Basilica di San Clemente

The Basilica di San Clemente is an early Christian church dedicated to Pope Clement I. This is a remarkable church because it functions as an archaeological record of the history of Rome from the beginnings of Christianity through the Middle Ages.

History of the Basilica

IV Century Church

During the second century AD, the land on which the church now stands was occupied by a Roman mansion owned by Titus Flavius Clemens, one of the first Roman senators to convert to Christianity. The house was used for secret meetings, as the Christian religion was forbidden at the time.

Later on, a small temple dedicated to Mithras (a sun god of Persian origin) was built in the same place. It would remain in use for the performance of rites of initiation until the late third century.

Some years later, a large room was built on the mansion that, after the end of Christian persecution in 313 AD, would become a basilica with the blessing of Pope Siricio.

The church was badly damaged during the looting that occurred in the year 1084 at the hands of the Normans, and it was abandoned and buried five meters below the street level. In the same area the construction of a new church began under the orders of Pope Paschal II. It was completed in the year 1108 and it still stands to this day.

Inside

At first sight, the Basilica of San Clemente may seem like any other temple in Rome, but inside there are important and unimaginable treasures.

Old mosaics of the Basilica di San Clemente

The small church has a rich décor. It is worth noting that some of its mosaics have been preserved since the twelfth century.

Through the sacristy, it is possible to access the fourth-century church in which, despite the darkness, cold and moisture, one can still see many of the frescoes that decorate the walls, as well as some fragments of mosaics that used to cover the temple floor.

Not only can you access the previous basilica, but you also can tour the ancient Roman houses made of old brick. In one room you can see running water flowing through the Cloaca Maxima, the main sewer system of ancient Rome.

A stroll through the centuries

The Basilica of San Clemente is an impressive temple, offering the possibility of visiting the different buildings that were in the same place in previous centuries. Getting lost in its wet, labyrinthine corridors and taking a stroll through the past is an interesting experience.