Every taxi driver, every tour guide, concierge, you get the drift said, "you must visit San Clemente" so we did. The church is actually three churches with an underground water source that gurgles while you walk. There is, as usally existing in ancient societies, an amalgamation of beliefs, religions and creeds housed in one place. There are no less than... more

We visited the Basilica one afternoon in July. It was closed when we got there with a notice telling us it would open after about 40 mins. We sat on the benches outside and also had a lovely but cheap feed from the little shop across the road. Not the big sit down place but a very little pizza place,... more

San Clemente is a fascinating site! There is a nice-enough church at ground level, but underneath that is one of the earliest Christian churches, with possibly the earliest known inscription in modern Italian. And underneath that is an ancient temple of Mithras! Really interesting, and I think it was 5 € for admission to the extensive excavations. more

San Clemente has been a favorite of mine ever since I first visited Rome. I have accompanied many friends and family members tthere o see the layers beneath layers of the city. The fascinating tidbit is that mystery Ngaio Marsh wrote a novel which takes place in the labyrinths beneath the church, so it always heightens my memory when I... more

In a city with such an amazing history and awe inspiring sites, San Clemente's exterior, compared to the many other churches, is unassuming. It is the treasures that lie within, that topped everything else that Rome has to offer. I found that with each level you descend, the sense of history builds. It was a true lesson in humility, and... more

The Basilica di San Clemente is definitely a must-see for those interested in seeing firsthand how the city of Rome is built above its history. The current baslica is beautiful in its own right but to go beneath ($5 euro fee) to the earlier church below and then to go even further below to the Mithriac temple upon which the... more

San Clemente is about a 5 minute walk from the Colosseum and deserves the description I got from my guidebook- the lasagna of churches. There are 3 layers to the church, the lowest (and oldest) being a Mithraeum. San Clemente is an excellent example of the rich history of Rome, from pagan to Christianity. Definitely not one to miss! more

Full of interesting aspects and well worth the 5 minute walk from the Colosseum to see them.The colours in the Basilica are deep and glorious.Particularly so in the case of the 12th century mosaic (mainly deep blue)in the apse-This was the only photo of a mosaic which I took on my trip,so I must have been absolutely impressed. Admission to... more

Of all the antiquity sites you can visit in Rome (and there are so many it'll make your head spin), San Clemente is a perfect example of what Rome is all about. A 12th century basilica built on top of a 4th century one, which was built over a roman house and mithrian shrine. You enter via the 12th century... more