Rome: St Clement Basilica & Underground Catholic Tour｜Italy

Step beneath one of Rome’s most remarkable basilicas and walk through nearly two millennia of Christian history. Just minutes from the Colosseum, St Clement Basilica offers the extraordinary experience of descending from a medieval church into an earlier Christian basilica and the Roman city below.

The present 12th-century basilica is a living Catholic church and an artistic treasure. Discover its magnificent apse mosaic of the Triumph of the Cross, Cosmatesque floor and ancient marble chancel. St Clement of Rome and St Ignatius of Antioch are venerated here, while St Cyril—apostle to the Slavic peoples and co-patron of Europe—is buried within the complex.

With admission to the archaeological excavations included, descend into the fourth-century basilica, where important early medieval frescoes preserve the faith and devotion of previous generations. Continue into the first-century level and the traditional family home of St Clement, preserved alongside ancient Roman buildings, flowing underground water and a temple associated with the cult of Mithras.

The different levels reveal the growth of the Church from the earliest Christian community in imperial Rome through the Middle Ages and into the present day. Your expert Catholic guide places the archaeology, sacred art and traditions within the wider story of the Faith, the martyrs and the Church’s mission in Rome.

This is a one-hour guided visit. The excavations contain numerous stairs and uneven surfaces and can be cold, dark and damp. The experience is not suitable for wheelchair users, visitors with significant mobility difficulties or those uncomfortable in confined underground spaces. Shoulders and knees must be covered inside the basilica.