San Gennaro Catacombs in Naples

In addition to everything we can see in the streets of Naples, the city hides a treasure that few know about: its underground. Various tours of underground Naples try to show these attractions to the public so that they can get to know the cultural and historical richness of the city.

A good example is the underground of the Rione Sanità, where one of the most evocative places in Naples is hidden: the catacombs of San Gennaro, the eternal resting place of illustrious personalities and common people. If you are looking for what to see and do in Naples, you cannot miss this visit.

Depends on your age. The list below lists the options available:

• Standard ticket: 9 €.
• Students: 6 € (you will need to show your university card)
• Over 65s: €6
• Under 18s: €5
• Children under 6 years old: free

The catacombs are open every day of the year except 25th December. You can visit them from 10:00 to 17:00 with the last entrance at 17:00.

If you want to avoid the queues, I recommend going at 10:00 or at lunchtime. Please note that this last slot runs from approximately 12:30 to 14:00.

If you wish to purchase your tickets on the day of your visit, you can go to the ticket office located in Via Capodimonte 13.

Here you will find the Basilica del Buon Consiglio, a church reminiscent of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Not for nothing is it known as "la piccola San Pietro".

If you travel in spring, after visiting the caves of the Rione Sanità you can enjoy the sun's rays in the Real Bosco di Capodimonte, a 134-hectare public park. By the way, if you like nature, a visit to Vesuvius, Pompeii's volcano, is a must.

Yes, you can take a guided tour every hour. Since the opening hours are from 10:00 to 17:00, there are 8 time slots to visit the Catacombs of San Gennaro.

The guides know every corner like the back of their hand and are the guarantee of a complete but not boring tour. On average, the tour lasts one hour.

Guided tours normally last about 1 hour. There is also an extended version known as "Miglio Sacro". It is a much longer route: it crosses the whole neighbourhood (Rione Sanità) and can be done only on Sunday mornings. In this case, the visit lasts about 3 hours.

Yes, the caves of the Rione Sanità are included in The Naples Pass as well as other attractions in the city and the region. You can choose from three options - Light, Campania Museum and WHOLE Campania - which open the door to the main monuments and attractions.

The most comprehensive version includes access to the Reggia di Caserta, tickets to Pompeii and even discounts in bars and restaurants. By the way, if you're interested in the culinary side of the city, I recommend you read the post about the best food tours in Naples.

Yes, the catacombs are also accessible to people with reduced mobility. In this case, you will need to book in advance. Please note that you should not go to the main entrance, but to the entrance at Vicoletto San Gennaro dei Poveri 22.

The Catacombs of San Gennaro are located in Via Capodimonte 13, just below the Basilica dell'Incoronata Madre del Buon Consiglio and a few minutes walk from the Museum of Capodimonte.

The nearest means of transport is by bus. You can take bus lines 168, 178, 204 or C63 and get off at the Capodimonte - Basilica dell'Incoronata stop. For more information I recommend you consult the official website of the local transport company.

Children love to visit the underground and the catacombs of the Neapolitan saint are no exception.

Beneath the streets and squares lies a city under the city that you can explore with your children. In addition, the city council sometimes organises workshops dedicated to the youngest members of the family.

If you want to learn more about this topic, I recommend you to have a look at the article about visits to the underground Naples.

In general, entering the belly of the earth is always fascinating. Especially if each room is illuminated by an LED system that creates a very evocative atmosphere. Before booking you should know that this vast underground space is divided into three parts:

• Tomb of San Gennaro, occupies part of the upper area and was discovered only in 1973.
• Upper Catacombs, the eternal resting place of the Bishops. Here you can admire some of the earliest Christian paintings in southern Italy. Among the most famous are the oldest portrait of San Gennaro, a decoration dedicated to St. Peter and the fresco depicting the family of Theotecnus.
• Lower Catacombs. This is the oldest nucleus and surrounds the underground basilica of San Agrippino, the first patron saint of Naples.

Who was San Gennaro?

Gennaro was born in the Campania region in the second half of the 3rd century and was later elected bishop of Benevento. He probably died during the reign of Diocletian, who had him beheaded for not abjuring the Catholic religion. He was also appreciated by pagans and is still very much loved today.

According to tradition, during the transport of the relics, a woman gave the bishop of Naples two small vials containing the blood of the martyr and every year the miracle of the blood is repeated three times.

In other words, the plasma of San Gennaro melts and returns to its liquid consistency.

You can see this strange phenomenon if you travel to Naples on Christmas (16 December), the first Saturday in May and 19 September. The ritual takes place in the Duomo, the city's main church.

Most of the time, the sensation of being cramped is not usually felt. Unlike other catacombs, the catacombs of San Gennaro are much larger and arranged on two floors.

In some rooms the vault is 6 metres high. It also has an effective LED lighting system.

If you don't want to risk it, there are thousands of options to choose from. One of the most coveted attractions is the Archaeological Museum of Naples which houses an incomparable collection of ancient art. Another landmark is the Sansevero Chapel and a visit to its Veiled Christ.

To complete the article, here are a few tips to help you organise your visit:

• Visits to the catacombs are very crowded, it is always preferable to book in advance.
• If you don't, you can arrive a little before the opening to buy tickets at the ticket office in Via Capodimonte 13. It opens at 9:30 and there is usually a queue.
• Even if you visit Naples in summer, be aware that the temperature is not the same as outside. It usually fluctuates between 15° and 22° and therefore I suggest you pack a jumper or a sweatshirt in your backpack.
• Occasionally there are evening tours on Saturday and Sunday. The entrance fee includes an aperitif with beer and taralli, a savoury doughnut typical of southern Italy. The price is usually around 50 €.
• You can take photos but no flash.