27 Oct 2009
I was disappointed that the Salesian clerics, who oversee the catacombs of San Callisto, do not allow cameras to be used within the underground burial crypts. I thought about covert photography. But if caught, the Swiss Guard would certainly have me burnt at the stake for sacrilege and heresy.
With all kidding aside, I understood and out of respect for the dead, I checked my camera equipment with the administrators.
The San Callisto catacombs are ancient burial crypts that are 65 ft (20 m) below the suface, form a network of tunnels under an area that comprises 15 hectares or 37 acres, is over 12 miles (20 km) long and has over 5 levels. Roman law at the time didn't permit burials within the city limits so the Christians from the second century AD began to build these burial places. There are many separate clusters of catacombs spread about along sides of ancient Roman roads such as the Appian Way where the San Callisto catacombs are located.
Within San Callisto there are more than fifty martyrs and sixteen Popes buried and the crypt of Saint Cecilia can be found. It was a very humbling experience.
Once above ground and with camera back in hand, I grabbed some shots of the area above the catacombs.
There are old villas found along the road from San Callisto to the main thoroughfare.
Also found, there are remains of ancient structures that are quite interesting.
The next few pics show a domicile more sophisticated than the shots above with what appears to be the main dwelling with a front and back portal, a small room to the side of the main room and a tower along the outside. I assume the tower was constructed for checking out if any intruders were on their way.
I parked the car on the Appian Way and walked about a mile that was uphill for about 1/2 of that to San Callisto. At the top of the hill, the view overlooking Rome to the north was quite impressive...
The black dots seen throughout the mountain view in the shot above are from a swarm of little black gnats that suddenly appeared and had me doing Hokey Pokey while I was trying to get away from them.
The Appian Way was one of the first Roman long roads that was constructed in 4 BC. Below are shots of the little rest stop along that road where I parked the car, ate lunch and drank a brew after I decended the hill of the San Callisto catacombs.
In Philadelphia, we are lucky to survive a winter without several potholes to avoid while driving as the following spring approaches. The Appian Way is over two thousand years old and appears to have been virtually maintenance free. They just don't build roads like that, anymore.
Tomorrow I depart Roma and will be heading to Florence. See you there... Click Here
