Tempio del Divo Claudio

Under the temple of Divo Claudio al Celio there is a real underground city, built immediately after the death of the emperor in 54 AD. A labyrinth of tunnels, tunnels, tunnels dug into the tuff by the Romans and splendid lakes. The tunnels dug into the tuff testify to its function as a quarry, an activity that must have lasted for many centuries. It is one of the most important caves of the many present in the subsoil of the city

The Temple of the Divine Claudius was built after 54 AD. on the death of the emperor, but already with the famous fire of 64 AD, it was partially destroyed and Nero at that time the emperor used it as a nymphaeum for his residence (La domus Aurea). Subsequently, the emperor Vespasian, who succeeded Nero, rebuilt the temple. In the following centuries, the temple fell into oblivion and the area where it was located was used for other purposes, for example a group of houses from the third century AD. (DOMUS ROMANE DEL CELIO which can be visited) and the Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo in the 5th century. Finally, in the 10th-12th century, a convent and a beautiful Romanesque bell tower were built adjacent to the Basilica which use and hide part of the remains of the temple which, however, perhaps for this reason, remained in good condition. The shape of the temple was rectangular about 180-200 meters and with its 50 meters it was one of the tallest buildings of ancient Rome. Some information on the remains present on the perimeter where the Temple was: 1) The western side is the one mentioned above incorporated in the bell tower and in the convent where the second order with travertine arches is clearly visible. 2) The other side where there are important remains is the eastern one corresponding to the Via Claudia, where high brick or wavy or rectangular walls are visible, some openings are visible. 3) On the north side, overlooking the Colosseum, there are some remains, including a brick building. 4) On the south side the remains are not significant.