Rome is an ancient orgy of buildings 🏛 Think stacks of cities laying on top of one another - you can’t tell where one starts and the other finishes.

As each one collapsed it became the foundation for the next city - which was built on top it.

This went on for almost three. Whole. Millenia… 🙈

Rome is the Victoria Sponge cake of cities 🍰

You’ve seen the Colosseum, made yourself sick on pasta, and bottled out of jumping in the Trevi Fountain. Now, it’s time to see what’s under Rome’s hood...

Basilica di S. Clemente

A church on top of a church on top of a temple and a house…. Rome is a riddle you can’t solve

Basilica di S. Clemente is a 12th-century basilica built over a 4th-century church in a private home (for those pesky early Christians). And all of this was built on top of a pagan temple. They didn’t have a digger, okay? ⛏

Stroll round the different layers going deeper into the ground. You’ll see dreamy mosaics and intricate frescoes, and hopefully no bones.

Colosseum Dungeons

Dodge Russell Crowe and head for the Colosseum Dungeons. It’s where they kept the animals caged up and gladiators used to prep for games here 🦁

Don’t miss the coloured fresco fragments and graffiti on marble in the underground passages.

Catacombs of S. Callisto

The big dog catacombs. Not for the squeamish.

Built in the 2nd Century (proper ancient) they’re about 12 miles long and 20 metres deep.

They used to be the official cemetery of the Church of Rome so thousands of people were buried here ☠ Wander about the four levels to see where sixteen popes and ten martyrs - including the patron saint of music - were buried.

It’s called ‘the little Vatican.” 🙏

Terme di Caracalla

Dusty ancient spa? Still would 🏊

These Roman baths have a maze of underground areas with gyms, changing rooms, and different sections for bathing.

It’s one of the biggest and best-preserved ancient spas. Back in the day, it would’ve been decked out in coloured marble, fancy mosaics, painted stuccos, and hundreds of statues.