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Rome: Enjoy a Half Day Tour Underground Basilicas, Small Group

4 (7)
Rome, IT
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Rome: Enjoy a Half Day Tour Underground Basilicas, Small Group

4 (7)
Rome, IT
Share
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Embark on a captivating half-day tour of Christian Rome and uncover the hidden treasures of its underground basilicas. Join a small group as you skip the line and explore the ancient wonders within some of the most sensational churches. The adventure begins at the iconic St. John Lateran Basilica, the oldest of the four Papal Basilicas and known as "The Church of Rome". Delve deeper into history as you visit the multi-level St. Clement's Basilica, which dates back to the 1st century and holds the altar of Mithras. The journey concludes at St. Peter's in Chains Basilica, famous for its chains and the awe-inspiring statue of Moses by Michelangelo. With its rich religious heritage and underground marvels, this half-day tour offers a truly remarkable experience for those seeking a deeper understanding of Christian Rome.

About this experience

  • Free Cancellation For a full refund cancel at least before the start of your booking
  • Admission Included
  • 3 hours
  • Suitable for 1-12 Participants
  • Small Group Tour
  • Guided Experience
  • Skip the line - Half day Tour
  • Discover underground treasures
  • Visit historic St. John Lateran Basilica
  • Explore St. Clement's Basilica on 3 levels
  • See Michelangelo's statue of Moses at St. Peter's in Chains Basilica
  • 3 hours Professional guide
  • Tickets entrance skip the line at the museums
  • tips
  • Pickup and Drop-off

How long before the event do I need to book?

  • You can book at any time before the event

Vouchers accepted in the following formats

  • Mobile

Is an adult required for the booking?

  • At least one adult or senior required per booking

Your Itinerary

Arcibasilica di San Giovanni in Laterano

The tour starts in the Lateran area, whose name comes from the family owner of the ter- ritory where the first Popes use to live before going to Avignone in France and come back to Rome later on in the Vatican area. Visit of St. John Lateran Basilica, the oldest of the four Papal Basilicas, considered “The Church of Rome”, the mother of all churches The Cathedral, the place where the Bishop has the seat.

Basilica of San Clemente

St. Clement’s Basilica,the only church in Rome to be built on 3 different levels, from the 1st to the 12th century and the underground floors can be explored, including the altar of Mithras from the 1st century.

Admission Included

Ss. Quattro Coronati

the Church of the Four Crowned Saints, dedica- ted to four anonymous saints and martyrs and where in the 2002, an extraordinary series of frescoes was discovered with scenes of the Zodiac, Four Seasons, Liberal Arts and King Solomon. The visit ends with St. Peter’s in Chains Basilica, called like that for the chains that, according to the tradition

San Pietro in Vincoli

The visit ends with St. Peter’s in Chains Basilica, called like that for the chains that, according to the tradition, Helene, Constantine’s mother, brought in Rome and for a miracle where joined to the other St. Peter’s chain in Rome. The church, furthermore, is very well renowned for the statue of Moses that Michelangelo created for the tomb of the Pope Julius II.

More about this experience

Introduction

Introducing the small group tour of Christian Rome and its underground Basilicas! This half-day tour allows you to explore the hidden treasures of some of the most sensational churches in Rome. Begin your journey in the Lateran area, where you will visit the impressive St. John Lateran Basilica, known as "The Church of Rome" and considered the mother of all churches. Discover the historical significance of this Papal Basilica, the oldest of its kind.

What to expect?

During this tour, you can anticipate a captivating experience that takes you below the surface to explore the hidden gems of Rome's Christian history. Visit St. Clement's Basilica, a unique church built on three different levels spanning from the 1st to the 12th century. Uncover the secrets of its underground floors, including the mesmerizing 1st-century altar of Mithras. Conclude your journey at St. Peter's in Chains Basilica, renowned for its historical chains and the magnificent Moses statue crafted by Michelangelo for the tomb of Pope Julius II.

Who is this for?

This tour is ideal for history enthusiasts, art lovers, and anyone curious about the rich Christian heritage of Rome. Whether you're a solo traveler, a group of friends, or a couple seeking a unique cultural experience, this tour caters to all who wish to delve deep into the fascinating underground world of ancient basilicas.

Why book this?

Book this small group tour to uncover the hidden treasures beneath Rome's surface. Immerse yourself in centuries-old history and marvel at the stunning architecture and artworks within these magnificent churches. Your knowledgeable guide will provide captivating insights into each location, bringing the past to life. This exclusive tour takes you off the beaten path, allowing you to explore the underground wonders that most tourists never get to see. Prepare for a truly unforgettable journey through the heart of Christian Rome.

Good to know

Please note that this tour has a duration of approximately 180 minutes, ensuring you have ample time to fully appreciate the sites visited. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended as you will explore these ancient churches on foot. Don't forget your camera to capture the breathtaking sights and unique treasures hidden within the underground basilicas. Remember, this is a small group tour, providing a more intimate and personalized experience for each participant.

Reviews

Feedback from previous participants highlights the awe-inspiring nature of this tour. Reviewers have praised the knowledgeable guides who offer engaging stories and expert insights into the history and significance of each site. Travelers have expressed their delight in witnessing the underground wonders and beautifully preserved artifacts. Many have stated that this tour exceeded their expectations, allowing them to uncover a hidden side of Rome's Christian heritage. Overall, participants have found this tour to be a truly enlightening and memorable experience.

