OUR HISTORY. THE PAST SPEAKS

The Basilica of San Clemente in Rome safeguards two thousand years of Catholic history. Unlike any other place, it showcases an unparalleled historical and cultural heritage, an archaeological complex unique in the world. It is home to the relics of the two greatest early Church Fathers and martyrs Ignatius of Antioch, Patriarch of Antioch, and Clement of Rome, third Pope of the Catholic Church as well as the relics of St. Cyril, gth century apostle to the Slays and creator of the Cyrillic alphabet.
The 12th century basilica, full of unparalleled historical and artistic treasures, rests on top of the 4th century basilica, boasting some of the finest medieval frescoes, which also rests on top of the 1st century Mithraic temple and what some historians believe to be the ancient Roman mint, all of which is accessible to visitors.

OUR DILEMMA. THE PRESENT CALLS.

Although time and the intervention of some restorations have maintained the grandeur of the Basilica, there is still much to recover.
The baroque coffered ceiling completed in 1715 suffers from extensive wood rot; the central nave frescoes and side chapel frescoes are all in dire need of restoration; and centuries of paint layers are flakingthroughoutthe basilica.
Given the number of daily visitors and the fact that the basilica is the most popular and most visited of all 6i minor basilicas in Rome, less than 2% of visitors receive a well-curated tour of this space from the local Irish Dominican experts that own and steward the San Clemente complex, leaving hundreds of thousands of annual visitors without experiencing the rich two-thousand-year Christian heritage this space uniquely offers.
The result is a lost opportunity to share this living and vibrant history of the Catholic Faith with millions of people from all overthe globe.

OUR REBIRTH. THE FUTURE BECKONS.

The grand story of the Basilica of San Clemente deserves to be told, the past that speaks to the present and the future. The San Clemente Experience is the proposed solution: an ambitious seven-year, three-phase project of restoration, excavation, and curated tour experience of this treasure of the Church. Phase one comprises a complete interior restoration of the ground-level 12th century basilica.
Phase two includes substantial archeological excavations in the ist and 4th century subterranean levels. Phase three consists of the creation of a first-class, modern interactive museum experience in the 1st and 4th century levels and the design of an interactive app for a curated and fully integrated private tour of the entire complex.

The overall project will cost $2oMM. We hope you will become one of our cultural patrons of the arts, dedicated to restoring and sustaining one of the world's oldest and most prestigious churches.

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