The Pontificio Istituto di Archeologia Cristiana has its seat in a prestigious building in the Esquilino neighborhood in Rome. The building is easily recognizable because of the enormous papal coat-of-arms above the entrance. The institution is responsible for all the Christian catacombs in Italy.
A brief history of the Pontificio Istituto di Archeologia Cristina
The “Papal Institution of Christian Archeology” was founded in 1925 by Pope Pius XI. The aim of the institution is to train young scholars in the field of Christian Archaeology and promoting research on the monuments of primitive Christianity (mainly Catacombs).
What to know before you go
Office hours: Monday and Thursdays from 08:30 till 18:30; Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 08:30 till 14:00. For more information about the hours (especially from June to October, when the hours are reduced, visit the official website). Note that the building is not accessible for tourists. Phone: +39 06 4465574.
Via Napoleone III, 1 – Rome
Web sources
Pontificio Istituto di Archeologia Cristiana on the official website of the Comune di Roma.