Rome

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Catacombs of San Sebastiano

The name ‘catacomb’ originated in this spot, where a complex of underground burial sites situated near a tufa quarry was described as being kata kymbas – ‘near the quarry’. The guided tour will take you into the crypt of St Sebastian, the martyr always depicted nastily pierced by a hail of arrows (though these were just one of several unpleasant tortures), who was buried here in the late third century. Above, the fourth-century basilica of San Sebastiano (open 8.30am-6pm daily) was originally called basilica Apostolorum, because the remains of Saints Peter and Paul were hidden here. On display is the marble slab in which Christ left his footprints during his miraculous apparition at the spot where the Domine Quo Vadis? church (open 7am-7pm daily) now stands on the via Appia. (These are the real thing: the prints in Domino Quo Vadis? are just a copy.)

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