Catacomb of Santa Mustiola, Archaeological site in Italy

The Catacomb of Santa Mustiola is an underground necropolis from the third century with two main corridors and a small chapel known as a basilichetta. The walls are lined with burial chambers built as loculi and arcosolia, including a large polysomic arcosolium designed for multiple bodies.

The catacomb was created in the third century as a burial site for the early Christian community and was rediscovered in the seventeenth century, possibly in 1634 or 1643, when Franciscan friars dug a well. Its importance grew when a basilica was built above the tomb in the fifth century and later rebuilt in 728 before being demolished in the nineteenth century.

The name Santa Mustiola refers to an early Christian martyr whose veneration is documented from the fourth century and shaped the local community. The walls bear Latin inscriptions and simple cross symbols that show how believers honored their dead and expressed their faith in these underground spaces.

The catacomb lies northeast of Chiusi, reached by taking the road toward Lake Chiusi and following the signs. Visits are by appointment, and guided tours are offered in Italian and English. Inside, the temperature is cool and humid, and the floor is uneven in places, so wear suitable clothing and comfortable shoes.

In the crypt, behind the altar, stands the ancient bishop's chair, and to its right a marble inscription marks the tomb of Lucius Petronius Dexter, first bishop of Chiusi, who died in 322. The oldest inscription in the catacomb, however, is that of Redenta, who died in 290.