Overview
The Catacombs of Domitilla, perhaps slightly less well-known than the nearby catacombs of San Callisto and San Sebastiano, are impressive in appearance and size. About 12 kilometres of underground tunnels run along the walls of the tombs, decorated with biblical symbols and scenes that refer to faith in the resurrection. Early Christians began, in fact, to bury the bodies of the faithful to preserve them for the afterlife, going against the traditional cremation in use among pagans.
The Domitilla that gives her name to the site is Flavia Domitilla. She was the granddaughter of Emperor Vespasian and originally owned the land that today covers the intricate network of early Christian catacombs.
