Situated along the Appian Way, the ancient and impressive Catacombs of St. Callixtus occupy an area equal to about 15 hectares and have nearly 20 kilometres of galleries on several levels.
The catacombs were realized in the early 3rd century AD in the area between the Appian Way and the Via Ardeatina during the papacy of Pope Zephyrinus, who entrusted the administration of the cemetery to the deacon Callixtus. These catacombs are one of the most significant sites of early Christianity and were the first public cemetery.
Explored for the first time by the archaeologist Giovanni Battista de Rossi, the Catacombs of St. Callixtus were the official cemetery of the Church of Rome for a long time. Sixteen pontiffs and fifty martyrs were buried here.
The most important crypt of the cemetery is the Crypt of the Popes. Originally a burial room, it was later turned into a crypt, where some pontiffs were buried in the 3rd century AD, including Sixtus II.
Equally important is the Crypt of St. Cecilia. It is situated behind the Crypt of the Popes and is decorated with frescos depicting the saint in attitude of prayer, Christ holding a Gospel and Pope Urban I, believed to be Cecilia’s spiritual guide.
In 821 her relics were transferred from this crypt to Trastevere, in the basilica dedicated to her.
The statue of St. Cecilia we see today covering her tomb is a copy of the celebrated work sculptured by Stefano Maderno in 1599.
The sculptor portrayed the saint in a position that highlights the cut left by the sword on her neck and the position of her fingers: three of her right hand and one of her left hand open. According to tradition, Cecilia wished to express her faith in the God of the Christians by indicating God three in one.
Also worthy of interest are the Cubicles of Sacraments and the Lucina Crypts. The former are family tombs known for their 3rd-century frescos symbolically representing Baptism and the Eucharist, the sacraments of Christian initiation. The latter make up the oldest part of the catacombs.
The imposing architectures of the Liberian Region, situated north of the oldest nucleus, date from the second half of the 4th century. Its name derives from inscriptions that mention Pope Liberius (352-366) discovered in this area.
There are many sepulchral inscriptions in Greek and Latin, as well as frescoes and ornaments in various areas of the catacombs, which correspond to the periods of use of the burial site. The classic Christian symbols stand out: the fish, the dove, the anchor and the Constantinian monogram consisting of the initials “chi” and “rho” of the Greek name of Christ.