Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sleeping
B1
Eating
9
Li Rioni
B2
Drinking & Nightlife
10
Coming Out
A1
A2
Basilica di San Clemente
BASILICA
(
www.basilicasanclemente.com
; Via di San Giovanni in Laterano; church free, excavations €5;
9am-12.30pm & 3-6pm Mon-Sat, noon-6pm Sun; Colosseo)
This fascinating basilica provides a
vivid glimpse into Rome's multi-layered past: a 12th-century basilica built over a 4th-cen-
tury church, which, in turn, stands over a 2nd-century pagan temple and 1st-century Ro-
man house. Beneath everything are foundations dating from the Roman Republic.
The medieval church features a marvellous 12th-century apse mosaic depicting the
Tri-
onfo della Croce
(Triumph of the Cross) and some wonderful Renaissance frescoes in the
Chapel of St Catherine
. Steps lead down to the 4th-century
basilica inferiore
, mostly des-
troyed by Norman invaders in 1084, but with some faded 11th-century frescoes illustrat-
ing the life of San Clemente. Follow the steps down another level and you'll come to a
1st-century
Roman house
and a dark, 2nd-century
temple
to Mithras, with an altar showing
the god slaying a bull. Beneath it all, you can hear the eerie sound of a subterranean river,
running through a drain dating from the Roman Republic.
Basilica di San Giovanni
in Laterano
BASILICA
(Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano 4; basilica free, cloister €3; 7am-6.30pm, cloister 9am-6pm;
San Giovanni)
For a thousand years this monumental cathedral was the most important
church in Christendom. Commissioned by the Emperor Constantine and consecrated in
AD 324, it was the first Christian basilica built in the city and, until the late 14th century,
