Catacombs of Saint Gaudioso Guided Tour

Tour Details 

Rione Sanità is one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Naples, but hidden beneath its streets lies a vast area of historic cemeteries. Right at the start, we’ll explain why this area has been called “Sanità” (Health) since the 17th century. It was believed that the surroundings were wholesome and that the presence of the saints’ tombs endowed the area with miraculous properties.

We’ll venture into one of the city’s great underground treasures. As we descend into its galleries, we’ll be surrounded by beautiful frescoes and mosaics from the 5th and 6th centuries. Together, we’ll learn to identify key symbols of early Christianity depicted on the walls, such as the fish, the lamb, and the vine with its branches.

The Tombs of the 17th-Century Nobility

In the 17th century, the complex housed tombs reserved for aristocrats and clergy, which were created using a striking procedure. In the ambulatory (the central corridor), the skulls of the deceased were embedded and displayed on the walls, while the rest of the body was painted in fresco, depicting the garments and tools of their trade that reflected their social status.

These unique frescoes were created by Giovanni Balducci, an artist who waived payment for his work in exchange for the privilege of being buried among the aristocrats in these very catacombs.

A Space Transformed by Time

During the tour, we’ll tell you how this labyrinth has undergone numerous transformations over the centuries. After it was abandoned, the so-called “lave dei vergini” (rivers of mud and debris) flooded and blocked access. Many parts were altered to make way for the construction of the current Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità, which is why its exact original size remains a mystery.

About 1 hour later, we’ll wrap up the guided tour of the Catacombs of San Gaudioso and return to the surface.