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San Clemente

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Rome Attractions

San Clemente

The basilica itself dates back to the 12th century and is quite fascinating on its own. What is really fascinating, moreso than just the street level, is what lies beneath. This early church was built on an earlier 4th century church. Underneath the 4th century church is an ancient Roman level, complete with a Mithraeum (a cult chamber for an Eastern religion involving sacrificial bulls, a hero in a chef’s hat and testicle-seizing scorpions).

Admission to the the bottom two layers is only three euro and well worth the price. Take Metro B: Colosseo, Metro A: San Giovanni or Bus 85, 87, or 117.
address: Via San Giovanni in Laterano

Related Travel Information

Subterranean Rome

Subterranean Rome In Rome it has been a longtime practice to build new buildings on top of the rubble of old ones. Not many places were actually built underground, but due to this habit, and to earthquakes, numerous fires and frequent flooding of the Tiber river, the original pavement level has risen in some areas even over 25 meters. Palaces, houses and churches were buried like this, but still a lot of them can be visited. The church S. Clemente is a well-known example of a church on top of another, on top of a Roman hose and a Mytras shrine,