Catacomba di Sant’Agnese

Useful Information

Location:	Via Nomentana 349, 00162 Roma. Metro B1 S. Agnese–Annibaliano stop, exit at Via di S. Agnese, 3 . (41.9227681, 12.5187600)
Open:	Mausoleum of Constance: all year daily 9-12, 15-18. Basilica of Saint Agnes: all year Mon-Sat 9-12, 15-19, Sun 15-19. Catacombs of Saint Agnes: all years Mon-Sat 10-13, 15-18. Closed 01-JAN, Easter, 15-AUG, 25-DEC. Reservation by phone, WhatsApp or online mandatory. [2026]
Fee:	Mausoleum of Constance: free. Basilica of Saint Agnes: free. Catacombs of Saint Agnes: Adults EUR 10, Children (7-16) EUR 7, Children (0-6) free, Students (-25) EUR 7, Disabled free. [2026]
Classification:	Catacomb Roman Catacombs
Light:	Electric Light
Dimension:
Guided tours:	D=30 min, Max=20.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Catacomba di Sant’Agnese, The Catacombs of St. Agnes, Via Nomentana 349, 00162 Roma, Tel: +39-06-8610840, WhatsApp: +39-333-2086486. E-mail: Pontifical Commission of Sacred Archaeology (P.C.A.S.), Via Napoleone III, 1, 00185 Roma, Tel: +39-06-446-5610. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

2nd century	pagan necropolis on the surface.
16th century	rediscovered and explored by the Dominican friar Onofrio Panvinio.
1632	described by Antonio Bosio in his book Roma sotterranea (Subterranean Rome).
18th century	seriously damaged by cave robbers in search of relics and treasures.
19th century	excavations by Mariano Armellini.
1970s	excavation on the grounds.
1971–1972	studied by the priest Umberto Maria Fasola.

Description

Catacomba di Sant’Agnese (Catacombs of St. Agnes) is located at the second mile of via Nomentana, inside the monumental complex of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura (Saint Agnes Outside the Walls). This titular church and minor basilica is located on a slope descending from the Via Nomentana, and catacombs below are the places where Saint Agnes was originally buried. She was a "virgin martyr", like so many executed for her faith in the 4th century.

Agnes (*291-✝304) was born in into Roman nobility and raised as a Christian. She was beautiful and had many suitors who were young men of high rank, but as she was devoted to religious purity, one of them submitted her name to the authorities. She was brought to the local governor, who urged Agnes to deny God, but she refused. The Prefect Sempronius condemned Agnes to be dragged naked through the streets to a brothel. There are now two versions of the story, one says that as she prayed, her hair grew and covered her body and the other that the men who attempted to rape her were immediately struck blind. The son of the prefect was struck dead but revived after she prayed for him. Agnes was sentenced to death and bound to a stake to be burned. But the bundle of wood would not burn, and when it finally burned the flames parted away from her. The officer in charge of the troops drew his sword and beheaded her or stabbed her in the throat.

The legends around her is quite lengthy and there are different versions. Pretty sure is that she was killed at the age of 13. And there are numerous other persons involved, like her foster-sister, Emerentiana, who was killed for praying at her tomb, and was also later canonized.

The Catacomb of St. Agnes has three levels and is divided into four regions. There are no murals, but a lot of epigraphs. The tour is only 30 minutes long, but the site is nevertheless worth a visit. Tours are offered in different languages, which is one of the reasons why reservation is mandatory. However, its only reservation, payment is best done in cash at the ticket office. You should also visit the other parts of the site like the basilica and Mausoleum of Constance.