Vigna Randanini, Jewish catacombs along Via Appia Antica, Rome, Italy
Vigna Randanini is a Jewish underground cemetery with a network of 700 meters of corridors across two levels containing burial chambers and decorated funeral spaces. The site preserves thousands of burial niches with inscriptions in Latin and Greek.
The site dates from the third and fourth centuries and was discovered in 1859, offering deep insight into Jewish burial practices of that era. Its early origin shows the established presence of the Jewish community in Rome during the Roman imperial period.
The burial chambers display Jewish symbols such as menorahs and Torah arks alongside frescoes showing animals and floral designs. These images reveal how the local Jewish community expressed their faith and daily life through art on the walls.
Access is through guided group tours limited to twelve people and requires advance registration with the operators. It helps to check availability in advance and book a spot early to ensure you can visit.
The site features specific burial configurations called Kochim, where multi-story tomb chambers are arranged perpendicular to the corridor walls. This unusual construction method was typical of Jewish burials in that era and sets it apart from other underground cemeteries.
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