Small-Group Tour of Roman Catacombs & St. Clement's Undergrounds
Explore a surprising lesser-known gem in the city center before jumping outside the city walls to the mazy Roman Catacombs. Go deep underground in a dark world of secret cults and ancient wall paintings with a small-group guided tour.
Visit 2 contrasting underground sights with an expert guide. Discover the place of a hidden cult 14 meters below St. Clement’s Basilica and descend into the twisty tunnels of the Catacombs of Domitilla.
Options
English Tour
Small-Group Tour: This option is for a 3-hour guided tour of the Roman Catacombs and the undergrounds of St. Clement's Basilica in English
What's included in Small-Group Tour of Roman Catacombs & St. Clement's Undergrounds
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Basilica of San Clemente
Meet your guide in front of St. Clement's Basilica and venture deep underground below its foundations into a mystical world of ancient cults and legends. Journey through several layers of history and earth, down to 14 meters below ground. Live the excitement of gradually exploring the later structures built on top of it on your way up to the surface. Go back in time down to the deepest point and discover the best-preserved Mithraic temple of the city. Find out about the pagan faith of Ancient Romans before Christianity and be intrigued by its sectarian and esoteric flavour. Touch the waters of an underground river before going higher into the remains of the 4th Century Basilica, built on top of the martyr’s house and below the actual one. Walk along its imposing walls and be fascinated by the ancient frescoes while learning about the scenes and the lives of the martyrs they portray.
Appian Way (Via Appia Antica)
Get onboard a comfortable air-conditioned minivan and travel along the Ancient Appian Way to the largest Catacombs in Rome. The round trip takes approx. 30 minutes.
Catacombe Di Domitilla
Visit the otherworldly crypts of Domitilla. Descend 16 meters below the surface and explore the accessible part of its vast labyrinth of underground burial chambers and galleries. Be captivated by the ancient wall-paintings of mythological and biblical figures and revive the shift of faith from paganism to Christianity. Feel the power of prohibited belief and learn about early martyrs and persecutions. Complete your underworld experience in the 4th-century subterranean basilica.
Inclusions
- Sterilised headsets to hear the guide clearly
- Live professional guide
- Luggage deposit in our office for the duration of the tour
- Full on-site assistance
- All entrance and transport fees
- Hotel Pick-up and drop-off
- Optional gratuities
- Food and drinks
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- An appropriate dress-code is required in order to enter the churches: knees and shoulders should be covered
- This tour is subject to weather conditions and/or liturgic-calendar events. If canceled you will be given the option of an alternative date or a full refund
- This tour will have a maximum of 10 participants
- You will need to be at the meeting point 5 minutes before the starting time
- Not recommended for people with claustrophobia
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You will make your own way to the meeting points
Meeting / End Points
- Meet at the TouriksPoint at Via di San Giovanni in Laterano 132, 15 meters from the Basilica of St. Clement. Please arrive 5 minutes before the starting time.
Redeem
Ticket Redemption
- Please be at the meeting point 5 minutes before the starting time - An appropriate dress-code is required in order to enter the churches: knees and shoulders should be covered - This tour is subject to weather conditions and/or liturgic-calendar events. If canceled you will be given the option of an alternative date or a full refund - For environmental reasons, it is preferable that you bring your own earphones and do not print your voucher. We will provide earphones in case you forget yours - We suggest you bring your own refillable bottle as you can find drinkable-water fountains everywhere in Rome
