The city of Naples in Italy has much to offer and is said to be the birthplace of pizza as well as famous for its beauty, culture and art. One of the most unique historical sites in Naples is the catacombs of San Gennaro, an ancient Christian burial site and place of worship. This underground area offers unique insight into the history and development of Christianity in the region.
History of the catacombs of San Gennaro
Since ancient times, the people of Naples and the surrounding area have carved underground passages and chambers into soft volcanic rock. During the Classical period, members of the elite created catacombs and used them as burial places. This practice was adopted by Christians in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.
Christians were literally forced underground by Emperors like Decius and Diocletian as they were often subjected to brutal persecution and forced to practice their faith in secret. They used the Neapolitan catacombs to celebrate mass and bury their dead according to Christian customs.
Niches and niches in the catacombs (Rosen/Adobe Stock)
Christians took over the earlier burial grounds and passageways and reused them for their sacred activities and traditions. The underground structure we see today may be the result of the merger of two ancient tombs: One from the 2nd century BC contains the remains of Saint Agrippinus of Naples, the first patron saint of Naples and the other from the 4th century AD contains the remains of Saint Gennaro (also known as Saint Januarius), the city’s patron saint, for whom the site is named. Three separate burials appear, each dedicated to a saint.
The first bishops of Naples were traditionally buried in the crypt until the 10th century and from the 4th century AD it contains the relics of Saint Gennaro. For many years, the catacombs continued to be the center of the Christian community even after the religion was made the state religion of the empire by Constantine the Great. The catacombs were gradually abandoned, and this was symbolized by the removal of the remains of Saint Gennaro to Naples Cathedral in the 1470s.
The last burial to take place at this site was in the Middle Ages and it was repeatedly looted in the centuries that followed. The crypt was restored in the 19th century after the remains of those buried there were reburied in other Christian cemeteries. During the allied invasion of Italy, the underground passages were used by locals as air raid shelters.
The underground wonder of the catacombs
The catacombs are accessed by stairs adjacent to the beautiful Basilica of Madre del Buon Consiglio, some of which date from the 4th century AD. There are two levels below ground and date back to as early as the 3rd century AD.
The passages are much wider than the catacombs found in Rome. In the corridor there are many underground passages with many compartments or niches where the remains of the dead are buried. Family burials are often decorated. Arcosolia, vaulted niches where members of the elite were buried and a number of coffins can be seen. Others buried their loved ones in semicircular or half-moon shaped niches.
Family fresco of Theotecnus, with his wife Ilaritas and young daughter Nonnosa ( dudlajzov / Adobe Stock)
Some of the early Christian frescoes are well preserved and are among the oldest known in Italy. The underground basilica, commissioned by Bishop Paul II and dedicated to Saint Agrippinus, has a prominent lower vestibule, with a ceiling nearly 20 feet (6 m) high, and contains a large baptismal font. Of particular interest are the altar and bishop’s chair carved from tuff (a lightweight porous rock formed from solidified volcanic ash). Some monks’ cells can also be seen.
How to visit the Catacombs of San Gennaro, Naples Italy
The catacombs have only reopened in recent years thanks to the efforts of a local association. Mass and other religious sacraments are still celebrated by Catholic priests in places of worship. There is a fee to enter the catacombs, and guided tours are available. There is public transport to the location and accommodation is plentiful
