Discover a subterranean city beneath the Baroque and Renaissance buildings of Rome on a 4-hour underground tour that explores the minor basilica of San Clemente, the ruins of Roman temples in the crypt of San Nicola in Carcere, and more.
Highlights:
- Discover an ancient city of Roman temples under the loved streets of Rome
- Descend to the vaults of the Basilica of San Clemente
- Visit the ancient church of San Bartolomeo on Tiber Island
- Go to the Basilica of Santa Cecilia and San Crisogono Church in Trastevere
- See the Roman Houses on Caelian Hill
Live guide: Spanish, English, French, German, Italian
Duration: 4 hours, Private tour, Skip the Line / Fast Track Entry
What's Included:
- Tour Guide
What's Not Included:
- Food
- Transportation
- Entrance fees
Good to Know:
- Please note that on some occasions this tour can only cover 4 of the 5 sites listed above due to time constraints and unexpected site closures.
Discover another Rome beneath the known monuments, where a silent city is revealed underneath the grandiose Renaissance and Baroque architecture. We start at the beautiful Basilica of San Clemente to admire its unique mosaics and crucified Christ in a festival of trees and doves. Not far from the mosaics lies the Cappella di Santa Caterina. A small stairway will take you to the lower basilica, built in the 4th century AD. From here, another staircase leads to the 3rd underground level from the 1st century AD. Some of the rooms were part of an apartment block separated by a passable street from another large building that was perhaps a state mint.
Next, marvel at the Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo (Saints John and Paul), with its monastery and bell tower built upon the imposing ruins of a temple dedicated to the emperor Claudius. After a lovely walk past the gardens, still cultivated today by the nuns, explore some of medieval Rome and the Circo Massimo (Circus Maximus), where chariot races kept the Roman Empire entertained.
Pass the unique church of San Nicola in Carcere. Even from a distance you will see six imposing columns of an ancient Roman temple, built into the side walls of the church. Descend to the underground level and be catapulted back to a magical time.
Continue to Isola Tiberina (Tiber Island) to find the ancient Ponte Fabriano and the church of San Bartolomeo. In the heart of Trastevere, visit the Basilica of Santa Cecilia and the church of San Crisogono, where remains of a church built in the 4th century were discovered in the early 20th century.
