Now an area considered a true historic (and panoramic!) gem, up until 20 years ago this area was practically abandoned. Via Appica Antica, the cornerstone of this immense area, is adorned with tombs of the most important families to have lived throughout the history of the Roman Empire ( the tomb of Cecilia Metella is to be found just past the catacombs for example). The area has been completely restructured, with original Roman paving (‘a lastroni’) restored wherever possible. In other areas, cobblestones (sampietrini) have been placed.
The areas of the catacombs (underground burial sites) are to be found around this important road: San Callisto, San Sebastiano and Santa Domitilla, where the first Christians gathered and escaped persecution by the Roman army. San Callisto, reaching a depth of 33 metres is the most famous, although visitors can only reach 17 metres. Urban myths say that depths between 18 and 33 metres hold the souls of past explorers who adventured into the catacombs to discover how deep they were. Beyond 33 metres, the end still remains to be found...
Another definite point of interest in this area is the Park of the Caffarella, which is the largest public park in Europe. Popular for picnics, sporting activities and days spent in the fresh air, this park offers an exceptional array of sights to see. The natural oasis within the park also provides a great variety of flora, fauna and plant life.