Nestled just two blocks from the Colosseum, the Basilica of San Clemente is one of the rare sites in the world where religious buildings from three eras are built atop one another so that, by descending through the Basilica’s layers, visitors get a unique and unparalleled glimpse into two thousand years of Roman and Christian history. Its priceless frescos, sacred relics, and underground archaeological complex, make the Basilica one of the world’s great spiritual treasures, a place loved by pilgrims, students of art, and visitors from across the globe.
Visitors enter the 12th century basilica at street level and are greeted by the radiant apse mosaic of the Tree of Life, before which sits a stunning sixth century chancel constructed in Constantinople at the end of the Roman Empire.
Fully restored 12th century Tree of Life mosaic representing new life in Christ. 1 Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. 2 Birds feeding their young 3 St. Ambrose 4 A deer, drinking from a stream of water, an allusion to Psalm 42:2.
Descending underneath the 12th century church, visitors encounter the excavations of a remarkably intact fourth century basilica, boasting some of the finest medieval frescos, and one of the earliest known examples of the written Italian language.
Descending further still, visitors step back into the first century, the likely site of the ancient Roman mint and later addition of a 2nd century Mithraic temple.
Giovanni Battista de Rossi, the renowned archaeologist, famous for his work on the Roman catacombs, remarked about San Clemente: “In what other place in Rome, or even in Europe, can the archaeologist admire and study such a succession of monumental stratifications, which from our own day, go back in the order of time, and descend into the depths of the earth, by definite stages, for a period of over twenty centuries?”...
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But with each passing day this inestimable patrimony of history, art, and culture is at greater risk of being lost to posterity.
Centuries of deterioration have left the basilica in dire need of restoration.
Throughout the 12th century basilica, paint is cracking and peeling; irreplaceable frescoes and murals are decaying, having left a few sections already irretrievable; gilded frames, ornamentation, and the baroque coffered ceiling suffer from extensive damage.
Additionally, the fourth and first century levels are in need of proper preservation and presentation so that visitors can appreciate the history and significance of this rare Christian heritage site...
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The restoration and historical preservation of the Basilica of San Clemente will be completed in three phases.
PHASE ONE comprises a complete interior restoration of the ground-level 12th century basilica.
PHASE TWO includes substantial archaeological excavations in the subterranean levels to create better visitor flow and open up space for a prelude antechamber to present the story of San Clemente.
PHASE THREE consists of the creation of the curated museum experience in the underground levels, as well as the development of an interactive app for a fully integrated private tour of the entire complex...
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The Basilica of San Clemente has been cared for and maintained by its owners and stewards, the Dominican Order, for the past three centuries.
In 1667, Pope Urban VIII gave the Order refuge at the Basilica.
The Irish Dominican Province took possession in 1677 and has maintained a residence for priests there ever since.
Knowing that the Basilica is in need of a major restoration and unable to rely on Vatican funding, the Irish Dominicans have turned to an international team of experts for project oversight and fundraising.
Responsibility for the project’s funding, governance, compliance, and legal oversight lie with the Hortus Foundation, a New York-based 501(c)3 that oversees Catholic initiatives dedicated to promoting Faith, Truth and Beauty...
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- Repair of wooden baroque coffered ceiling damaged by seismic events, rainwater infiltration, atmospheric variations, and insect infestation.
- Restoration of the Rosary chapel where moisture damaged significant sections of the St. Francis fresco.
- Overhaul of audio and lighting to showcase the restoration and service parish needs.
- Restoration and preservation of all marble sarcophagi, monuments, plaques, and ornaments.
- Restoration and reconstruction of ceiling corbels, cornices and reliefs.
- Complete restoration of plaster and paint to original ivory.
- Restoration of the chapel of St. John the Baptist.
- Restoration of the eight central nave frescos.
- Repair of peeling plaster on Basilica walls.
- Restoration of ceiling frescos and murals.
- Excavate a minimally intrusive new antechamber to serve as the starting point of the curated museum experience and to house modeling and interactive elements, without compromising the integrity of the original space.
- Improve traffic flow in anticipation of a surge in visitors to San Clemente’s subterranean levels.
- Create additional support structures for newly excavated underground areas.
- Add emergency exits from both underground levels to meet modern safety requirements.
- Electrical rewiring of entire underground complex.
- Create three dimensional models, animated projections, shadow play, purposeful relighting, and atmospheric audio to tell the story of San Clemente’s past in a manner that is interesting and accessible without detracting from the beauty and richness of the Basilica in its current form.
- Create up-to-date museum operations to accommodate a surge in visitors to the newly imagined San Clemente Experience, including a new website, ticketing system, and crowd management approach.
- Craft a curated museum experience that allows visitors to appreciate the spiritual, historic, cultural, and artistic significance of this unique living artifact.
- Present the history of San Clemente in three chapters, corresponding to the historical eras in the three layers of the Basilica.
- Develop an interactive app, giving visitors a fully integrated private tour of the entire San Clemente complex.
Hortus Foundation President and Lead Project Manager
Hortus Foundation Vice President and Lead Project Manager
Archeologist, Prior of San Clemente Community and Basilica Rector
Project Architect and Technical Director
Restoration and Conservation Expert
