| This Church consecrated to Pope S.
Clemens (88-97?) has early Christian origins, and probably it
was built over the ruins of a pagan temple. Between the end of
the 13th century and the beginning of the 14th century it was
completely rebuilt; the same happened in the 17th century. The
façade is decorated with a portal built at the beginning
of the 16th century by Traiano da Palestrina. It consists of two
white marble pilaster strips and bas-reliefs representing the
objects used during the liturgy (a Mass book, a Cross, a jug,
an aspergillum), alternated with heads of cherubs and it is surmounted
by a triangular tympanum.
The interior consists of a nave and two aisles and numerous
paintings of the 16th century, while there are just some ruins
of the medieval frescos. The christening font is a sarcophagus,
that according to the cardinal Borgia was found near Velletri,
in the place called San Pietro. The Romanic crypt also is very
interesting, with its roman columns and the frescos of the 13th
and 14th century. This little Church was built during 13th century
to host the relics of the Saints Ponzano and Eleuterio.
Near this structure there is the Museum “Museo Capitolare”,
where there is a large collection of paintings, jewels, and
vestments from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. The most
important are: the “Croce Veliterna” a reliquary
of the 11th-12th century; and the chasuble of Benedict XI, realized
at the end of the 13th century.
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