Guided tour

Rome: San Clemente Underground & Basilica

4.6 / 5

11 reviews

Activity provider: EcoArt Travel
Guided tour

Rome: San Clemente Underground & Basilica

Activity provider: EcoArt Travel

From US$ 53.14 per person

Descend 100 feet underground at the San Clemente archeological site and discover 2,000 years of history. Then, visit the 12th century Basilica above with its famous gold mosaics.

About this activity

Free cancellation
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Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 1.5 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Skip the ticket line
Live tour guide
English

Experience

Highlights
  • Visit the underground archeologic site of San Clemente Basilica
  • Delight at the sparkling gold mosaics of the Basilica of San Clemente
  • Descend into the nethermost levels to discover an ancient Mithraic temple.
Full description
Just a stone's throw from the Colosseum, you will find one of Rome's hidden gems, the 12th-century Basilica and the archeological site of San Clemente. Visit this incredible place and navigate three underground levels which uncover over 2,000 years of history. The Basilica reveals a sparkling gold mosaic in the central nave. What lies beneath the Basilica remained a secret until 1860 when a flood led an Irish Dominican Roman Catholic priest and archaeologist to discover the levels beneath.  Today, the excavations are still not complete but you can descend 100 feet underground. At the first level is a 4th-century Basilica, which was long forgotten after the construction of the 12th-century Basilica above. Further down are the remains of an ancient pagan Mithraic temple, complete with an altar. Past the temple are the ruins of ancient Roman homes. All of this is incredibly preserved and was painstakingly excavated. At the lowest level, discover the underground spring which caused the chaos that led to the underground discovery. 
Includes
  • Entrance fee to San Clement Basilica
  • Expert English-speaking tour guide
  • Pick up or drop-off
  • Gratuities
Not suitable for
  • People with mobility impairments
  • Wheelchair users

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

Meeting point is near S. Clemente Basilica, at the corner located at Via di S. Giovanni in Laterano, 126. Please note the meeting point is an outdoor location and not an office, and the address given is indicative. Please arrive 15 minutes early for check-in. The nearest metro stop is Line B ‘Colosseo’

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Important information

What to bring

  • Comfortable shoes
  • Face mask or protective covering

Not allowed

  • Cameras
  • Luggage or large bags
  • Video recording
  • Photography inside

Know before you go

  • You must be able to climb and descend stairs on your own
  • There is a maximum number of 15 people per booking
  • It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes for walking on uneven surfaces
  • It is recommended to wear layers because the underground levels may be cooler than the outside temperature
  • Please be at the meeting point at least 15 minutes before the departure time in order to check-in
  • Shoulder and knees must be covered inside of the church
Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.6 /5

based on 11 reviews

Review summary

  • Value for money
    3.7/5
  • Service
    3.7/5
  • Organization
    3.7/5

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Star rating:

I bet if your tour guide is Eddy, your very lucky! His way of speaking and knowledge about the history of the basiliek, is very interesting and enjoyable. The experience was very nice and he took us some good glamps back in history of ancient Roma. Thank you very much. Ps. The frames are beautiful as well ;)

March 28, 2023

Ed was super amazing. Our tour was only supposed to be for an hour but since we were so interested about the information that he was giving us it went on for 2 hours. Since Ed was also an archaeologist he knows so much and we are very happy with him . Ed was the best tour guide we ever had and we have been doing this for a very long time. You won’t be disappointed. 100 stars to Ed! Ciao!

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March 28, 2023

Don't Bury The Lede: Best Tour In Rome. I've paid for six tours during my two-week visit to Rome, and without a doubt, this tour was far and away the best. I guarantee you will enjoy this more than a tour of the Colosseum. The site exceeded the description of it I read in Lonely Planet that prompted me to add it to my list of things to do in Rome. The experience exceeded the description of the tour on Get Your Guide. Both of these are due to the guide and historian, Ricardo. A Pied Piper, he lures you with his enthusiasm and clear delight of his subject, and you cannot resist following him into the 12th-century basilica and then down stairs back in time to structures that hail from the 4th century, then further down and back in time to the 2nd century, and finally at the bottom arriving in the 1st century.

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March 28, 2023

Product ID: 207114