Basilica di San Clemente

Overview

San Clemente is recognized as the ultimate "lasagna" of Roman history. It is a staggering, mind-bending archaeological site where you can physically descend straight down through three distinct, massive levels of different historical eras.

Highlights

• The Street Level: A beautiful, preserved 12th-century massive medieval basilica featuring an staggering, elaborate curving golden mosaic in the massive main apse.
• Level 2 (The 4th Century Church): Take the massive stairs downwards to enter the largely ruined, dark, significant remains of a complete 4th-century church, featuring faded ancient frescoes detailing early Christian miracles.
• Level 3 (The Roman Secret Cult): Descend profoundly further into the deep, fierce damp darkness to stand inside a intact, secret 1st-century Roman temple (a Mithraeum) dedicated to a violent, popular ancient blood-cult.

History

Because the city of Rome constantly flooded and collapsed over massive millennia, newer massive buildings were simply built over the massive buried ruins of older ones. The 12th-century builders simply filled the severely ruined 4th-century church with dirt and used its massive columns tightly as a foundation, sealing away the secret ancient cult temple far below it.

Visitor Tips

• The Sound: When deep down standing inside the dark Mithraeum temple, listen quietly—you can hear the rushing of an entire massive underground Roman aqueduct running immediately behind the ancient brick walls.
• Temperature: It becomes cooler and damp the further you descend down the massive layers.