Rome.....Underground

There is another Rome.....one that does not draw attention to itself, but rather it quietly awaits discovery. There are centuries of history buried beneath the present homes of many churches throughout Rome.

The first church visited on this tour was San Clemente. While it may look like any of the other basilica's one sees in Rome, this one holds some secrets. A small stairway at the back of the church allows you to descend to yet another basilica (that dates back to the 4th century AD). There are beautifully preserved painting that remained untouched for years before anyone knew that the San Clemente church actually sat on top of another church buried underneath it. But it doesn't stop here.....go down yet another small staircase and you find yourself in a third underground level, where the rooms that have been excavated and are part of an apartment complex. Pretty cool, right? Church on the ground level, church underground, and apartments below that!! While no further excavation has happened archaeologists believe that based on specific structures and materials found on the 3rd level, that this is actually another unearthed level below the apartments.

Courtyard

I may have "accidentally" snuck one picture of the inside.

Picture from the internet showing the layers

Continuing on we come to our next stop, the Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo (Saints John and Paul). Here we find a preserved bell tower and monastery, which sits atop what used to be houses and businesses. The business would originally have been located at the street level with entrances for anyone wishing to do business, but behind the business was what was most likely the homes of the business owners, followed by yet another room that would have served as a storehouse/storage (depending on the type of business).

Bell Tower

Inside the church (all set up for a wedding)

The church was a possible burial site of John and Paul--no one knows for sure though

Walkway heading down to where the businesses used to be--I loved the arches! 

See the differently bricked in rectangles--used to be windows

The third church visited on this walking tour was the church of San Nicola (St. Nicholas). A first view of this church finds you looking at something unique....six columns. Most of the churches do not have columns actually built into them; it is then that you learn that this church used to be a Roman temple......and wait for it.....this church was actually constructed on 3 temples. Going down into the underground of the church one can see odd spaces (which seem randomly places), but were actually the open walk-ways between the temples.

Pillars on the side

Front of the church--heading down stairs to underground

Bones discovered during the excavation 

Walkway

Still excavating

Pillar underground

Sorry there are not a lot of pictures to share. Several of these places didn't not allow pictures, or at least not pictures of the underground.....which is a bummer because it was really neat to see the different elements of history.