The Catacombs of San Gennaro are the most famous Naples catacombs and one of the top sites in the city to visit. They offer a fascinating glimpse into the religious heritage and multi-layered history of Naples, so should definitely be in your itinerary!

The vast spaces that make up the Catacombe di San Gennaro under the Capodimonte Hill have housed the remains of saints, bishops, Roman nobility and more, offering visitors an experience like no other in Naples.

Spread across three layers, you’ll discover the city’s history from the 2nd century through to modern day if you opt to visit this incredible site.

This is one of my favorite sites in part because of the depth of history you can discover. It’s also because the site is run in a way that promotes the preservation of cultural heritage, a cause I believe in deeply and that I endeavour to support wherever I can.

San Gennaro died on September 19, 305 CE and this date is now one of the biggest events in the Neapolitan calendar. The Feast of San Gennaro takes over the city with processions, special events and more, all dedicated to the saint.

Want to learn more about San Gennaro and his impact on Naples? Click here to read our dedicated page.

Following the internment of Saint Agrippinus and the construction of his underground basilica, the catacombs expansion began with more and more burials.

The faithful of the local Christian community wanted to be close to their patron saint when they passed away, and when Christianity became the official religion of the Roman empire they no longer had to worry about persecution.

The start of the association with San Gennaro

The expansion of the catacombs accelerated fast following the movement of the body of San Gennaro here.

He was originally buried near Pozzuoli, but with the growing importance of the saint to Naples, it was decided in the 5th century to move his remains closer to the city.

Even more people wanted to be near him in death, and the subsequent miracle where San Gennaro appeared following pleas from locals looking for safety during an eruption of Vesuvius solidified the catacombs as an extremely holy place.

The Catacombe di San Gennaro fall into disuse

In the 9th century, the remains of the martyr turned famous patron saint were removed from the catacombs under the orders of Lombard Prince Sico I. He had them moved to Benevento where they remained for over two centuries, before they were relocated to Naples Cathedral in 1497.

The San Gennaro catacombs remained a pilgrimage site even after this time. Until the 11th century the Catacombe di San Gennaro were the burial location for deceased Bishops of Naples, as well as other prominent members of the local community.

However customs changed and new burials stopped happening from the end of the 11th century.

Unfortunately the catacombs were regularly looted and so in the 18th century it was decided that all the human remains left should be removed from the catacombs and reburied elsewhere.

The San Gennaro catacombs today

Interest in the catacombs was ignited by visitors to Naples who were in the city as part of the famous Grand Tour trips during the the 17th and 18th centuries, leading to some restoration efforts after the human remains were taken away.

The catacombs were largely abandoned until World War II when, like most of Naples’ underground sites, they were used by the local population to shelter from Allied air raids.

It wasn’t until after the war that the Bishop of Naples officially opened the catacombs in 1969 and full excavations and restoration works began in 1971.

The site is now managed by Cooperativa La Paranza, an organisation that relies on ticket and tour income to preserve the catacombs.

They have worked tirelessly on a non-profit basis since 2006 to protect and preserve the catacombs. They have also enhanced the visitor experience by installing modern technologies, LED lighting and improving the accessibility features.

When you arrive at the catacombs, confirm your entrance with the small ticket desks located inside reception where you’ll find a waiting area and bar (both particularly useful if you walked here!) and a well-stocked gift shop.

When your tour is due to start your guide will call out your time slot and beckon you to follow them out of the reception and down towards the catacomb entrance.

As you descend, you’ll begin to understand how deep these catacombs are within the Capodimonte hill. There are several flights of stairs to go down before you arrive at the proper entrance, so take your time and take in the views of the La Sanità neighborhood on your way down.

Once inside these ancient catacombs, your guide will lead you through the multiple layers of history and detail all the site’s principal elements and features. Here’s what you can expect:

Upper catacomb

Close to the entrance stairs, you’ll find a burial for a Roman Byzantine noble family, featuring a vivid fresco on painted plaster depicting the family buried inside.

Take a few moments to look at the painting. The striking artistic style almost forces you to look at the subjects directly in the eye, and you’ll find it difficult to not try and imagine these people even if they lived during very different times!

Possibly the most interesting area in this upper level is the aptly-named Bishops’ Crypt where the city’s bishops were interred.

