Catacomba di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria

Useful Information

Location:	SP146, 15, 53043 Chiusi Scalo SI. A1 exit Casello di Chiusi-Chianciano Terme, turn right on SP146, 3 km to Chiusi. Chiusi is a small town with very limited parking, there is a huge communal parking at the northern rim, 5 minutes walk to any location in town. (43.006315, 11.952903)
Open:	All year Sat, Sun, Hol 14:30. Reservation required. [2023]
Fee:	Adults EUR 5, Children (6-13) EUR 3, Children (0-5) free. [2023]
Classification:	Catacomb
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Catacomba di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria, SP146, 15, 53043 Chiusi Scalo SI. Il Labirinto, Cooperativa di Servizi Turistici e Culturali, Via Dante Alighieri 2 - 53040 Cetona (SI), Cell +39-348-5226337, Cell +39-338-6827859. 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

Description

Catacomba di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria (Catacomb of St Catherine of Alexandria) was named after a chapel dedicated to Santa Caterina delle Ruote (Catherine of the Wheels), which was located on the hill above. She was a Virgin Martyr in Alexandria in Egypt. The site was a cemetery which housed both Christian and pagan burials. Two distinct underground burial places grew separately until they were finally connected. The site has numerous altars and a beautiful travertine urn decorated with lictor bundles and a robed person. The inscriptions show that there were both pagan and Christian burials. The pagan epigraphs are made of precious marbles. Exceptional is a Christian epigraph from the end of the 3rd century with the name Caesia Benibola. It seems the site was first pagan, and then it was taken over by the Christs.

The catacomb is located in Chiusi Scalo, where during Roman times a river port existed. The entrance was built from travertine jambs with holes for the hinges. Inside is a small basilica with an altar, two columns with Corinthian capitals, and a Christian symbol on the wall. On both sides are openings which lead deeper into the catacombs.