Descend below Rome’s streets with Touriks to uncover ancient underground temples and early Christian basilicas, rich with relics and layered history. This guided tour reveals the roots of faith through mosaics, frescoes, and sacred sites rarely seen by visitors.
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Difficulty
easy
Duration
2–3 hours
Fitness Level
Requires basic mobility; comfortable walking and navigating stairs are necessary.
Wildlife
History
Rome’s underground basilicas date back to the 3rd and 4th centuries, where early Christians worshiped secretly under Roman persecution.
Conservation
Efforts focus on limiting visitor impact and controlling humidity to preserve delicate mosaics and frescoes in these vulnerable spaces.
Touriks
Descend below Rome’s streets with Touriks to uncover ancient underground temples and early Christian basilicas, rich with relics and layered history. This guided tour reveals the roots of faith through mosaics, frescoes, and sacred sites rarely seen by visitors.
Touriks is a Rome-based tour operator located in Roma, Lazio that specializes in guided cultural and archaeological experiences across the city and Vatican area.
Specializing in in-depth guided visits of St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square, Touriks offers semi-private, private, and small-group formats that include dome climbs, visits to the underground grottoes, and guided exploration of St. Peter’s tomb.
The company also guides visitors through Rome’s subterranean heritage, including Roman Catacombs, the underground temples of San Clemente, and other proto-Christian basilicas. Selected catacombs tours include private transfer options noted in tour descriptions.
Touriks’ program includes a broad range of Rome itineraries: Colosseum underground and arena tours, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill walks, Pantheon and Navona Square visits with access to underground sites, Caracalla Baths and Circus Maximus visits, Trastevere walks with subterranean sites, and guided visits to Castel Sant'Angelo and the Borghese Gallery.
Individual tour descriptions emphasize major artworks and architectural highlights such as Michelangelo’s Pietà, the mosaics of St. Peter’s, and Bernini’s design of St. Peter’s Square. Touriks is featured on The Adventure Collective, where its Rome tours are listed with factual itineraries and booking details.
All tour listings state location, format, and options so travelers can select dome climbs, underground grottoes, transfers, or private and small-group experiences when available.
Location
Roma, Lazio
Based in Rome, Italy
Group Options
Private & Small-Group
Private, semi-private and small-group tours
Featured On
The Adventure Collective
Listed on The Adventure Collective
Highlights
Basilica to Catacombs
Tours from St. Peter’s to undergrounds
Select a St. Peter’s Basilica tour, dome climb, catacombs visit or Colosseum experience and secure a guided Rome itinerary that fits travel style.
Bring a light jacket
Underground sites can be cool and damp, even in summer—layers keep you comfortable.
Wear sturdy shoes
Uneven stone steps and narrow passages require footwear with good grip and support.
Limited photography allowed
Many underground sites restrict flash and tripod use to protect delicate frescoes.
Prepare for narrow spaces
The tour includes confined areas where some visitors may feel claustrophobic.
Comfortable walking shoes
Necessary for navigating uneven ancient stone floors and steps safely.
Light jacket or sweater
Keeps you warm in the cool, damp conditions of underground sites.
spring|fall|winter
Compact camera or smartphone
Ideal for capturing mosaics and frescoes where photography is permitted without flash.
Small backpack
Useful to carry water, light layers, and any personal items during the tour.