Catacombs of San Giovanni - ancient catacombs in Syracuse, dating back to 4-6 centuries BC In the late 19th - early 20th century, they were carefully studied the archaeologist Paolo Orsi, one of the leading researchers of the prehistoric heritage of Italy. Today it is the only catacombs in Syracuse, open to the public, making them one of the most popular tourist attractions.

Of all the catacombs in Syracuse is the catacombs of San Giovanni are the late - they served as a cemetery for the local Christian community in 4-6 centuries BC, when the persecution of Jesus' followers have ceased. Perhaps that is why they have a clear plan and artfully decorated - their creators did not have to hide. It is still not established whether there was buried a saint. A crypt containing the ashes of the first bishop of Syracuse Marcian, now part of the museum complex "Catacombs of San Giovanni," initially housed separately from the cemetery, and only recently entered into its composition. In this crypt, you can see some frescoes depicting the Madonna with Child and various saints, carried out during the Byzantine era and up until the 17th century.

The name is derived from the catacombs of St. John the Evangelist (San Giovanni in Italian), built in the Norman era crypt of St. Marcian. The church was originally made in the Romanesque style, were then added Gothic elements, but during the earthquake in 1693 it was destroyed.

Despite the fact that the catacombs were abandoned from the 6th century, they had been known. In the late 19th century, archaeologist Saverio Cavallari found here perfectly preserved sarcophagus of the 5th century, called sarcophagus Adelphi. It then began a detailed study of the early Christian cemetery, which, as mentioned above, carried out by Paolo Orsi. During the Second World War, during the air raids in the dungeons of the catacombs sheltered residents of Syracuse. Today the ruins of the church of San Giovanni, and the crypt of San Marciano, and catacombs are part of a single museum complex and open to tourists.

Since the catacombs were created on the site of the ancient aqueduct, they have a clear plan - wide central gallery with a few minor tunnels and round the premises, called Rotunda. A feature of the catacombs of San Giovanni is the lack of family graves in the form of kubikul - take their place large arkosolii. The last is a deep arch beneath which are buried 20 bodies. Among other types of burial loculi can be noted in the form of rectangular recesses in the walls, in the floor of the burial, which buried-poor members of the community, and sarcophagi.