Catacombe di San Gennaro

The Catacombe di San Gennaro lie on Via Capodimonte in the Rione Sanità district of Naples, in Italy's Campania region, and form one of the largest and oldest Christian burial complexes in southern Italy. The catacomb dates from the 2nd century and developed on two levels cut into the soft volcanic tuff of the hill. It became a major pilgrimage site after the body of Saint Januarius, the city's patron, was laid to rest here in the 5th century. Visitors descend with a guide into wide galleries, much larger than those of many other catacombs, and see burial niches, family tombs and early Christian frescoes, including some of the oldest known portraits of Saint Januarius. The upper level contains the basilica area, with the saint's tomb, while the lower level preserves a baptismal font and more graves. The tour is guided only, in English and Italian, and departs roughly hourly through the day. A visit takes one to one and a half hours. The temperature inside stays at roughly 15 to 22 degrees Celsius all year, so a light layer is useful in summer. Mornings are the quietest, and in the afternoon the group tours can fill up. The ticket also covers the Catacombs of San Gaudioso and the Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità, which makes it good value for those who plan to visit both. The site is run by a local cooperative that has helped revitalise the neighbourhood, and tickets can be bought on site or online. It is about twelve minutes on foot from the National Archaeological Museum and close to the Fontanelle Cemetery. Photography rules vary by area, so visitors should follow the guide's instructions.