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Via Tunisi 13 - Rome (RM) 00192- Italy
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Via Ostilia, 29 - Rome (RM) 00184- Italy
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San Clemente Underground Tour

including the Basilica
From
49.00
104 reviews

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.. Read more

  • Descend 100 feet underground in the Basilica of San Clemente

  • Visit an the ancient mithraic temple hidden at the lowest level of the excavations

  • Admire one of the most beautiful Mosaics in the world

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Adults
(17+)
Children
(8 - 16)
09 january 2023
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San Clemente Underground Tour

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Adults
(17+)
Children
(8 - 16)
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About the tour

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.

Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun

1.5 hours - departure 3:00PM

English


what’s included
  • English-speaking Tour Leader
  • Entrance fee to San Clemente Archeological Site
what’s excluded
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Gratuities
kylercook

TripAdvisor 21 Feb, 2025

Amazing

We loved the tour we took of San Clemente Basilica and the underground ruins below it We learned so much It was a beautiful church with so much history hidden We were a group of 5 so the tour was just us and we all thoroughly enjoyed the personal attention to detail and answerd all our questions The explanations of what we were seeing and the reasons for the ruins being buried were very interesting And the religious history of Saint Clement added much to the tour Immediately after the tour my wife told me that was my favorite tour Thank you for the service

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Itinerary

Starting 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’.

Ending Point

Tour ends at St. Clement's Basilica at 4:30PM

You meet with your guide close to the St. Clement's Basilica entrance. You will enter the church and descend into the underground, exploring. After, you will visit the main church and admire the mosaics and frescoes.

Additional information


  • We recommend the use of comfortable shoes
  • Something to cover shoulders and knees for entrance into churches.

Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun

  • We are unfortunately unable to accomodate guests with wheelchairs.
  • Guests must be able to climb and descend stairs on their own.


  • A paying adult must accompany all minors under 17 years of age.
  • Children 7 and under can join for free.
  • This tour involves walking on uneven terrain and is not suitable for guests who are unable to walk or climb/descend stairs on their own.

In order to be eligible for a full refund your tour must be modified/cancelled by e-mail (info@ecoarttravel.com) no less than 24 hours before your scheduled departure time.

Reviews
LongLiveEurope
TripAdvisor
24 Oct, 2022
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. Unlike a lot of ancient remnants, what you see on this tour is intact; no VR headset needed to understand what you are looking at: it is right in front of you and all around. The 4th-century basilica, 2nd-century temple, and 1st-century Roman domestic setting are as intact as if they were constructed to serve as sets for a period drama. Ricardo could have gone on longer, and I could easily have listened much longer as he brought me closer to our ancestors that made us who we are today. Photos are not permitted of the subterranean buildings, so I only have photos to share of the 12th-century version of Basilica di San Clemente.


Dzyan
TripAdvisor
16 Sep, 2020
Meravigliosa gemma nascosta

Interessante tour a piedi vicino al Colosseo. Propone alla squadra per la gentilezza e la buona organizzazione


Ezia
TripAdvisor
14 Sep, 2020
San Clemente che meraviglia !

L'accoglienza è stata ottima già al telefono con Gianmarco e un altro addetto francese di cui non ricordo il nome, poi da vicino sono stati davvero fantastici. La nostra guida è stata Eddy, molto professionale e garbato.


GIANMARCOG
TripAdvisor
14 Mar, 2020
WONDERFUL HIDDEN GEM

Interesting walking tour close to the Colosseum. Props to the team for the kindness and good organization


VFEC
TripAdvisor
18 Sep, 2019
FANTASTIC TOUR

Our guide was superb. He gave us very detailed descriptions of San Clemente and Saint Peters in Chains. He gave us both the history and the structure of the building . He pointed out things we might have over looked.The Moses was the cherry on top.



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