About the Underground Rome: The Hidden City Walk in Rome
Lying at times up to 10 meters (30 feet) below the modern city, much of ancient Rome is still being excavated today in the course of street work and other infrastructural improvements. Context Rome has an extensive underground Rome program, comprising this itinerary, as well as numerous special site visits scheduled throughout the year. Several of our docents are certified speleologists for the city of Rome and others have done extensive writing on the topic. All our underground programs, including this one, provide a thematic exploration of the hidden, subterranean levels of Rome. We look at some of the newest, most exciting discoveries, while also piecing together an educational narrative about urban layering, the relationship between the modern city and its history, and the cutting edge of Roman archaeology.
We begin with a visit to the subterranean levels of San Lorenzo in Lucina, a medieval church with remnants of the basilica that preceded buried in the crypt underneath, as well
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Lying at times up to 10 meters (30 feet) below the modern city, much of ancient Rome is still being excavated today in the course of street work and other infrastructural improvements. Context Rome has an extensive underground Rome program, comprising this itinerary, as well as numerous special site visits scheduled throughout the year. Several of our docents are certified speleologists for the city of Rome and others have done extensive writing on the topic. All our underground programs, including this one, provide a thematic exploration of the hidden, subterranean levels of Rome. We look at some of the newest, most exciting discoveries, while also piecing together an educational narrative about urban layering, the relationship between the modern city and its history, and the cutting edge of Roman archaeology.
We begin with a visit to the subterranean levels of San Lorenzo in Lucina, a medieval church with remnants of the basilica that preceded buried in the crypt underneath, as well as remains of an ancient apartment complex. Looking at the layers of architectural accumulation, we will trace some of the major periods of urban habitation in the city—from antiquity through the Medieval. We'll also talk about domestic Roman buildings. (One of the ancient apartments in this complex includes a toilet.)
From here the itinerary varies. We may proceed to the Vicus Caprarius, a newly opened space showing Roman apartment under a modern cinema near the Trevi fountain or subterranean area of San Nicola in Carcere. If possible, we may round out the itinerary with a scheduled appointment at one of the myriad underground sites controlled by the Comune di Roma or other governmental ministries.
We end with the Crypta Balbi, one of the best organized museums in the city, which occupies the subterranean crypts of a Renaissance palace. Here we will discuss a panopoly of ancient structures, from a theater to a street, look at the layers of architectural accumulation, and trace some of the major periods of urban habitation in the city.
This itinerary is usually led by an archaeologist, classical historian, or Medievalist. Although we will prebook all appointments to the sites, participants are responsible for buying their tickets at the time of the walk to the Crypta Balbi and any other sites that require it. If there is time at the end of the walk, we might conclude with a glass of wine in an enoteca that has a piece of the wall of the baths of Agrippa in its basement.
