Catacombs of San Giovanni – the ancient catacombs in Syracuse, dated 4-6 centuries BC In the late 19th and early 20th century, they were carefully studied by the archaeologist Paolo Orsi, one of the prominent 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.

From all available in Syracuse catacombs exactly catacombs of San Giovanni are the most late – they served as a cemetery for the local Christian community in 4-6 centuries BC, when the persecution of the followers of Jesus has ceased. Maybe that's why they have a clear plan and elaborately decorated – to their creators didn't need to hide. Still not installed, was buried here any Saint. But the crypt with the remains of the first Bishop Marcian of Syracuse, now part of the Museum complex "the Catacombs of San Giovanni, initially located separately from the cemetery, and only recently entered into its composition. In this crypt you can see some frescoes depicting the Madonna and Child with various saints in the Byzantine era and until the 17th century.

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

Despite the fact that the catacombs were abandoned in the 6th century, was known about them. In the late 19th century archaeologist Saverio Cavallari has discovered well-preserved sarcophagus of the 5th century, who called the sarcophagus of Adelfia. It then began a detailed study of the early Christian cemetery, which, as mentioned above, carried out the Paolo Orsi. During the Second World war during bombing in the vaults of the catacombs was a shelter for the residents of Syracuse. Today the ruins of the Church of San Giovanni, the crypt of San Marciano, and the catacombs are part of a single Museum complex and are open to tourists.

Because the catacombs were created on the site of an ancient aqueduct, they have a clear plan – wide Central gallery with a few minor tunnels and circular areas called rotundas. A feature of the catacombs of San Giovanni is the lack of family graves in the form of cubical – their place is occupied by the large arkosolii. The latter was a deep arch, under which are buried up to 20 phone Among the other types of tombs can be noted niches in the shape of rectangular recesses in the walls, the graves in the floor, where are buried the poor members of the community, and sarcophagi.