It all started when saint Agnes was buried in a catacomb along via Nomentana, probably in the III century AD.

In IV AD empress Constantina (or Constantia), emperor Constantine’s daughter, commissioned a large basilica in honour of Agnes, that was built next to the catacomb. Attached to this basilica, Constantia had her own splendid mausoleum built, and decorated with sumptuous mosaics; this was later on converted into the church of santa Costanza. We will see the ruins of the so called Constantinian Basilica of Saint Agnes and enter the beautifully-preserved  Mausoleum of Santa Costanza, where the mosaics are still visible.

In the VII century a new basilica was built for Agnes, right on the grave this time, in the catacomb itself. We will visit this very spiritual place, the Honorian Basilica of Saint Agnes, and its lavish apse mosaic. A monumental stairway connects the two basilicas, and it serves today as a museum.

The complex became a fortress in the Middle Ages, and some of the towers are still there.

Duration: 2 hours

No entrance fees.

At the end of the visit you may want to see the catacomb on your own, entrance fee is 8 euro, 5 euro for children under 15, free under 7.

No bare shoulders, knees covered.

On ground level and first floor it houses a prestigious collection of important statues  such as the Discobolus Lancellotti (Discus Thrower), the Augustus via Labicana, the bronze Boxer, the General from Tivoli, the Dying Niobide (V BC), the Girl of Anzio, bronze ornaments from the Nemi ships.

On second floor a variety of extraordinary frescoes representing the height of Roman painting, among which the painted garden of the Villa of Livia from Prima Porta  (see VILLA DI LIVIA) and the reconstructed cubicola of Villa Farnesina, as well as extensive polychromatic mosaics of the highest quality.

In the basement the recenlty-found and unique imperial insignia of emperor Maxentius (sometimes away for exhibitions), the Grottarossa mummy and the largest numismatic collection in the world.

Duration: 3 hours

Entrance ticket: 10 euro; 2 for EU students under 25; free under 18.

Closed on Mondays.

A 3-days ticket is available for 15 euro and it includes one admission to each of the four sections of the Roman National Archaeological Museum: Palazzo Massimo, Palazzo Altemps, Crypta Balbi, Terme di Diocleziano.

Start at Santa Prassede to see colourful  IX-century mosaics on the arches and the apse and a real pearl, the charming Chapel of San Zeno, also IX century, where walls and vault are all mosaic.

Just across the street we visit the Papal Basilica of S. Maria Maggiore, V century, to see early Christian and medieval mosaics of the highest quality.

A few steps and we reach Santa Pudenziana, an early Christian church that houses a small but very famous apse mosaic of the IV century.

Walk down an ancient path all the way  to the Imperial Fora (15 minutes) to end at Ss. Cosma and Damian, VI century, where we see the most beautiful sky ever portrayed in mosaic.

Duration: 3 hours

No admission tickets.

Not on Sunday mornings.

Not at lunch time as most churches close for lunch.

Shoulders covered, no shorts.

Excavations under the Basilica of San Crisogono reveal impressive remains of the early Christian church, built by the V century transforming a private house. The baptistry,  the semicircular crypt with a fenestella confessionis and the stories of Saint Benedict frescoed on the walls are of the greatest interest.

Through picturesque medieval alleys we reach the majestic Basilica of Santa Cecilia. Beneath the IX century church we visit an ancient domus and an insula, later used as foundations for the early Christian basilica, the early baptistry and the crypt.

Duration: 3 hours

Entrance tickets: San Crisogono 3 euro + Santa Cecilia 2.50 euro.

Not on Sunday mornings.

In Santa Cecilia we can also see the famous Last Judgement frescoed by Pietro Cavallini, but this is open only in the morning. Admission is additional 2.50 euro.