Here you’ll find wonderfully restored mosaics and other elements that bring to life the figures who were once laid to rest here. It’s also close to the ancient tomb where San Gennaro’s remains were once kept.

Lower catacomb

On your way down to the lower level you’ll briefly go outside where you can get a unique view of the Basilica del Buon Consiglio, a huge church built above the catacombs, towering above you if you turn around.

Entering the lower catacomb, you are in fact entering the underground Basilica of Sant’Agrippino where masses are still held to this day.

You’ll immediately see the large baptismal font commissioned by Bishop Paul II of Naples in the 8th century. From here your guide will give you an overview of the lower levels, then let you explore freely before the penultimate part of your visit.

The visit concludes in the Basilica of San Gennaro Extra Moenia (Basilica of San Gennaro Beyond the City Walls), a church of the adjoining San Gennaro dei Poveri Hospital, which only reopened to visitors in 2008 following decades of closure.

This church was originally constructed in the 5th century (with fresco examples surviving still), and has undergone several renovations across the centuries. It now hosts art exhibitions and other special events, and allows visitors to enter and exit the San Gennaro catacombs at an alternative point.

The end of your visit

At the end of your visit you will be given two options on where to exit:

You can return to the level from which you entered (via the same stairs you came down earlier), passing the ticket office and and exit on to Via Capodimonte. This is a good option if you need refreshments from the bar, want to browse the gift shop, or need the bathroom (located behind the bar).

This is also a good option if you want to visit the adjacent Basilica del Buon Consiglio, or are planning to visit the Capodimonte museum and park.

Alternatively you can exit directly from Basilica of San Gennaro Extra Moenia, through the San Gennaro dei Poveri Hospital grounds and into the La Sanità neighborhood.

This option is best if you are visiting the Catacombs of San Gaudioso next, or are looking to head back to the center of Naples on foot, exploring La Sanità en route.

How to get there

It is very easy to reach the catacombs from anywhere in Naples – here are your options:

By foot

In the cooler months you can comfortably walk to the entrance by heading in a straight line along Via Toledo to Piazza Dante, past the MANN and up the hill following Corso Amedeo di Savoia to Capodimonte.

Consider that the journey to the catacombs is a slow but consistent incline and I do not recommend this during warmer weather, unless you are prepared to take it slow and stop for refreshments along the way.

By bus

The most convenient method from the center of Naples is via bus, with several options departing frequently from Piazza Dante in the historic area of the city that pass the catacombs.

The journey from Piazza Dante takes around 10-15 minutes and you can use Google Maps to check live timetables and plan the most convenient option for you. For more information on Naples’ public transport, check out our dedicated page here.

By taxi

if you would rather arrive directly at the catacombs, opt for a taxi directly from wherever you are in Naples. The rate will depend on your starting location and traffic intensity.

Tickets and tours

Most importantly, like most of Naples’ underground sites, it is only possible to visit the catacombs via a guided tour – you cannot access this site at your leisure and explore without an approved guide present.

A standard entrance ticket for the catacombs includes a guided tour in your chosen language (check the official website here for options), run by a local expert with an average group size of around 20 people.

The regular admission tickets allow you to visit both the Catacombs of San Gennaro and the Catacombe di San Gaudioso within 12 months. Once you have completed your visit to the Catacombs of San Gennaro you will be given a unique code which can be used to book your visit to the Catacombs of San Gaudioso without an additional cost.

For a more intimate experience you can also opt for a private tour from an approved provider. Most guided tour operators offer combination experiences, visiting the Catacombs of San Gaudioso and other nearby sites so you can get a full picture of the fascinating history of this part of Naples.

Accessibility

Unfortunately due to the nature of the catacombs, those with mobility challenges may have difficulty visiting this site.

Although great work has been undertaken to make the site as accessible as possible by Cooperativa La Paranza (the catacomb management), in conjunction with Tutti a Scuola Association, such as the removal of all the architectural barriers, there are uneven surfaces, steps and somewhat confined spaces throughout the site.

Note that there is a specific entrance for wheelchair users at Vicoletto S. Gennaro dei Poveri, 22 – however this entrance is not always open and I recommend that you contact Cooperativa La Paranza to confirm this before visiting, along with any specific questions about accessibility.