Exclusive After-Hours: Crypts, Catacombs & Bone Chapel Tour
- 2h 30m
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 5 languages
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Uncover the hidden, shadowy side of Rome on this unforgettable night-time tour through its most mysterious and macabre landmarks. Over 2.5 hours, immerse yourself in the hauntingly beautiful Capuchin Crypts and the ancient Priscilla Catacombs, where history and eerie ambiance blend under the cover of darkness. Begin your journey at the Capuchin Crypts beneath Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, a site adorned with intricate mosaics crafted from the bones of over 4,000 monks—a chilling yet reflective meditation on mortality. Then, delve into the labyrinthine Priscilla Catacombs, often called the “Queen of the Catacombs,” where ancient tombs, stunning frescoes, and the earliest depiction of the Virgin Mary transport you to the secret world of Rome’s early Christians. Guided by expert narration and lantern light, this tour reveals a thought-provoking and atmospheric glimpse into the city’s hidden depths, leaving you with a new appreciation for its darker history.
Inclusions
What's included
- After-hours access to the Capuchin Crypts & Bone Chapel
- After-hours access to the Catacombs of Priscilla
- Transport by air-conditioned coach
- English Speaking Expert Tour Guide
- Audio guided tour of the Capuchin Crypts
What's not
- Gratuities to your awesome guide
Itinerary
The Capuchin Crypt sets the tone for the tour. Capuchin monks used the bones of nearly 4,000 of their brothers to decorate this somber space in intricate floor-to-ceiling designs, earning it the macabre nickname of ‘the Bone Chapel’. Fewer visitors brave the Bone Chapel after dark, so you’ll have space to examine every detail of this strange place of worship, from an actual skull-and-crossbones to chandeliers made of human vertebrae. Your guide will tell you the theories, but it’s up to you to draw your own conclusions about the meaning of the crypt’s skeletal furnishings.
An air-conditioned coach will take you from here to your second site, the Catacombs of Priscilla. No other tour is permitted to enter these hallowed tunnels after-hours. Almost 2,000 years ago, early Christians took shelter here to bury their dead and practice their forbidden faith. With no other visitors around, and with your expert, English-speaking guide to relay the history of the tombs and tunnels, you can truly experience the atmosphere of this sacred spot. Follow the setting sun down into Rome’s mysterious underworld – and you’ll never see the city the same way again.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.4
- 539
- 45
- 31
- 21
- 15
Ratings come from 51 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- In the center of Piazza Barberini, by the large Triton (Tritone) fountain. Piazza Barberini is located at the metro stop “Barberini” on metro line A (red line).
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 45 travellers
- Operated by
- City Wonders Ltd
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in Rome
- Its from-price is 69% below the median of the 8352 experiences we list in Rome.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 1051 of 8352.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Rome
Rome layers nearly three thousand years of history into one walkable city, from the Colosseum and Forum to Baroque piazzas and Vatican art.
Ancient Rome is still in plain sight. The Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill sit together at the city's heart, the Pantheon still stands with its open oculus, and fragments of temples and aqueducts turn up between apartment blocks. Across the Tiber, Vatican City holds St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling.
Top-ranked sights in Rome: Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel.
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Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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