7 of the World’s Most Enchanting and Stunning Underground Burial Sites

Jerusalem, a highly sought-after burial location, faces a shortage of space for the deceased. In 2015, the Jerusalem Jewish Community Burial Society collaborated with a construction firm to excavate beneath a mountain in Har Hamenuchot, the city’s largest cemetery, to develop an expansive underground necropolis capable of accommodating 22,000 crypts. The design features burial chambers stacked vertically in a maze of interconnected tunnels, reminiscent of ancient Middle Eastern catacombs. The initial phase of this modernized burial site is scheduled to launch in October 2019.

Explore seven of the most visually stunning and historically rich catacombs located around the world.

1. The Catacombs of Rome

Catacombs first emerged in the Middle East approximately 6000 years ago and were introduced to Rome through Jewish migration. Early Christians adopted Jewish burial traditions, though Roman regulations required them to inter their dead outside city boundaries. Due to the high cost of land, they ventured underground, carving an estimated 375 miles of tunnels through Rome’s soft volcanic tuff and constructing networks of chambers adorned with rectangular niches known as loculi. Over time, more elaborate tombs were developed, including cubical (small family tombs) and arcosolia (arched niches for families). These spaces were frequently embellished with religious frescoes, gold medallions, statues, and other artworks. The splendor served not only the deceased but also the living, who gathered there for funeral feasts and commemorative rituals. (The notion that persecuted Christians secretly worshipped there is a Romantic-era myth.)

By the 5th century, barbarian invasions led to the looting of Rome’s tombs, prompting the relocation of saints’ and martyrs’ remains to safer church sites. The catacombs were abandoned for centuries until miners accidentally uncovered one beneath Via Salaria in 1578. This sparked a frenzy for relics (often of questionable origin). Today, Rome’s roughly 40 catacombs are devoid of bodies, but their ancient frescoes and labyrinthine tunnels remain a compelling attraction.

2. The Catacombs of Paris

While not the earliest, the Paris catacombs are arguably the most renowned globally, unmatched in their eerie allure. Originally Roman limestone quarries used to construct the city above, their modern purpose began in the late 18th century when overcrowded cemeteries raised public health alarms. (Saints-Innocents, for instance, had been in use for nearly a thousand years and was overflowing with bodies, posing a significant issue due to its proximity to the bustling Les Halles market). From the late 18th century, authorities addressed the problem by transferring the remains of an estimated six to seven million individuals into the former quarries, which were sanctified for this purpose.

The catacombs became a public attraction in the 19th century, and today, visitors can admire bones arranged in artistic patterns. (Some designs include a keg and a heart.) Additional highlights include an underground spring, a sepulchral lamp, sculptures by a quarryman, and special exhibits. Only a portion of the roughly 200 feet of tunnels is accessible to the public, though this hasn’t deterred daring urban explorers, artists, and thieves from venturing into restricted areas. In 2004, Parisian police uncovered a hidden cinema in one section, complete with a bar.

3. The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa

Carved into the bedrock beneath Alexandria in the second century, the catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa ("Mound of Shards") were lost to history until 1900, when a donkey stumbled into an access shaft. Today, visitors can explore the three-tiered catacombs, which feature massive stone sarcophagi, intricate carvings, statues, and a blend of Roman, Greek, and Egyptian artistic styles. The Hall of Caracalla, located on the second level, is believed to house the remains of young Christian men (and at least one horse) killed by Caracalla in AD 215.

4. The Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo

In the 16th century, the Capuchin church in Palermo, Sicily, faced a shortage of cemetery space, prompting the monks to embalm their deceased brothers and display them in the catacombs. Initially reserved for friars, the practice gained popularity, and prominent locals began requesting the honor in their wills. Over 12,000 individuals have since been preserved and categorized for display, including Men, Women, Virgins, Children, Priests, Monks, and Professionals. Burials continued until the 1920s, with one of the most famous residents being the strikingly preserved Rosalie Lombardo.

5. The Catacombs of Rabat, Malta

Beneath Rabat, Malta (once the ancient Roman settlement of Melite), lies a vast network of underground tombs carved from rock, dating from the 4th to 9th centuries AD. Unlike most Mediterranean catacombs, these tunnels were used to inter Jews, Christians, and pagans, with no clear separation between the groups.

The site features large tables used for ritual feasts honoring the deceased, as well as canopied burial chambers adorned with inscriptions, illustrations, and messages (archaeologists continue to decipher their meanings). Key catacomb complexes in Rabat include St. Paul, St. Agatha, and Tad-Dejr.

6. The Crypt of St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna

St. Stephen's Cathedral, the principal church of Vienna's Roman Catholic Archdiocese, is a landmark renowned for its stunning multi-colored tile roof and as the location of Vivaldi's funeral. However, fewer visitors explore its crypt, which houses the remains of over 11,000 individuals.

While much of the current cathedral dates back to the 14th century, the crypt was established following a bubonic plague outbreak in the 1730s. To combat the spread of the disease, cemeteries across Vienna were cleared, and many skeletons were arranged in orderly rows, with skulls placed on top. However, some areas feature chaotic heaps of bones. The ducal crypt houses the organs of royalty, including the stomach of Hapsburg Queen Maria Teresa.

7. The Ossuary of Brno

Monika Durickova, Flickr // CC BY 2.0

In 2001, a routine archaeological excavation in Brno, Czech Republic, uncovered a forgotten underground ossuary filled with skeletons. Approximately 50,000 remains had been placed beneath St. Jacob's Square during the 17th and 18th centuries, initially arranged in neat rows but later disturbed by water and mud. The site opened to the public in June 2012 and is now Europe's second-largest known ossuary, after the Paris catacombs.

This list first ran in 2015 and was republished in 2019.