Basilica di San Clemente

Next, we went to the Basilica di San Clemente, another of Rome's many basilicas, this one in particular being dedicated to Pope Clemente I.

Its most interesting feature is its three-tiered arqueological testimony of Rome's often tumultuous religious history. The basilica houses the remains of a first-century AD clandestine site of Christian worship, a second-century pagan temple dedicated to the ancient Indo-Iranian Sun-god Mithras, in addition to a fourth century Christian church, which ultimately would serve as the base on which the current church was built in the 11th century during the European Middle Ages.

Because it was so dark inside, it was difficult to take pictures in some parts of the church. All the same, here are some pictures from the top arqueological layer of the 11th century church and its outdoor courtyard.