San Clemente Basilica Underground Tour Rome: History

Three underground levels tour: Roman villa, early Christian church & 12th-century basilica stacked vertically

A private guided tour of Rome's San Clemente Basilica and its three underground archaeological levels, near the Colosseum, with skip-the-line entry and visits to San Pietro in Vincoli and the Ludus Magnus gladiator school. An art historian guide leads you through 2,000 years of Roman, Christian, and medieval layers. All entrance tickets are included. The self-guided audio option lets you explore San Clemente's underground at your own pace with a multilingual app instead.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore San Clemente and nearby sites

• Meet at Via Labicana, 96
• Visit San Pietro in Vincoli church
• See Michelangelo’s statue of Moses
• Visit Ludus Magnus gladiator school ruins
• Tour Basilica of San Clemente underground levels

The experience

The Basilica of San Clemente sits on Via San Giovanni, a short walk from the Colosseum, and the tour begins at San Pietro in Vincoli. The church that holds Michelangelo's Moses, an unfinished masterpiece originally meant for Pope Julius II's tomb. From there, you move to the Ludus Magnus, the ancient gladiator training school built by Emperor Domitian at the end of the 1st century A.D. The brick structure still shows the rectangular courtyard where gladiators trained and the miniature amphitheater at its center, now visible as ruins on the northeast side of the Colosseum.

The core of the tour is San Clemente itself, where you descend through three distinct layers. The top level is the 12th-century basilica; below that sits a 4th-century early Christian church; at the bottom lies a Roman-era villa from the Republican period, along with a Mithraeum: a rare surviving shrine to the god Mithras. A licensed art historian guide walks you through all three levels, explaining the religious and architectural shifts across centuries. Skip-the-line tickets mean you enter without waiting at the door, and every entrance fee is built into the price.

If you choose the self-guided audio option instead, you explore San Clemente's three underground levels at your own pace using a multilingual app (English, Italian, Spanish, French, German) on your smartphone. You'll need a device from 2020 or later and headphones for clarity, though the app works without a guide. The private guided tour runs 2.5 to 3 hours. The self-guided version takes as long as you want to spend. Arrive 20 minutes early, wear smart casual clothes with shoulders and knees covered, and note that pets are not allowed.

What’s included

• Skip-the-line entrance ticket and reservation fee to the Basilica of San Clemente.
• private art historian guide in English (or Italian) leading you through all three underground levels.
• visits to San Pietro in Vincoli and Michelangelo's Moses.
• tour of the Ludus Magnus gladiator school from the outside.
• all entrance fees and taxes.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or Italian17 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 17:00

Guide in English or Italian15 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 16:00

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day17 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 17:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (17 and older) · Child (5 to 16 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Tour In Rome by Tour in the City

Is this one for you?Choose the private guided tour if you want an art historian explaining the layers and the history as you walk. It runs 2.5 to 3 hours and includes every stop and ticket. Pick the self-guided audio option if you prefer to move at your own pace through San Clemente's underground with a multilingual app, though you'll explore the basilica alone without the other two sites.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 16 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What exactly is the Ludus Magnus and what will I see there?

The Ludus Magnus was the main gladiator training school, built by Emperor Domitian in the 1st century A.D. on the northeast side of the Colosseum. You'll see the brick ruins of the rectangular building with its central courtyard and the small amphitheater where gladiators practiced, visited as part of the walk between San Pietro in Vincoli and San Clemente.

Can I choose between a guide and exploring on my own, or do I have to pick one option?

You choose at checkout: the private guided tour includes an English-speaking art historian who leads you through all three levels of San Clemente, San Pietro in Vincoli, and the Ludus Magnus with all tickets included. The self-guided audio option lets you explore San Clemente's underground alone using a multilingual app on your phone, with no guide.

What's inside the three underground levels at San Clemente?

The top level is the 12th-century basilica itself. Below that is a 4th-century early Christian church. At the bottom is a Roman-era villa from the Republican period and a Mithraeum, a shrine to the god Mithras, offering a rare look at pre-Christian Roman religious practice.

Does the tour include Michelangelo's Moses?

Yes. San Pietro in Vincoli, the church housing Michelangelo's Moses statue, is the first stop on the private guided tour. The statue was originally intended as part of Pope Julius II's tomb but remains unfinished. The church also holds the chains that bound St. Peter during his imprisonment.

What do I need to bring if I choose the audio guide option?

Bring a smartphone from 2020 or later to download and run the multilingual audio app. Headphones are recommended for optimal sound quality, though you can use the app without them. The meeting point is at Via Labicana, 96, where you download the app and purchase your ticket.