A 350 metre long cavern has been discovered deep under the Monteverde neighbourhood in Rome. It is one of the hundreds that have been blamed for a growing number of sinkholes that have swallowed cars and threatened to topple buildings. Five years ago builders digging a garage realised that there was empty space beneath their Read more
Posts Tagged ‘catacombs’
The city under the city of Rome
Monday, June 12th, 2017
ROME – When most people think of Rome they picture the majestic Colosseum or the countless churches and basilicas sprawled across the city, but deep underground there is another Eternal City that tells the tale of the first pioneers of the Christian faith. The Catacombs of Domitilla, a vast web of tunnels and tombs used Read more
Dodgy Vatican monsignor forced to return items to churches
Friday, October 31st, 2014
A former high ranking official at the Congregation for Clergy has been forced to return objects of value to churches in Turin. During Msgr Giovanni Carrù’s 20 years as pastor in a Turin parish, many paintings, statues, furniture and other objects were lost and then found in private homes. Two candelabra ended up being among Read more
Restored catacombs fuel debate on women priests
Friday, November 22nd, 2013
The Vatican this week unveiled a series of catacombs used by early Christians in Rome after a major restoration. The Priscilla catacombs where Christians worshipped and buried their own are re-opening to the public after five years of work in which restorers used lasers to clean up the religious frescoes on the walls. The Vatican’s Read more