Catacombe di San Gennaro

Catacombs Naples, Italy

The Catacombs of San Gennaro are ancient underground cemetery areas dating back to the II-III century and represent the most important monument of Christianity in Naples. The original nucleus of the catacombs developed around the tomb of a wealthy Roman family (whose name remains unknown due to the dispersion of epigraphic material) dated to the 2nd-3rd century. Starting from this donation, the vestibule on the lower floor was subsequently created, which at the end of the 3rd century housed the mortal remains of Saint Agrippino, sixth bishop of Naples.

Bishop Giovanni I had the remains of San Gennaro moved to a cubiculum in the lower catacomb. From that moment the catacomb became the center of worship of the martyr, and over time the catacombs took on his name, thus becoming the Catacombs of San Gennaro.