San Clemente in Rome

If you look at Itinerary and What’s Included for that tour, on this RS website, there is no mention of San Clemente Church, so it’s safe to assume that is NOT an included site.

We did the BOE 14 Day in 2019. San Clemente was NOT included. But we visited it independently during our free time. It was easy to get to and fascinating:)

We went to San Clemente on our first trip to Rome. It is so interesting with the multiple layers of history you can see as you take stairs form under the church to the ruins of other basilicas and churches below. The last one is pre Christian.
This should be a must-see on all Roman travelers
lists!

Yes! I have it on my must do list. I’ve done other RS tours that don’t have everything listed on the itinerary- but for the most part- that is accurate- they list them all.

I notice they have timed entry now, so do plan ahead.

https://www.basilicasanclemente.com/eng/

Found it fascinating.

While you are in that 'end of town' you may want to see Moses at St Peter in Chains basilica. Be sure to check their open hours. It is ( was) closed for a long lunch break when we were there several years ago.

Thank you for confirming my thoughts! I was thinking of Moses, too! You are so helpful!

In prep for understanding those lower levels at the site you should definitely read David Ulansey's book on Mithraism:

https://www.amazon.com/Origins-Mithraic-Mysteries-Cosmology-Salvation/dp/0195067886

Wow! Thank you! I’ll do just that!

I have a master’s in theology so this is all fantastic for me.

Great -- we could talk shop :-)

If you had more than two extra days in Rome I would recommend the day trip to Ostia Antica, where you can get a very good exposure to the various mystery cults and to Serapis praxis. And of course it's where Augustine composed much of his Confessions.
There in Rome you might want to aim for some of the Jesuit highlights, like the order's mother church:

https://www.chiesadelgesu.org

Thank you for the information! I have not booked my plane or hotel. Maybe I should spend more time. I can’t thank you enough!

It appears San Clemente IS included on the Rick Steves 7 day Rome tour...
"Day 2: Ancient Rome
After breakfast, we'll ride the metro back in time to ancient Rome. We'll arrive at multilayered San Clemente — a 12th-century church sitting atop a fourth-century basilica and an even older Roman temple. "

You may find the Wikipedia page on San Clememte interesting:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Clemente_al_Laterano
https://www.basilicasanclemente.com/eng/

That’s a great idea. I always believe the more one knows going into the experience the more you take away.

I just returned from a 14 day RS tour. Before trip, I just emailed RS and asked more details of itinerary and they responded.