Discover Rome's hidden layers of history beneath its streets. Travel by an air-conditioned coach and use skip-the-line access directly into three fascinating archaeological finds. Visit the hallowed catacombs where, beneath their persecutors’ feet, early Christians practiced their forbidden faith. Almost 2,000 years ago, this network of secret tunnels doubled as a place of worship and burial ground. As you explore tombs made of solid rock, your local expert guide will describe the intriguing history of this sacred spot. Next, travel to Basilica of San Martino ai Monti. Dating back to the 4th century, this church is located near the edge of the Parco del Colle Oppio. Admire the stunning frescoes by artists such as Pietro Testa, Matteo Riccione, and Giannangiolo Canini that adorn the church walls, and see the Chapel of Our Lady of Mt Carmel. Finally, visit the Capuchin Crypt on an audio guide tour. Capuchin monks used the bones of their nearly 4,000 brothers to intricately decorate the floor-to-ceiling designs, lending it the macabre nickname of "the Bone Chapel". Open your eyes to the city’s hidden side – and you’ll never see Rome the same way again.

Uncover what lies below the surface and discover 3 of Rome's most significant archeological sites, the Capuchin Crypts, the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, and the Appian Way. Enjoy the comfort of skip-the-line entry and airconditioned transport throughout the tour. Begin your day by meeting your guide near Piazza Barberini, where this bone-chilling adventure will start. Kick off your tour with a visit to the Capuchin Crypt where your guide will introduce you to the remarkable history of what is believed to be the Capuchin Friars. Head to the Catacombs of St. Callixtus and admire the cemeteries from ground level before descending into the extensive underground catacombs. Learn about the martyrs and pontiffs laid to rest here, admire impeccably preserved paintings, and see the crypts of 3rd-century popes. On your way back to Rome, pass by the impressive Aurelian Wall and take the opportunity to set foot on the Appian Way, a vital artery during the time of the Roman Empire.

Cross three layers of history and earth as you venture 14 meters below St Clement's Basilica. Discover the best-preserved Mithraic temple of the City 14 meters underground. Find out about the pagan cult of Ancient Romans before Christianity and be intrigued by its sectarian and esoteric side. Meet your guide after checking in at the meeting point and head towards Rome's best-kept secret. Learn about the early-Christian persecutions, martyrs and hear the legend of St. Clement, while standing in the 1st Century structure that was once his home. Feel the eerie atmosphere and touch the waters of an underground river. Journey higher into the remains of the 4th Century Underground 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. End your tour in the beautiful 12th-century Basilica at ground level. Marvel at the stunning golden mosaic in the apse, and learn about the hidden symbolism in it.

Just a stone's throw from the Colosseum, you will find one of Rome's hidden gems, the 12th-century Basilica and the archeological site of San Clemente. Visit this incredible place and navigate three underground levels which uncover over 2,000 years of history. The Basilica reveals a sparkling gold mosaic in the central nave. What lies beneath the Basilica remained a secret until 1860 when a flood led an Irish Dominican Roman Catholic priest and archaeologist to discover the levels beneath.  Today, the excavations are still not complete but you can descend 100 feet underground. At the first level is a 4th-century Basilica, which was long forgotten after the construction of the 12th-century Basilica above. Further down are the remains of an ancient pagan Mithraic temple, complete with an altar. Past the temple are the ruins of ancient Roman homes. All of this is incredibly preserved and was painstakingly excavated. At the lowest level, discover the underground spring which caused the chaos that led to the underground discovery. 

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, down to 14 meters below ground. Live 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. 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. Walking along its imposing walls, you will be fascinated by the ancient frescoes while learning about the scenes and lives of the martyrs they portray. Then you will journey outside the city walls to one of the largest and most ancient catacombs, 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 revealing the shift of faith from paganism to Christianity.

Enjoy a half-day walking tour of Christian Rome and discover underground treasures in some of the most sensational churches. Your guide will tell you fascinating facts along the way, leading you to the ancient Basilica of San Clemente, and the Cathedral of St. John in the Lateran Palace. Start at the Basilica of San Clemente, the only church in Rome to be built on 3 different levels. Constructed from the 1st to the 12th centuries, 2 underground floors can now be explored, including the Altar of Mithras from the 1st century. Continue to the church of the Santi Quattro Coronati, devoted to 4 anonymous saints and martyrs. In 2002, an extraordinary series of frescoes was uncovered depicting scenes from the Zodiac, Four Seasons, Liberal Arts, and King Solomon. Follow the story of the Emperor Constantine and Pope Sylvester in the Chapel of St. Sylvester, where it is said the famous Constitutum Constantini (Donation of Constantine) took place. End your tour at the Cathedral of Rome, also known as the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran. The oldest of the 4 Papal Basilicas, St. John Lateran boasts a splendid façade, but it’s the Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs) that will catch your eye.

