The Catacombs of Saints Marcellinus and Peter, located at the third mile of the ancient Via Labicana (now Casilina), are the third largest catacombs in Rome and cover more than 18,000 square meters, on three levels, reaching a depth of about 12 meters.
The area was affected by necropolis since the late Republican age and, later (between the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD), was occupied by the cemetery of the Equites Singulares Augusti. The development of the site originated around the mid-3rd century, during a period of détente in relations between the civil authority and the Christian community, and started at first on several autonomous cores that later merged into the present complex.
In addition to its historical and spiritual importance, one of the main features of the Catacombs of Sts. Marcellinus and Peter is the extremely rich holdings of frescoes (mostly from the fourth century A.D.) that offer visitors a complete panorama of early Christian iconography.
