VIP Tour of Underground Rome

Explore three extraordinary archaeological sites with a local guide on this hidden-gems tour of Rome.

This unique tour is a great chance to discover the humble and peaceful side of Ancient Rome, away from the majority of tourists and all with the expertise of a local guide by your side.

On this tour with a local guide you will explore three extraordinary archaeological sites located under the street level of modern Rome. You will begin at St Clement’s Basilica, which is the best place to grasp the archaeological timeline from Ancient Rome to the beginning of Christianity and the Middle Ages. Below the Basilica itself, you can visit a 4th-century early Christian church and one of the most interesting underground sanctuaries dedicated to the God Mithra. It was brought to Rome by the Roman legions posted in the Eastern provinces many, many years ago. Next, you will see the Roman Houses in Celian Hill. This archaeological complex below the Basilica of St John and Paul covers many different layers of housing, from the 2nd to the 4th centuries AD. It has particularly interesting original pagan and Christian frescoes. As a finale, you will see the Basilica of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, which is a beautiful Baroque church that sits atop a grand house. Archaeologists believe the house may have belonged to a branch of the Caecilii Metelli, one of Rome’s most famous senatorial families. Here, many rooms and even the granary are preserved almost intact.

This tour includes:     Local guide     –     Entry tickets     –     Optional hotel pick-up/drop-off (fee applies)

Note: On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the Roman Houses at Caelian Hill are closed. If you wish to enjoy this tour on either a Tuesday or Thursday, then the itinerary will be adapted to include the Vicus Caprarius instead. The site contains two ancient Roman apartment buildings. The ground floor of one of the apartments was turned into part of an ancient aqueduct called “Aqua Virgo”, which has flowed, almost continuously, some 25 m beneath the city since 19 BC.

About Rome

Rome is a city like no other! Being the seat of the ancient Roman Empire, there are archaeological treasures around every corner. Surely none are as famous as the glorious Colosseum but, as Italy’s capital, Rome also boasts some of the most stunning architecture in all of Europe, one magnificent example being the Trevi Fountain. Rome is also famous as the home of Vatican City, which is the Pope’s main residence and where you will find St Peter’s Basilica.