Small-group Tour of Roman Catacombs & St. Clement’s Basilica

Explore a surprising lesser-known gem in the city center before jumping outside the city walls to the maze-like Roman Catacombs. Go 16m underground in a dark world of secret cults and ancient wall paintings with a small-group guided tour

Highlights

• Save time with pick-up, luggage deposit & drop-off in the city center
• Descend into the dark maze of the Roman Catacombs
• Be surprised by the 3-level underworld of St. Clement’s Basilica
• Find an ancient Mithraic Temple and an underground river
• Enjoy the quality of a small-group (max. 10)

About

Explore 2 contrasting underground sights with an expert guide. Discover a hidden gem 14m below St. Clement’s Basilica and descend into the twisty tunnels of the Roman Catacombs.

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 14 meters below ground. Experience 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 flavor. Touch the waters of an underground stream 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.

Then journey outside the city walls to one of the largest and most ancient Catacombs of Rome, 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 relive 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.

Important information

• An instant confirmation will be received at the time of booking
• This tour is not suitable for people with claustrophobia
• You will need to be at the meeting point 5 minutes before the tour starts
• An appropriate dress-code is required in order to enter the churches: knees and shoulders should be covered
• Wear comfortable walking shoes: a moderate amount of walking is involved
• This tour is not wheelchair-accessible
• 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 full refund
• This tour will have a maximum of 10 participants
• 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 do not trash your empty bottle of water since you can refill it everywhere in Rome for free

Meeting point

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 your scheduled start time.

Cancellation Policy

• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the starting time of the experience
• Full refunds are not possible for cancellations made after the 24 hours
• Amendments are not allowed after 24 hours and are always subject to availability and price changes
• No refunds in case of no-show on the part of the customer
• If the tour is canceled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or a full refund
• If the tour is canceled due to COVID-19 issues, Touriks grants a full refund (not vouchers)