Catacomb of Balbina

The Catacomb of Balbina or Catacomb of Mark is a catacomb between the ancient via Appia antica and via Ardeatina in the Ardeatino district of Rome.
It is one of the funerary areas in the Callixtian complex, which is sited between the via Appia antica, via Ardeatina and the vicolo delle Sette Chiese. The complex also includes the catacombs of Callixtus and Santi Marco e Marcelliano.
The Catacomb of Balbina is mentioned in the Depositio episcoporum, the Index coemeteriorum vetus and two inscriptions. The usual name for it thus relates to the owner of the land in which it was dug, whilst the other refers to the main saint buried in it, to whom the related circular above-ground basilica is also dedicated. Despite these sources, the catacomb's identification is still uncertain.
On 3 September 1991, it was accidentally discovered in a field used for growing medical herbs, the Salesian Tarcisio Gazzola identified traces of the plan of the Constantanian-style basilica, 66 metres long and 27 metres wide, soon identified as the basilica dedicated to Pope Mark mentioned in the literary sources.