St Paul's Catacombs

Lonely Planet review

St Paul's Catacombs (so-named for their proximity to the church) date from the 3rd century AD and were used for burial for around 500 years. Worship took place here in the Middle Ages, but later the complex was used as an agricultural store. It's an atmospheric labyrinth of rock-cut tombs, narrow stairs and passages. On either side of the entry stairs you'll find loculi , small niches used for the burial of children, indicating the high infant mortality rate. Admission includes a self-guided, 45-minute audio tour available in various languages, and at 11.30am daily there's a free tour in English.