Rome Underground San Clemente Basilica Exclusive Tour & Tickets
Description
Rome Underground San Clemente Basilica Exclusive Private Tour & Tickets No Line A 2.5/3-hours tour for those who want to experience the treasures of Rome off the beaten path. 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 and discover the levels beneath. You will be introduced to art and architecture from antiquity through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Visit San Clemente underground, San Pietro in Vincoli church (Moses of Michelangelo), and the Gladiators School guided by a professional art historian guide. A private tour including all entrance fees. With this tour, you can maximize your time, enjoying an incredible experience. This tour can be customized, and departure times could change depending on the availability of skip-the-line tickets. Tour suitable for Kids!
Tour Options
Itinerary
The meeting point for the Option San Clemente Basilica with Audio Guide Only is located at Via Labicana, 96, where you can purchase tickets and download the audio guide app.
Leaving San Pietro in Vincoli, continue to see the ruins of the Ludus Magnus, an ancient gladiator training school located on the northeast side of the Colosseum. The visit includes the entrance into the most important gladiator gym, the Ludus Magnus, built by the emperor Domitian at the end of the 1st century. A.D. The building, entirely in brick, consisted of a rectangular building, probably on three floors, with a large porticoed courtyard in the center. Around the courtyard there were a series of rectangular rooms destined to house the gladiators. The characterizing element is constituted by the presence, in the courtyard of the building, of a miniature amphitheater, intended for training gladiators. After about half an hour, we will proceed towards San Clemente.
Your last stop is the Basilica of San Clemente al Laterano, situated on Via San Giovanni. This remarkable site reveals three levels of Rome’s history: a 12th-century basilica built over a 4th-century church, in turn erected atop a Roman-era villa from the Republican period. Beneath are early Christian and medieval layers, as well as a Mithraeum, offering a rare peek into Rome’s spiritual and architectural transformations. Choose between two ways to explore: Private Guided Tour: A licensed, English-speaking guide will lead you through all three underground levels, sharing insights into the site’s religious and archaeological importance. This option also includes visits to San Pietro in Vincoli and the Ludus Magnus, with all entrance tickets included. Self-Guided Audio Tour: Explore San Clemente at your own pace with a multilingual audio guide app (English, Italian, Spanish, French, German), providing access to all three levels of content.
Begin your journey near the Colosseum and take a pleasant walk through the surrounding neighborhood. In a delightful little piazza off Via Cavour, you will find the church of San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains). The church houses an important relic, the two sets of chains that bound St. Peter when he was imprisoned in Jerusalem and Rome. The highlight of this church is undoubtedly Michelangelo’s statue of Moses, an unfinished masterpiece by the Renaissance genius that was originally intended to be part of the tomb of Pope Julius II. The original plans included an enormous funeral monument with 47 statues, but it was never completed due to Michelangelo's other commissions.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Dress code is smart casual. Shoulder and knees must be covered
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- The meeting point for the Option San Clemente Basilica with Audio Guide Only is located at Via Labicana, 96, where you can purchase tickets and download the audio guide app.
- To download and use the app, we recommend using a smartphone produced in 2020 or later.
- Access to 2 underground levels Audio guide: English, Italian, Spanish, French, German
- Please arrive at the meeting point at least 20 minutes before your scheduled entry time.
- Pets are not allowed
Reviews(18)
We used the self-guided audio tour from the tour provider. It was informative! The basilica was not too busy which made it nice to visit.
Thank you for your review! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed visiting the Basilica of San Clemente and found our self-guided audio tour informative. The unique layers of history beneath the basilica make it a truly special place, and we're happy that the quieter atmosphere allowed you to explore and appreciate it at your leisure. We hope to welcome you again on another Roman adventure! Best regards, Tour in the City Team
Our guide - Sabrina was outstanding! She was extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic! I would absolutely rate her a 10!!
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such a great experience with Sabrina. Her knowledge and enthusiasm truly make the tour special, and your kind words will mean a lot to her. We hope to welcome you back for another memorable experience in Rome!
A journey back in time Retrace streets and visit places of the Eternal City's glorious past An experience to discover
Gentile Ospite, la ringraziamo di cuore per questa bellissima recensione. Siamo felici che l’esperienza alla Basilica di San Clemente le abbia dato davvero la sensazione di un viaggio indietro nel tempo. Ripercorrere le diverse stratificazioni della storia di Roma è qualcosa di unico, e ci fa molto piacere sapere che ha apprezzato il valore culturale ed emozionale di questo luogo straordinario. Grazie per aver condiviso il suo entusiasmo e per averci consigliato ad altri viaggiatori. Speriamo di poterla accogliere presto per un’altra esperienza alla scoperta della Città Eterna. Un caro saluto e a presto.
Our guide, Sabrina, was fantastic. Her knowledge of history was phenomenal. Her experience and expertise were beyond our expectations. Thank you!
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear that your visit to the Underground Basilica of San Clemente was such a great experience and that Sabrina exceeded your expectations. Her deep knowledge of history and passion for the site truly make the experience special, and we’re delighted that it came through during your tour. Thank you for choosing us—we hope to welcome you again soon for another unforgettable experience in Rome! Warm regards, The Tour Team
Really easy to find location, upload app and use audioguide. Beautiful site and really relaxing to visit at your own pace.
Dear guest, thank you so much for your kind review! We’re very happy to hear that you found the San Clemente Basilica experience easy to access and that the audioguide app worked smoothly for you. It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed exploring this beautiful underground site at your own pace — that’s exactly the experience we want to offer. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again on another discovery in Rome! 🇮🇹 Warm regards, The San Clemente Basilica Experience Team
Great addition to our trip. To walk through the first century building was a great experience. Thank you
Thank you for your kind review! We’re so glad to hear that the San Clemente Basilica tour was a great addition to your trip. Walking through history and experiencing the first-century underground is truly special, and we’re delighted you enjoyed it. We hope to welcome you back for more discoveries in Rome!
Excellent and accurate explanation Only the tone of the audio should be improved Drive. Too digital.
Gentile ospite, la ringraziamo molto per la sua recensione e per aver apprezzato la visita alla Basilica di San Clemente. Siamo felici che abbia trovato la spiegazione accurata e interessante. Accogliamo con piacere anche il suo suggerimento riguardo al tono dell’audioguida: i feedback dei nostri ospiti sono preziosi per aiutarci a migliorare continuamente la qualità dei nostri servizi. Speriamo di rivederla presto per un nuovo tour insieme! Cordiali saluti, Tour in the city
Beautiful tour of church and under ground area with great history from guide. The guide arrived on time and was friendly.
Amazing Tour, Eddy was the guide, being an archeologist, Eddy comes with a profound understanding and was very informative . Certainly one of the best tours that I have experienced.
We stayed in Trasteverde so it was a bit of a long walk, and yet you go by the Forem and Coliseum. San Clemente church is easy to find and the excavated areas below are astoundingly interesting. Both religious and just structural. Somehow seeing a still functional spring was so cool. You’re on your own more or less - no guide (at least we didn’t have one). Decent signage in multiple languages . We loved this.
