Catacombs of Sant'Alessandro, Early Christian catacombs on Via Nomentana, Rome, Italy
The Catacombs of Sant'Alessandro are an underground burial ground on Via Nomentana that extends through a network of tunnels. Rectangular niches are carved into the walls throughout the passages where bodies were placed, forming a spatial labyrinth beneath the city.
The burial ground began in the 2nd century and was used as a cemetery until the 5th century, when Roman law prohibited burials within the city. These underground spaces were created during a time when early Christianity was spreading throughout Rome.
The burial chambers display early Christian symbols and inscriptions on gravestones that reflect the faith of the ancient community. Visitors can still see these religious marks on the walls today and get a sense of personal prayers and names of the deceased.
Access is only by guided tour, which opens up the underground network and makes the narrow passages safe to navigate. Reaching the site by public transportation from central Rome to Via Nomentana is straightforward.
The catacombs were partly carved into volcanic tuff, which made the chambers more stable and easier to excavate into niches. This geological feature helped preserve the underground structure for two thousand years.
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