Colombarium, Ancient Roman tomb in Naples, Italy

The Colombarium, also known as the Roman Mausoleum of Via Pigna, lies in Soccavo near the former Via della Pigna. Of the original structure only the north wall survives, built in opus reticulatum and yellow Neapolitan tuff. It holds ten niches for cinerary urns in two rows, plus a 1.5-metre niche that once held the deceased's statue; traces of the original red paint remain.

Built in the first half of the 1st century AD, the Colombarium stood in the funerary area of ancient Neapolis, probably serving an agricultural settlement along today's via della Pigna in Soccavo. It was rediscovered in the 19th century and partly destroyed around 1830 during the construction of via dei Canapi, the road linking the linen and hemp producers of Lago di Agnano to Miano. The building boom of the 1960s, especially work on the tangenziale, threatened it again; by 2024 only the north wall survived, in a state of total abandonment.

The name colombarium comes from the Latin columbarium, a dovecote, because the rows of niches for cinerary urns resemble pigeonholes. Ten niches survive in two rows, plus a 1.5 m niche that once held the statue of the deceased; traces of the original red paint on the decoration are still faintly visible.

The monument stands in the Soccavo district on via della Pigna, and only the north wall survives, so there is no underground chamber to enter. As of 2024 the site is in a state of total abandonment; the only addition is a protective railing. Approach on foot along the street and expect uneven ground around the remains.

The niches still hold traces of the red paint that once decorated the tomb, and a taller niche, 1.5 m high, held the statue of the deceased. Three masonry sarcophagi once stood here but their traces have been lost.