Showing 1-17 of 17 results
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Area Archeologica del Teatro di Marcello
Rising from the ruins to the east of Via del Teatro di Marcello, the Teatro di Marcello is the star of this recently opened archaeological area.
The theatre was originally planned by Julius Caesar but remained unfinished at the time of his death in 44 BC. Augustus then inherited the project and named it after his favourite nephew Marcellus, who had died earlier in 23 BC. By 17 BC the theatre was in use, and was formally inaugurated in 11 BC.
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Basilica di San Clemente
A short walk up from the Colosseum, this fascinating basilica provides a vivid glimpse into Rome's multilayered past. Through the courtyard, the 12th-century church at street level was built over a 4th-century church, which, in turn, was constructed over a 2nd-century pagan temple and 1st-century Roman house. Beneath all that are foundations dating to the Roman Republic.
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Catacombe di Priscilla
These catacombs originally belonged to the patrician Acilii family in the 1st century AD. They were expanded in the 3rd and 4th centuries and became a high-society burial ground with appropriate upmarket decoration, quite a lot of which has survived. Several popes were buried in the catacombs between 309 and 555. A funerary chapel known as the Cappella Greca boasts good stucco decoration and some well-preserved late-3rd-century biblical frescoes.
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Circo di Massenzio
You can still make out the starting stalls at Rome's best preserved ancient chariot racetrack, a 10,000-seat arena built by emperor Maxentius around AD 309. The unexcavated ruins of his imperial pad sit above the racetrack's northern end. Nearby, Maxentius built the imposing Tomb of Romulus for his young son.
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Circo Massimo
To the south of the Palatino and surrounded by car-choked roads, the Circo Massimo (Circus Maximus) is now little more than a basin of rather forlorn grass. In the 1st century, however, this was Rome's biggest stadium, a 250,000-seater capable of holding a quarter of the city's entire population. The 600m racetrack circled a wooden dividing island with ornate lap indicators and Egyptian obelisks.
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Colosseum
Of all the monuments in Rome, the Colosseum thrills the most. It was here that gladiators met in mortal combat and condemned prisoners fought off hungry lions. This great symbol of eternal Rome still excites the imagination as you'll see from the hordes waiting to get in.
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Imperial Forums
The expanse of ruins to the northeast of Via dei Fori Imperiali are known collectively as the Imperial Forums (Fori Imperiali). Constructed by Caesar, Augustus, Vespasian, Nerva and Trajan between 42 BC and AD 112, they were largely buried in 1933 when Mussolini built Via dei Fori Imperiali between the Colosseum and Piazza Venezia.
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Largo di Torre Argentina
A busy transport hub, Largo di Torre Argentina is set around a sunken area, the Area Sacra, in which stand the remains of four Republican-era temples. These ruins were unearthed during construction work in 1926 and although off limits to humans are home to a thriving population of stray cats and a cat sanctuary (06 687 21 33; www.romancats.de). To learn more, and to visit the ruins, the sanctuary runs a free guided tour daily at .
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Museo Nazionale Romano: Terme di Diocleziano
The ruins over the road from Piazza dei Cinquecento, outside Termini, are the remains of the Terme di Diocleziano (Diocletian's Baths), the largest baths complex in ancient Rome. Covering about 13 hectares and with a capacity of 3000 people, the complex comprised baths, libraries, concert halls and gardens. It was completed in the early 4th century but fell into disrepair after invaders destroyed the aqueduct that fed the baths in about AD 536.
Read more about Museo Nazionale Romano: Terme di Diocleziano
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Palatine
Overlooking the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill is where it all began. An area of majestic ruins and grand views, this is where the mythical she-wolf nursed Romulus and Remus before Romulus killed his brother and founded Rome in 753 BC. Indeed, archaeologists have unearthed evidence of human habitation dating to the 9th century BC.
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Porta Settimiana
Marking the start of Via della Lungara, the 16th-century road that connects Trastevere with the Borgo, Porta Settimiana was built in 1498 by Pope Alexander VI over a small passageway in the Aurelian Wall. It was later rebuilt by Pope Pius VI in 1798.
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Portico d'Ottavia
You'll need to set your imagination working to turn the columns and fragmented pediment you see today into the enormous square colonnade that the Portico d'Ottavia once was. Originally erected by a builder called Octavius in 146 BC, the portico was rebuilt in 23 BC by Augustus who, surprisingly, kept the name in honour of his sister Octavia.
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Roman Forum
Built over the course of 900 years, the Roman Forum (Foro Romano) was the commercial, political and religious centre of ancient Rome from the Republican era until the 4th century AD. During medieval times the area was used to graze cattle and it was plundered for its precious marble.
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Roman Insula
At the bottom of the Campidoglio, next to the Aracoeli staircase, are the ruins of a Roman apartment block or insula , typically used to house the poor. The unexcavated ground-floor shops of this building are now 9m below the current road level.
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Scavi Archeologici di Ostia Antica
Rome's answer to Pompeii, Scavi Archeologici di Ostia Antica offers a well-preserved insight into ancient Rome's once-thriving port, an easy 25km southwest of the city. You could happily spend a few hours here, snooping around the ancient restaurants, shops, laundries and houses. Highlights include mosaic-laced merchant guilds' offices on Piazzale delle Corporazioni, an uncannily hip-looking Thermopolium (bar), and the Terme di Foro, with its roomful of ancient toilets.
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Terme di Caracalla
Rome's most awe-inspiring ruins, the Terme di Caracalla are a striking reminder of the massive scale on which Rome was built. Spread over 10 hectares, the ancient leisure centre could hold up to 1600 people and included caldaria (hot rooms), a lukewarm tepidarium, a swimming pool, gymnasiums, libraries, shops and gardens. Between 6000 and 8000 people were thought to have used them every day.
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Villa dei Quintili
The splendid Villa dei Quintili is a wonderfully sited 2nd-century-AD villa built by two brothers who were consuls under Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Alas, the splendour of the villa was to be the brothers' downfall - in a fit of jealousy, Emperor Commodus had them both killed, taking over the villa for himself. The highlight is the well-preserved baths complex with a pool, caldarium (hot room) and frigidarium (cold room). There's also a small display of archaeological bits and bobs found in the vicinity.
Showing 1-17 of 17 results