Rome is home to more than 900 churches, including the 4 highest-ranking Catholic churches in the world. On this exclusive church tour you will visit the most beautiful and historically significant places of worship and pilgrimage in the Eternal City. Immerse yourself in the history of early Christianity with an Expert Guide! Book a 2-hour tour to explore the Old Town and visit 2 ancient Roman churches. Your Private Guide will meet you in front of the magnificent Santa Maria Maggiore, one of Rome’s 4 major papal basilicas. Immerse yourself in the history of the Roman Catholic Church as you explore the historic center of Rome. You will visit San Pietro in Vincoli, a minor basilica built in the 5th century, where you will see the famous sculpture of Moses by Michelangelo and hear the legend of the chains that bound Saint Peter when he was imprisoned in Jerusalem. The tour will pass by the remains of Emperor Nero’s grand villa and the monumental Colosseum, where about 3000 Christian martyrs were killed during the Great Persecution. The guide will take you inside the Basilica of St. Clement, which is one of the most richly adorned churches in town. You will admire its medieval mosaics with Byzantine motifs, wooden ceiling, frescos, antique columns and more as you listen to the history of the ancient church that was built here on the site of a private home that was used for clandestine Christian worship in the 1st century. Enjoy this unique experience and discover how Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire! Book a 3-hour tour to visit the Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli, St, Clement and Santa Maria Maggiore. The Major Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome, so it’s a must-see, especially if you’re interested in the topic of Catholic Mariology. Inside this magnificent church you will see Salus Populi Romani - the oldest Marian image in Rome, stunning 5th century mosaics depicting Old Testament events, and other works of art. Book a 4-hour tour to visit 4 churches in Rome: the Archbasilica of St. John in Lateran, Santa Maria Maggiore, San Pietro in Vincoli and St, Clement. The Lateran Basilica is the oldest and highest ranking of the four major papal basilicas, outranking even the larger and more famous St. Peter's Basilica. Inside, you will discover rare paintings that reflect the ancient mysteries of the Paleo-christian tradition, 12 statues of the Apostles, 6 papal tombs, and a wood fragment that belongs to the table where Jesus had the Last Supper. You will also hear the legend about the ancient Holy Stairs and the Lateranense Palace, which served as the papal home from the 4th to 14th centuries.

Begin your journey near the Colosseum and take a pleasant walk through the surrounding neighborhood. In a delightful little piazza off Via Cavour, you will find the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains). The church houses an important relic, the two sets of chains that bound St. Peter when he was imprisoned in Jerusalem and Rome. The highlight of this church is undoubtedly Michelangelo’s statue of Moses, an unfinished masterpiece by the Renaissance genius that was originally intended to be part of the tomb of Pope Julius II. The original plans included an enormous funeral monument with 47 statues, but it was never completed due to Michelangelo's other commissions. Leaving San Pietro in Vincoli, continue to see the ruins of the Ludus Magnus, an ancient gladiator training school located on the northeast side of the Colosseum. The arena was connected with the school by underground tunnels. Your last stop will be the Basilica of San Clemente al Laterano along Via San Giovanni. This 12th century basilica is a great example of architectural chronology: the structure is a three-level building complex with each level corresponding to a major era of Roman history. Remains under the present basilica suggest that the foundation was part of a Republican era villa. In the 4th century, this was converted into a Christian church dedicated to Pope St. Clement, the third pope after St. Peter. The present medieval basilica was built in 1100.

Meet the tour guide at the meeting point and the jounery starts from St Peters in chains Basilica The Church of St. Peter in Chains, also known as the Basilica Eudoxiana, is a favorite stop on walking tours of Ancient Rome. Beloved by both pilgrims and art aficionados, the Church of St. Peter in Chains houses the chains that bound Saint Peter when the Romans imprisoned him in Jerusalem. Built in the fifth century, the church today is also home to Michelangelo’s Moses, part of the unfinished monumental tomb of Pope Julius II. and then heading towards the Colosseum and head back in time to Ancient Rome. no waiting in long lines as this tour is from out of the colosseum in fresh air and hear fascinating stories about the entertainments that took place to delight the emperors and roaring crowds. And learn about the high level of technology achieved by Roman engineers to build the Colosseum. last stop with the entry The Basilica of St. Clement with its underground archaeological complex is one of the world’s great treasures that is visited by tourists from all over the world. In this visit you can experience different levels of Rome’s past. Descending below the present church, one enters a 4th century church containing some of the world’s finest medieval frescos, dating from the 8th to the 11th century. Going down lower again, one enters the 1st century area with its Mithraic temple, and across a narrow alleyway, a large public building, around whose foundations flow the lost waters of ancient Rome. Above the excavation stands the present 12th century Basilica, with its magnificent mosaic, early renaissance frescoes, the 6th century marble chancel from the earlier church, the Cosmatesque floor,

Discover what lies beneath the streets of Italy's capital city on this private tour. In the company of an expert guide, unearth the mysteries of Rome's subterranean spaces, from labyrinthine catacombs to hidden churches. You'll also have a private car and driver at your disposal so you can move between the sites in comfort. First, visit the spooky Catacombs of Santa Domitilla, one of the largest and oldest underground Christian cemeteries in the world. Walk through the twisting tunnels to discover hundreds of thousands of graves, as well as some of the world’s oldest Christian images and the haunting underground church of Santi Nereo ed Achilleo. In the basilica of San Clemente meanwhile, admire astonishing medieval mosaics and some of the most important paintings from the Early Renaissance.  Next, visit the Roman Houses of Saint John and Paul, which are located beneath a Christian church. Here, enjoy an incredible window into daily life in the ancient city. Discover marvelous decorations where pagan imagery and Christian frescoes coexist in harmony in this fascinating villa complex. On Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, instead of the Roman Houses, visit the beautiful basilica of Santi Cosma and Damiano, built right into the Temple of Romulus in the ancient Roman.