Grotto of Santa Cristina

About this activity

The “Grotto of Santa Cristina,” or the hypogeal basilica, is carved into the volcanic rock of the hillside and dates back to the early Christian catacombs. This evocative site, shrouded in mystery, has always housed the venerated tomb of the saint. Excavations begun in 1880 uncovered a medieval sarcophagus containing relics of Saint Christina, highlighting the significance of this site as early as the 5th century. The area was likely monumentalized through the initiative of Matilda of Canossa in the 11th century, when it was decided to construct the hypogeal basilica and reorganize the saint’s relics. Today, visiting the Grotto of Santa Cristina, you can admire medieval frescoes rediscovered in 1963, an early Christian sarcophagus, and a terracotta statue by Benedetto Buglioni depicting the reclining Saint Christina, symbolizing her martyrdom. Further interventions in the 19th century led to the reopening of the early Christian necropolis, one of the most significant remains in Tuscia. This journey is far more than a simple tourist visit: it is an immersion into the millennia-old history of Bolsena, a hidden corner of spirituality and culture waiting to be discovered by those seeking an authentic and profound experience.