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Celebrate Halloween in Rome

2nd October 2008

Visitors could book their Halloween break in the beautiful city of Rome this year and stop by some of its spookiest attractions to make the most of the season.

They may want to start by exploring the city's many catacombs, or underground burial sites, such as those of Praetextatus, San Sebastiano and San Callisto.

Praetextatus dates back to 2nd century, originally constructed to be the final resting place of an aristrocratic Roman family, Rome.info says.

It went on to represent one of the most popular choices of other eminent people, including the Emperor Balbinus and afterwards to be the place where Christians would bury their martyrs.

Another of the city's unusual sights is The Mouth of Truth - called La Bocca della Verita in the native tongue - which is a marble mask depicting a human-like face, into whose mouth visitors can put their hand and according to legend, any liar who does so will have it bitten off.

It is situated in the portico of the Santa Maria in Cosmedin church.

For those who still have not had their fill of the macabre, there is the Capuchin Crypt, a series of six tiny chapels beneath the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini.

This houses the bones of 4,000 Capuchin monks, arranged in crosses, flowers, archs, triangles and circles as well as in a large clock upon one wall.

See what eerie Italy has to offer in Rome

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