We got as much info on this bus as we couldfrom all sources including the Italian website. We waited for bus at Piazza Venezia along with about 10 other people. The damn thing was a minibus half empty, but we were told by the guide we couldnt get on because they had to pick other people up on the way????which seemed a bit strang, she said,contradicting the website, that we shoul have gone to termini to get on and away they went, leaving 10 confused tourists standing there. Fortunately, due to my husband and sons halting Italian we managed to find the right buses to get to the Appia Antica, we got on the wrong bus only once so we did pretty well. Route 85 from Piazza Venizia, get off at Piazza San Giovanni and get bus 218 which seems to come very frequently. We saved 32 euros, alot in australian dollars, and had an adventure with the kids which they found more fun than the catacombs.

How did you like the catacombs?

I agree. I had the same thing happen to me last week at Termini. The bus had seats,k but the deriver wouldn't let us on. Told us to take the next bus and that we needed to buy tickets at the "box" that had a half mile long line. We get to the front of the line and clerk tells us that they are soldout for the day. It is 10:30 am. I ask how can that be and she just keeps tlling me the same thing and then tells me that she needs to help the next person. If I go back I will have to try to take public transport to the sites. I barely broke evn on my Museum card becaseu I was counting on visitng several of those sites on the Appian Way that were covered by it.

I'll jsut have to have fond memeopries of the only time I ever got on it last year

I went to the catacombs 25 years ago and because it was winter, very few people around and I found it quite moving. This time there were about 2 or 300 people milling around, tour buses,2 kids in tow and a husband who hates graveyards, neverthless we had an excellent guide and I still found it interestin rather than moving, but I was glad to return to the sunlight I can tell you that. We also went to the Ardeatine Caves memorial and that also was moving, more so because my father in law had been in the Italian navy as a boy of 19 and spent 3 horrific years in German POW camps, so to find a personal way in to these things is , for me much better, because all the history and culture can be overwhelming. Hi Tim Jones.