Basilica of St. Clement

St. Clement’s Basilica is one of the best example of continuity of attendance area, from Roman times to the Middle Ages.

The excavations conducted since 1860s, showed that the current basilica was built over a previous one of 4th century A.D. dedicated to the third Pope Clement, died around the beginning of the 2nd century A.D.

The old basilica had three naves with precious medieval frescoes inside, such as those regarding the lifes of St. Clement (the frescoes contain one of the first texts in Italian vernacular) and of S. Alessio, the descent of Christ into Limbo, a Madonna and Child in Byzantine style (8th century A.D.) and a discussed Ascension that evidences the continuity of use as a place of prayers since Roman era up to the reconstruction, in the 12th century, of the present basilica.

Investigations, continued in '900, found that below the first basilica is possible to identify other areas: Roman structures (dating back to 2nd-3rd century A.D.) and perhaps a Roman mint and some rooms that were part of a Mithraeum risen in the 3rd century A.D.

The present basilica, although restored in 18th century (façade and bell tower) maintains, inside, many vestiges of the original Romanesque style in which it was built by Pope Paschal II, in the 12th century, including the choir, the cosmatesco floor and the mosaic of the Crucifixion in the apse.

Of great interest is the Branda Castiglione chapel, 15th century, dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria, decorated with frescoes attributed to Masaccio and Masolino da Panicale.