The complex expands on two connecting floors and it is set on old funerary structures, built between the II and II centuries A.C.
The building saw two moments of great development in the III century, with the deposition of Sant’Agrippino and, at the beginning of the V century, with the transfer of San Gennaro’s relics, which remained here until the IX century, only to be moved to Benevento after.
Important frescoes (among which the famous portrait of San Gennaro) and mosaics decorate the main environments and tombs of saints and bishops, that were worshipped in the catacombs during the centuries.
In the XV century, the complex lost its cultural valur and was turned into a cemetery for the plague’s victims.
Only later, the catacombs re-gained the cult of San Gennaro, thanks to a new and restless interest of scholars, worshippers and tourists.
Thanks to the project “San Gennaro Extra Moenia, una porta dal passato al futuro”, from June 2009 the catacombs can be also visited by disabled people.
Per maggiori informazioni consultare: Wikipedia
