Catacombs of Santa Cristina Bolsena

About this activity

The Catacombs of Santa Cristina in Bolsena represent a captivating journey into the heart of Christian faith, a place steeped in history and spirituality that not everyone knows about. Generally open daily until one hour before the Basilica closes, the catacombs offer visitors a unique opportunity to explore a site filled with centuries of history. However, during the Feast of Santa Cristina (July 23–24), free access is only permitted to the saint’s tomb, while the catacombs remain closed.

The guided tour takes visitors along an evocative path beginning at the altar of the Eucharistic Miracle, then passing beside the sarcophagus of Santa Cristina in the hypogeal crypt, rediscovered on August 5, 1880. From here, visitors enter the main gallery of the catacombs (250–600 AD), marked by a system of passages branching out like a Christmas tree. The longest galleries, located near the saint’s tomb, reflect the faith early Christians placed in her presence, hoping for divine mercy on Judgment Day.

The catacombs house approximately 1,600 burials, including some family tombs with arcosolia, although many remain closed and unexplored. Few tombs bear visible decorations or inscriptions, such as the tomb of Cestronia Castoria, dated to 406 AD, still legible today. Some epigraphic fragments, reused in the floor of the small hypogeal basilica, can be admired in the adjoining museum.

The guided tour lasts between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on visitor volume and interest, while individual visitors receive a printed guide for a more independent experience.
Admission fees range from €5 for adults to €3 for children up to 16 years old, while admission is free for children under 7.

On busy days, two groups may tour the catacombs simultaneously along opposite routes. It is important to note that taking photos or videos is prohibited without special authorization from the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology.