Catacombs of San Gennaro

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The Catacombs of San Gennaro are underground paleo-Christian burial sites in Naples, Italy and are the most important such sites in Italy south of Rome. They are situated in the northern part of the city, on the slope leading up to Capodimonte. The site is now easily identified by proximity to the large church of Madre di Buonconsiglio.

Originally, there were three separate cemeteries, dedicated, respectively, to San Gaudioso, San Severo and San Gennaro. These catacombs in Naples are different from their Roman counterparts in that they have more spacious passageways along two levels. The lower level is the oldest, going back to the 3rd-4th century and may actually be the site of an earlier pre-Christian cemetery later ceded to the new sect. It apparently became an important religious burial site only after the entombment there of Bishop Agrippino. The second level was the one expanded so as to encompass the other two adjacent cemeteries.

The site was consecrated to Gennaro (Januarius) in the fifth century on the occasion of the entombment there of his remains, which were later removed to the Cathedral of Naples. Until the eleventh century the catacombs were the burial site of Neapolitan bishops. Between the 13th and 18th century, they were the victim of severe looting. Restoration of the catacombs was made possible only after the transfer of skeletal remains to another cemetery.

(see also: Catacombs of Rome)