The Catacombs of Rome

As beautiful as the ancient city of Rome is, like any city, it has its darker secrets and, if you're hoping to discover one or two of these, you better have a strong gut! The city of Rome has around 40 such 'secrets' - ones that have been discovered, anyway - hidden away in the city's underground passageways and the faint of heart need not apply for a tour!

The Catacombs of Rome are ancient burial places that run beneath the very streets of the city itself. For miles beneath the sunny streets of the Italian capital, crypts and stone graves are piled in alongside one another in dark, claustrophobic passageways - some of which are open for the public to explore. So if you think you're brave enough to forget the warming sun shining down on the city's pleasant streets and head underground to another world entirely, a trip to the catacombs could be for you.

Like many cities in former times, Rome found that its size was inadequate for containing the sheer volume of bodies that were piling up within its walls - many of the persecuted Christians that the Romans felt necessary to bury in secret. The catacombs began in the 2nd Century as a place where these dead could be buried while remaining within the city limits but, today, have lain abandoned for centuries. However, they are available for exploration and guided tours among some of the miles of hidden tunnels are available for the brave of heart and morbidly curious, where you can discover a whole other side to Rome's sunny way of life.

Of course, there's a lot more to the catacombs than meets the eye. Since their rediscovery, the catacombs have helped historians further their knowledge of early Christian art enormously and many examples of artwork and carvings can be seen on tours. You can take in incredible paintings, sculptures, carvings and frescoes that date back hundreds of years and breathe in a true sense of history in these long-forgotten tunnels. At least, unlike the catacombs' permanent residents, you have the chance to escape the darkness at the end of the tour and come back up for fresh air and daylight!

Visiting the catacombs is an unforgettable experience that will set you dreaming of spooky tunnels all night after checking into one of the hotels in Rome - so put on a brave face and get ready to explore part of Rome's more frightening history.