A Map of CMBYN in Rome

Those who’ve read the book and seen the movie might have noticed, that part 3 “San Clemente Syndrome” of the book – Elio’s and Oliver’s get-away trip – is set in different locations. Whereas Luca Guadagnino decided to place the story in Bergamo, the original trip brings the boys to Rome prior to Oliver’s departure.

The lovers are wandering and dancing around town with a group of people whom they’ve met at a book party which is the official reason for Oliver’s trip to Rome. After leaving the group Oliver and Elio walk through the streets of Rome where Oliver presses Elio against the wall on “Via de Santa Maria Dell’ Anima” and kisses him. It is their most public sign of affection towards each other.

This map shows the route Elio and Oliver took through Rome:

Essential is Basilica San Clemente behind the Colosseum (as you might have already figured out by the title of this chapter). Here a small description from the book:

„I called it the San Clemente Syndrome. Today’s Basilica of San Clemente is built on the site of what once was a refuge for persecuted Christians. The home of the Roman consul Titus Flavius Clemens, it was burnt down during Emperor Nero’s reign. Next to its charred remains, in what must have been a large, cavernous vault, the Romans built an underground pagan temple dedicated to Mithras, God of the Morning, Light of the World, over whose temple the early Christians built another church, dedicated—coincidentally or not, this is a matter to be further excavated—to another Clement, Pope St. Clement, on top of which came yet another church that burnt down and on the site of which stands today’s basilica. And the digging could go on and on. Like the subconscious, like love, like memory, like time itself, like every single one of us, the church is built on the ruins of subsequent restorations, there is no rock bottom, there is no first anything, no last anything, just layers and secret passageways and interlocking chambers, like the Christian Catacombs, and right along these, even a Jewish Catacomb.“

André Aciman. „Call Me by Your Name: A Novel.“

This part also ends with the words, which imply the action of the following chapter:

„Tomorrow let’s go to San Clemente,” I said.
“Tomorrow is today,” he replied.“

André Aciman. „Call Me by Your Name: A Novel.“