Reviews

(7)

4 (7)

JOSEPH_G

The driver was 20 minutes late. The driver then drove a UK couple around the city for 45 minutes. We were finally dropped off in a dark parking lot and met by the guide. The tour was supposed to start at the Basilica of Saint John the Lateran instead we both handicapped were supposed to walk the streets of Rome with some guide. In the dark we feared we would be mugged. The guide was kind enough to call a taxi who charged us double the normal rate. If you are handicapped or physically challenged do not use Viator

Nicholas M

This tour was so amazing with an excellent guide. To touch and see the very doors that Julius Caesar would have walked through at the entrance to the Senate (so we are told) was very special. Also the historic Catacombes and Basilicas were spectacular and should be on any person's interest in ancient Rome must see list.

angellindamimi

Our tour guide, Mohammed, was amazing! He made the ancient churches come alive. His knowledge and insights made this one of our best and most fascinating tours.ever.

Erica_L

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable & spoke very good English. We had a great tour of 4 churches even though one was closed unexpectedly. Our guide found another church for us to visit in replacement which was very good of her. She allowed us time to ask questions & take photographs. We really enjoyed the church where we were able to go down to excavated levels to see former churches. i would highly recoomend this tour.

Wen Qian C

<p>The tour was good and really informative. However we felt that the experience was marred as our guide appeared 45mins late.</p>

Louis C

<p>My mom and I had a wonderful three-hour walking tour on a Monday afternoon in late March lovely time to visit Rome, beautiful weather and a little less crowded. This was our third visit to Rome so we wanted to see a few places outside the typical tourist circuit in addition to returning to some old favorites, of course, so this tour of San Giovanni in Laterano the official Church of Rome and seat of the Bishop of Rome, i.e., the Pope, and apparently the oldest basilica, founded by Constantine, San Clemente, and San Pietro in Vincoli St. Peter in Chains fit the bill perfectly.<br/> I love that this tour included hotel pick up and return, and our driver was amazing, getting us from our hotel just north of the Spanish Steps to San Giovanni south of the Colosseum as quickly as possible in spite of jammed city center streets due to the arrival of a visiting African head of state's motorcade! Our guide Maria was waiting for us outside San Giovanni, where we began a lovely three hour tour. Maria is a very warm and sweet person, low key yet engaging, and an extremely knowledgeable guide. My mom and I already knew a lot about Roman history and architecture yet she gave us lots of knew and fascinating information, sharing lots of anecdotes about the religious and artistic history of what we were seeing.<br/> San Giovanni is enormous and extremely impressive, almost overwhelming in its size and artistic content, and not at all crowded: highly recommend it if you can get out there. Maria then took us across the street to visit the famous Holy Staircase reportedly walked on by Jesus as he entered Pontius Pilate's palace in Jerusalem, at the top of which you can see the Holy of Holies, the medieval popes' private chapel and the only remaining portion of the original Lateran Palace, home of the popes prior to their move to Avignon and then the Vatican. Striking to see the faithful still ascending the Holy Stairs on their knees. Afterwards we walked around the side of San Giovanni's through a square with the largest and oldest of Rome's many Egyptian obelisks and visited the cathedral's baptistery, dating from the early Middle Ages and a real gem. Again, very few other tourists, and loaded with fascinating history. We then walked to the nearby church of San Clemente, a fascinating lasagna to borrow Maria's term! of Roman history, with the new 12th century basilica on top of the original 4th or 5th ce. church on top of a 1st century Temple to Mithras and various Roman dwellings and what is thought to be the Roman Mint. An unbelievable experience! Maria guided us deftly through all three levels the two lower ones are dark and there are lots of steps to descend, and then ascend, but my mom, who is a senior citizen, was fine because Maria didn't move us through too quickly. After San Clemente we got some unexpected treats: she walked us by the spot where the Pope Joan of legend supposedly gave birth in a procession and was killed by the witnesses, approached the Colosseum from the south and saw the remains of the main gladiator training center, and ended up at St. Peter's in Chains for a visit to Michelangelo's incredible Moses! Because we were a little late getting to the last stop due to the aforementioned traffic issues, Maria ran up to the guard at San Pietro in Vincoli as he was getting ready to close the gates it closes at 6 pm in winter and persuaded him to let us in for a visit! As in the other sites, Maria offered us many fascinating details about the history and art, and we now finally know the real story behind the horns on the top of Moses' head! When we exited the church our driver was waiting for us in an adjacent parking area, and he whisked us back to our hotel in no time at all this time with no traffic issues!.<br/> In short, this tour by the local operator Welcome Italy was even more than we'd hoped it would be and Maria was a delightful tour guide and companion for the final afternoon of our week in Rome. Highly recommended! Grazie mille, Maria!</p>

Diana A

<p>Excelente!!! nuestra guia fue maravillosa, conocia muy bien todos los detalles de los diferentes sitios que conocimos y ya que es una maestra, se tomo el tiempo para explicarle a nuestro hijo de 8 años, de forma muy agradable todo lo que estabamos visitando.</p>
Collected by Evendo, Tripadvisor & Viator
2024-03-29 06:42