To see three ancient churches built on top of one another, visit St. Clement Basilica. The present church in this three-tiered complex was erected just before 1100. Beneath it, a fourth-century structure once included a basement meant to serve as a mithraeum, a place of worship for the followers of the ancient mystery religion called Mithraism. Below that structure is yet another edifice, built on the foundations of an even older building that had been destroyed in the Great Fire of Rome in 64 CE. The present church was transformed over the centuries from a private house, once the site of clandestine Christian worship, to a grand public basilica that has been expanded and renovated to reflect the Roman Catholic church's growing legitimacy and power. As you explore, listen for the sounds of the underground river flowing deep beneath the city. Plan your visit to St. Clement Basilica and a wealth of other attractions, well-known and undiscovered, using our Rome vacation maker.
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St. Clement Basilica reviews
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In a city of 1000 churches, how do you choose which to visit? This one is well worth putting on your list if you're a lover of history (and if you're not, what are you doing in Rome?). As churches..... more »
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A really interesting place to visit, especially if you buy access (€10) to the underground two levels. There are churches built on 3 layers, and you can view each of these in great detail. It's a... more »
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If you come to Rome and are near the coliseum then you must walk a block to St. Clement Basilica and see the church that was built upon a church that was built upon a house! 3 layers and the history is just incredibly. And it's only 10Euro a person to see (kids are a reduced fee). You can do it in as little as 30min but if you stop and read the signs allow for an hour. You can't take photos but it shows the original artwork that they were able to recover and at the lowest level there is a water stream. If you are in Rome during the summer months and want to get out of the heat, the exhibit opens at 3pm so take a break from the heat and enjoy this cool 3 layers of history that dates back to before Christ!
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Arrived at 12:15 and was looking forward to at least a good hour or even two visiting this brilliant church and site. Having checked the website for opening hours and confirming that it would be open my family and I were hugely disappointed when we walked in the main entrance to be greeted with a very rude man and staff advising us that the church and site was closing until 15:30. What a let down.
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