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Pictures of the Jewish Catacombs under Villa Torlonia in Rome, Italy.

By , About.com Guide

We jumped at the chance to go below the well manicured grounds of Rome's Villa Torlonia to discover Rome's Jewish catacombs when Lisa of Secret Garden Tours proposed it.

High on the list of tourist's things to do in Rome is a visit to one or two of Rome's 60 or so early Christian catacomb sites, but few visitors are aware that several Jewish catacombs exist in Rome. The Villa Torlonia site, for example, is closed to visitors without special permission because of safety issues and Radon gas emissions, but officials hope they can get things sorted out so they can open the catacombs to visitors in 2010.

The Villa Torlonia catacombs were active burial sites between 200 and 500 BCE. Recently, a Dutch archaeological team discovered that charcoal fragments embedded in lime powder used in the construction of Villa Torlonia dated from 50 B.C. to A.D. 400 suggesting that the Villa Torlonia site predates the early Christian Roman ones.

Enjoy our virtual tour of Jewish Catacombs in Rome.

Images 1-11 of 11

Enter Gallery
jewish catacomb picture, rome pictureRoman Archaeologist Simona Morretta Leads Our Group Through the Catacombsjewish catacomb picture, rome picturePicture of the Chambers in the Jewish Catacombs Under Villa Torloniajewish catacomb picture, rome picturePicture of a Chamber Disturbed by Tomb Robberjewish catacomb picture, rome picturePicture of the Narrow Passageways in the Catacombs
jewish catacomb picture, rome pictureOur Group views the stacked Burial Chambers Under Villa Torloniajewish catacomb picture, rome pictureA Menorah depicted in a Jewish tomb in the Catacombs under Villa Torloniajewish catacomb picture, rome picturePicture of a Chamber frescoed with Judaic Motifs jewish catacomb picture, rome picturePicture of a Chamber with Frescos
jewish catacomb picture, rome picturePicture of a Carved Column in a Villa Torlonia Catacomb Chamberjewish catacomb picture, rome picturePicture of a Frescoed Chamber Showing Evidence of Robberyjewish catacomb picture, rome pictureExcavated tiles with Maker's Marks

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