The Catacombs in Pianosa

On Pianosa Island (Marina di Campo), there is a dense network of catacombs dating back to the late 4th century AD, used as a burial site by the early Christian communities that settled on the island.

The catacombs, carved into the rock along the coastal area, consist of a dense maze of large galleries. With more than 500 loculi and 200 tunnels, and an estimated presence of at least seven hundred burials, they are considered the largest catacomb complex north of Rome, indicating the presence of a very large Christian community.

At the time, access was via a small cave near the sea, where an ancient sign carved into the rock indicated the presence of the catacombs, but in a point not visible from the ancient port and thus identifiable only by those already aware of the Christian refuge on the island: a large cross topped by a flame representing the Holy Spirit and a smaller cross marking the entrance.

One part of the catacomb contains tombs, and another part was probably enlarged later to create a space for gatherings and the celebration of rites.

The burials were arranged in three stacked layers, but only the most important figures had a sarcophagus tomb, occupying the two upper layers. Due to space constraints, the bodies were placed in a fetal position, and the loculi were covered with stone slabs, where the names of the deceased were carved in reverse letters, so that the deceased could read them correctly from inside the tomb.

A small mystery: Of particular interest is the fact that, despite the catacombs being evidence of a substantial Christian community, no documents have been found that attest to their presence on the island. Furthermore, findings of coins and remnants of items on the Roman sites on the surface confirm that the island was abandoned as early as the 1st century, probably shortly after the assassination of Agrippa. Perhaps too soon for such a large Christian community.