San Clemente

Hi guys,
I have been Italy in for 11 days now, and I am off to a late start with my blog. Sorry!  This morning I went to San Clemente church. It took me FOREVER to actually get to the center of Rome. ( San Clemente is located in Rome just  past the Colosseum, which  as you might say is  COLOSSAL!!!!!! )  I had to take 2 trains then walk 1/2 a mile before I even reached San Clemente, ok scratch that, before we got lost, then found the church.  OK, before I even tell you how A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! this place was, I'll give you some facts about this Church,which was out in the middle of No Where!
The basilica of Saint Clemente is a roman catholic minor basilica dedicated to Pope Clement 1st.  This church is a three tiered building. ( Basically, it's a church built upon another church, which was built upon a old roman catholic house and alleyway " Crazy Right "  )
the present basilica was built just before the year 1100 during the height of the middle ages. ( this church is almost 1,000 years old!!!!! and that's the newest of the 3 structures!!!!!! ) beneath the the present basilica is a 4th century basilica, that had been converted out of a home of a roman man. This house briefly served as a pagan temple to a sun god. The basement of the house " may have " served as a mint in the 2nd century. Beneath that, ( geeshhhhhh this is starting to get old  =] ) there is a building that had been destroyed in the great fire of 64 AD.
This place was amazing, each floor was cooler than the last, I take it back.....EACH floor was amazing!
I couldn't take any pictures so I will post a link to a web site (on this website you can take a virtual tour so you can see what I saw). Just click the San Clemente link on top right of this page.  I couldn't believe how detailed the churches still were after all the time that had past, there was a marble column that was still in "mint" condition and looked as smooth as glass. There were also quite a few murals and mosaics that portrayed biblical scenes (with POPE CLEMENT the first, funny how he managed to be there when Jesus was alive =]  )
Walking through the tunnels under the newer church, there were some stair cases that were very narrow and I felt very claustrophobic, I can't imagine how they lived then. Those guys must have been midgets because my dad had to duck to get through some doorways and he isn't very tall!
Anyway, I had a great time exploring and would love to be able to spend more time here. I also saw  Circus Maximus, but I will tell you about that adventure later : )
CIAO!
Danie