The first stop of your Beneath Rome Underground Tour is the Basilica of St. Clement, a place that appears at first glance to be a beautiful medieval church like many others in Rome. Beneath it, however, lies one of the most extraordinary archaeological sequences in the city.

The present basilica was built between the 11th and 12th centuries. In the mid-19th century, a Dominican friar, Father Joseph Mullooly, began excavating beneath the church. Although not formally trained as an archaeologist, he was remarkably determined and perceptive. With the help of Giovanni Battista de Rossi, considered the father of underground archaeology in Rome, the hidden layers of the site slowly came to light.

Beneath the medieval basilica, an older church dating to the 4th century was discovered. Further excavation revealed a Mithraic temple from the 2nd century AD, dedicated to the mysterious god Mithra and used for secret underground rituals.

In the early 20th century, the exploration continued, uncovering yet another monumental structure: a vast Roman building dating to the late 1st century AD, contemporary with the construction of the Colosseum. This structure was identified as the ancient Roman mint, where coins for the empire were produced.

During your visit, your guide will lead you through this complex maze of underground ruins. You will begin in the upper basilica, admired for its luminous mosaics and frescoes, descend into the lower church, and finally reach the deepest level, where the Mithraic temple and Roman mint are located.

At this underground level, you will learn about the secret rituals of the cult of Mithra, the tensions between pagan religions and early Christianity, and the life and martyrdom of St. Clement, whose relics were eventually brought back to Rome and buried here.

After returning to the surface, the tour continues to another unique underground site.