Albano Laziale

The Catacombs of San Senatore

The Catacombs of San Senatore are located below the Convent of S. Maria della Stella where in Roman times there was a pozzolana quarry. The founding of the cemetery in the ancient quarry took place between the end of the 3rd and the beginning of the 4th century, and was used as such until the 9th century.

The fame of these catacombs was mainly due to the presence of saints and martyrs as well as to the fact that they are the only catacombs in the Colli Albani area other than the Ad Decimum catacombs in Grottaferrata.

In the central crypt are some pagan and Christian burial inscriptions and wall paintings such as the one showing Cristo tra gli Sponsores ed i Martiri (Christ between the benefactors and the Alban Martyrs – late 5th – early 6th centuries AD), the one representing San Senatore, (late 4th – early 5th centuries AD) and the more recent one of Cristo Pantocrator tra San Smaragdo e la Madonna (Christ Pantocrator between S. Smaragdus and the Madonna (11th – 12th century AD).

All the finds discovered are exhibited inside the Civic Museum of Albano.