Rome: St. Clement's Underground & Capuchin Crypt Tour

Four Centuries Stacked Underground: What's Beneath Rome's Streets

You descend through four layers of Rome's buried past at the Basilica of San Clemente, from medieval mosaics down to a 2,000-year-old Mithra temple. Then visit the Capuchin Crypt, where five rooms are lined with the bones of 4,000 friars. A kid-friendly guide uses games and multimedia to keep the pace moving over 2.5 hours, and all entry fees are covered upfront.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Capuchin Crypt45m · entry included
2. Colosseum10m
3. Basilica of San Clemente1h · entry included

Explore St. Clement’s Basilica and Crypt

• Visit Basilica of San Clemente
• Explore four underground layers
• See ancient temple ruins
• Admire mosaics and frescoes
• Walk to Capuchin Crypt
• Tour five bone-decorated rooms
• Read chapel entrance plaque
• View ruins of gladiators' school
• Admire outside of Colosseum

The experience

You descend a stone staircase and the modern city above stops mattering. Fifteen metres down, the Basilica of San Clemente opens into four distinct layers: each one a different century, a different Rome. Your guide, trained to keep kids engaged, points out the medieval mosaics and frescoes on the upper level first, then moves deeper. The wooden ceiling inlaid with gold catches the light. Marble statues line the walls. It's the kind of place where you feel the weight of time, but not in a heavy way: more like walking through a book where someone's turned the pages backward.

As you go further down, the medieval church gives way to a 12th-century structure, then to the ruins of a private Roman house and a storehouse from the 1st century. And below that, a temple dedicated to Mithra, 2,000 years old. The guide uses games and quizzes to keep the pace moving, especially useful if you're traveling with children who might otherwise get restless in the dark. The tour doesn't rush, it's 2.5 hours total, but it doesn't drag either. You're moving through actual archaeological layers, not just looking at them behind glass.

After St. Clement's, you walk to the Capuchin Crypt at Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini. Five rooms here are decorated entirely with the bones of more than 4,000 Capuchin friars. Some skeletons are completely intact. It's eerie in the way old crypts are meant to be, but the guide frames it as history rather than horror. These were monks who chose to be buried this way, a statement about mortality and faith. A plaque at the entrance reads: "What you are now, we once were, what we are now, you will be." It's the kind of thing that stays with you after you leave.

The tour also includes a walk past the Colosseum, so you see it from outside and get context about the gladiators' school nearby. All entry fees and taxes are included, which means no surprises at the gate. Public transport is close by if you need it, and strollers work fine on the paths. The underground sections are accessible without major obstacles.

What’s included

• Entry to the Basilica of San Clemente with access to all four underground levels.
• entry to the Capuchin Crypt at Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini.
• a kid-friendly guide with games, quizzes and multimedia tools.
• a walk past the Colosseum.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDepartures at 09:00 and 14:00

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (6 to 17 years) · Infant (under 6): free

Live guideEnglish

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Guided Tours of Rome and the Vatican with Marco

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see Rome's layers, literally, without arranging separate tickets or timing yourself through multiple sites. The guide handles the pacing and keeps children occupied, so you move through four centuries in one morning without the usual museum fatigue.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 17 years); Infant (under 6): free.

How deep underground do you go on this tour?

You descend 15 metres to explore the four layers of St. Clement's Basilica, from the medieval church at the top down to 1st-century Roman ruins and a 2,000-year-old temple dedicated to Mithra.

What's included in the tour price?

All entry fees and taxes are included. You visit both the Basilica of San Clemente and the Capuchin Crypt, plus see the Colosseum from outside.

How long does the tour take?

The tour lasts 2.5 hours total, covering both the underground basilica and the Capuchin Crypt.

What is the Capuchin Crypt?

It's a crypt at Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini where five rooms are decorated with the bones of more than 4,000 Capuchin friars buried there over centuries. Some skeletons remain completely intact.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You walk on foot and descend stairs, but there are no strenuous climbs or long distances.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. The underground sections are accessible without major obstacles.

Is public transport nearby?

Yes, public transportation options are available near both the Basilica of San Clemente and the Capuchin Crypt.