Places where you can experience Rome's historical, artistic and cultural millennial stratification.

Such as: buildings where different ages coexist either on top of each other (you go down in space and back in time) or seamlessly fused together.

This stratification is the essence of Rome, and the heart of its beauty. You will notice it as you walk around and experience the city. Here are just a few examples.

San Clemente: A Time Machine

San Clemente is one of the most extraordinary and well-preserved monumental "palimpsests" of the city. Here you can fully grasp the historical stratification of Rome: as you descend into space, you go back in time. A "journey" from the 1st to the 13th century

As we enter, we leave the 21st century, and we step into a perfectly preserved 12th-13th century church. From Cosmatesque pavement (made with marbles taken from Roman monuments) to the frescoed apse, to the cathedra (bishop's seat) and the marble schola cantorum (choir section), we feel we are living in the middle ages.

As we go down the first flight of stairs, we find ourselves in the remains of an early Christian church from the 4th-9th century (some of its artifacts are now in the upper church).

If we descend even further, we are in a Roman Mithraic temple from the imperial era (2nd-3rd century).

Only in Rome!

Check out this awesome interactive website and make sure to book a visit, if you decide to go:

basilicasanclemente.com/eng/home-2/

https://basilicasanclemente.com/eng/booking/

Castel Sant’Angelo: Mausoleum, Fortress, Palace.

A one-hour presentation would not be enough to talk about the history of Castel Sant'Angelo from the 2nd to the 19th century.

It has been a mausoleum, a fortress, a prison (dungeon), a papal residence and a Renaissance palace. It contains armor, cannons, frescoes, treasures, statues, etc.

Bonus: its ramparts offer a beautiful 360-degree view of the city. A great experience.

There is also a coffee shop, of course. You can sip it sitting at a table on one of the castle’s terraces.

This video, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, offers a great introduction to the layered story of this site:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLG9iaRrc8A

Santa Maria Maggiore

It is the only basilica in Rome to have preserved the original early Christian structure, albeit enriched by subsequent additions.

We can see here the shape of an ancient Roman basilica (an administrative, not a religious building) on which Christian basilicas were modeled. Only the orientation has changed.in the Christian Basilica. The entrance to the Roman basilica was on the long side. An entrance on the short side draws our eyes to the focal point of the place: the altar.

Santa Maria Maggiore contains the oldest perfectly extant mosaics of a Christian basilica (fifth century).

The basilica was enlarged over time with the addition of several lateral chapels, that cover the history of art from Renaissance to the baroque.

You can start your visit here:

https://www.basilicasantamariamaggiore.va/en.html

The Pantheon. From Roman Temple to Christian church.

The Pantheon is probably the best-preserved monument of ancient Rome, thanks to the fact that it was subsumed into a church. Just compare Hadrian’s temple to all the gods (in Greek “pan-theon”, second century) to today’s Pantheon (Basilica of Santa Maria ad Martyres): except for the bronze that used to cover the dome and for the marble covering parts of the outside walls, the structure has remained intact. As you enter, don’t forget to look up at the immense bronze doors, at the cupola and its oculo, at the harmonious marbled interior. It is truly awe inspiring.

Its dome is still the biggest in the world and it is one of the most imitated buildings in the world.

Since 2023 a ticket is required to enter. Don’t forget to book your visit and skip the lines.

https://www.pantheonroma.com/home-eng/

Registry