Exclusive After-Hours: Crypts, Catacombs & Bone Chapel Tour
Overview
Available languages
2 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Uncover the hidden, shadowy side of Rome on this unforgettable night-time tour through its most mysterious and macabre landmarks. Over 2.5 hours, immerse yourself in the hauntingly beautiful Capuchin Crypts and the ancient Priscilla Catacombs, where history and eerie ambiance blend under the cover of darkness. Begin your journey at the Capuchin Crypts beneath Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, a site adorned with intricate mosaics crafted from the bones of over 4,000 monks—a chilling yet reflective meditation on mortality. Then, delve into the labyrinthine Priscilla Catacombs, often called the “Queen of the Catacombs,” where ancient tombs, stunning frescoes, and the earliest depiction of the Virgin Mary transport you to the secret world of Rome’s early Christians. Guided by expert narration and lantern light, this tour reveals a thought-provoking and atmospheric glimpse into the city’s hidden depths, leaving you with a new appreciation for its darker history.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
After-hours access to the Capuchin Crypts & Bone Chapel
After-hours access to the Catacombs of Priscilla
Transport by air-conditioned coach
English Speaking Expert Tour Guide
Audio guided tour of the Capuchin Crypts
Gratuities to your awesome guide
What To Expect
Museum and Crypt of Capuchins Friars
The Capuchin Crypt sets the tone for the tour. Capuchin monks used the bones of nearly 4,000 of their brothers to decorate this somber space in intricate floor-to-ceiling designs, earning it the macabre nickname of ‘the Bone Chapel’. Fewer visitors brave the Bone Chapel after dark, so you’ll have space to examine every detail of this strange place of worship, from an actual skull-and-crossbones to chandeliers made of human vertebrae. Your guide will tell you the theories, but it’s up to you to draw your own conclusions about the meaning of the crypt’s skeletal furnishings.
Catacombe di Priscilla
An air-conditioned coach will take you from here to your second site, the Catacombs of Priscilla. No other tour is permitted to enter these hallowed tunnels after-hours. Almost 2,000 years ago, early Christians took shelter here to bury their dead and practice their forbidden faith. With no other visitors around, and with your expert, English-speaking guide to relay the history of the tombs and tunnels, you can truly experience the atmosphere of this sacred spot. Follow the setting sun down into Rome’s mysterious underworld – and you’ll never see the city the same way again.
Options
Guided Evening Tour
Reviews
31 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great tour- a must!
Megan W,
Oct 4, 2025
- Viator
5.00This was a great tour. Our guide, Maria, was fantastic. I highly recommend anyone visiting Rome, do this tour. The tour details says you cannot wear clothing that show your knees however when we arrived we were told only your thighs can’t show. Misinformation but didn’t negatively impact our tour in anyway.
Interesting
Michelle W,
Jul 16, 2025
- Viator
5.00Seeing the crypts and catacombs was an interesting experience. I would recommend For an underground learning experience in Italy. Remember to come with your shoulders and knees covered. If not you have to purchase a kimono for 1 euro, but we had a good time.
Definitely Recommend
Marcie C,
Jun 8, 2025
- Viator
5.00This tour was so much fun! The tour leaders are passionate about their work and it shows! Be sure to ask many questions they do have the answers!
Interesting
KaS98765,
Oct 27, 2019
- Viator
4.00This was an interesting little tour: probably a little over-priced for the time spent in the actual sites. We first saw about 4 crypt rooms that were very morbidly decorative, with the guide providing some background information about them and the Capuchin monks. Next came a bus drive across town to the catacombs. A local guide took us into the catacombs for about half an hour, providing some information about their history. Then the bus dropped us off in the rain on a street near the meeting point.
Not worth doing
Ian J,
Sep 28, 2019
- Viator
2.00The tour wasn’t really worth doing. Our guide Inti was trying to be funny but failed. He also gave his personal views on religion and said that it wasn’t worth going to the colosseum or the Vatican. Whilst he is entitled to his opinions I don’t think this was the right audience to share them with
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Operated by City Wonders Ltd