too short. Our guides were knowledgable and entertaining. The comfortable coach bus was nice for transporation.

Review by: Leslie B, Canada	June 2010
very interesting tour. guide was excellent, and very informative. Saw sights that i never knew existed.