Rome opens up underground wonders of the ancient world to tourists

A 2nd century guardroom is revealed.

Visitors to Rome may discover a world of ancient treasures beneath their feet at underground sites.
They include the Ludus Magnus, the barracks beneath the Colosseum where gladiators assembled before entering the great arena to meet their fate; the well-preserved necropolis of Santa Rosa at the Vatican, with tombs from the 1st to the 5th centuries, and pagan temples.
Guided tours through the sites begin in Rome during summer. “There is a lot of unknown Rome to explore, not just the best-known sights,” said Gianni Alemanno, the Mayor of Rome.
The 30 underground marvels are rarely seen by tourists, or residents. “Hidden Rome is in front of everyone’s eyes but nobody notices it,” said Umberto Broccoli, the superintendent of cultural heritage in Rome. “A large part of Rome’s history lies underground.”

He singled out the auditorium of Maecenas, the wealthy close adviser to the Emperor Augustus, whose encouragement of poets and painters in 1st century Imperial Rome made his name a byword for patronage of the arts.
The ruins of his frescoed theatre for readings and performances, now below ground and protected by a modern roof, are tucked away in a small urban square that is all that remains of his once vast and magnificent horti, or gardens, on the Esquiline Hill.
Few visitors are aware that a 2,000-year-old underground aqueduct, the Acqua Virgo — originally built to supply the Baths of Agrippa near the Pantheon in 19BC and still used to bring water to the city — lies beneath the Renaissance-era Villa Medici, now the French Academy, and ends in the Baroque stone fantasy of the Trevi Fountain.
Tourists can also explore the frescoed 2nd century Temple of Mithras, the pagan cult, beneath the 17th Century Palazzo Barberini, which houses one of Rome’s foremost art collections.

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Rome Day Trip: SPA Destinations Near Rome

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Walking Rome's cobblestone streets is for sure the best way for a traveler to Rome to learn about the Eternal City. Wandering Rome's streets, slipping into an artist's studio, marveling Bernini's sculptures, counting Egyptian obelisks in Rome, sitting by a Roman fountain with a gelato, enjoying an afternoon espresso people watching, shopping in Rome's fashionable boutiques or strolling a fabulous Rome street market all the while walking in Rome on cobblestones laid by the ancient Romans 2000 years ago takes its toll on the Rome-walker's feet.

Upon leaving Rome a slow Italy traveler would be wise to think about a few days relaxing at one of Lazio's thermal spring water SPAs that are just a short trip outside Rome. This a great way for the Italy traveler to relax and re-charge along the Italy vacation before moving on to another fabulous Italian city like Florence, Naples, or Milan.

Salute per acqua - good health through water - is a saying going back to the ancient Romans, who learned from the Etruscans, which civilization settled around the thermal springs near Civitavecchia (old city) in Lazio, the curative powers of water. Of course, Italy is a volcanic land that is spotted with thermal springs across the Italic peninsula providing all types of thermal water springs and mud bath resort and SPA destinations for Italy travelers to visit.

2000 years since the Etruscans and ancient Romans lived on this land, benessere (well being) is the buzzword for Italian spas that are still the pick of the best thermal water spring SPAs in the world.

Below are Italy travel videos of SPA destinations outside Rome. Looking for exclusive Italy itineraries to off-the-beaten path destinations near Rome, Florence, Naples, and Venice contact WebVisionItaly's Italy travel specialists "travel@webvisionitaly.com"


"Salute Per Acqua" - good health through water.

Acqua di Fiuggi preferred by Europe's royalty, was site of Rossellini & Bergman love affair.

SPA outside Rome in medieval Viterbo full of lovely fountains, Est Est Est wine & Dante's favorite thermal spring.

Ancient Etruscan spring baths in Rome's port Civitavecchia, perfect for cruise shore excursion and Rome day trip.

Outside Rome is Castelli Romani. Etruscan & ancient Roman water spas.

For more Rome day trips visit WebVisionItaly.com Lazio Television Channel.


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Things to Do in Rome: Musuems and Exhibits Spring 2009

Spring in Rome is popping with flowers blooming, Easter next weekend, and temperatures in the high sixties travelers to Italy are descending on Rome. There are plenty of excellent exhibits to keep Spring-visitors to Rome entertained. Below is a list of a few happenings:

- Colosseum: 'Divus Vespasanius', celebration of Emperor Vespasian, general who took throne from Nero in 69 AD and transformed Rome, founding Flavian dynasty which built Colosseum; until January 10.

- Vittoriano: Giotto and the Trecento; 150 works from world's museums including 20 by pre-Renaissance master himself; until June 29.

- same venue: The Sabines, over 120 never-before-seen works from terracotta throne of King of Eretum, paintings and illuminated codices, up to film posters and clips of legendary 'Rape of the Sabine Women' that helped fledgling Rome survive; until April 26.

- Scuderie del Quirinale: Futurist works from 30 museums including reconstruction of the famous Futurist exhibition held at the Bernheim-Jeune Gallery in Paris in 1912; also, four works returning from New York for first time including Boccioni's 'Stati d'animo' triptych; until May 24.

- Palazzo delle Esposizioni: Darwin 1809-2009, Italy's biggest-ever show on evolution; until May 3.

- Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna: Cy Twombly, first retrospective in Italy; 70-work show previously seen at Tate and Guggenheim Bilbao; until May 24.

- Chiostro del Bramante: The Myth of Julius Caesar, first ever show focusing on him alone; 200 items from ancient times until the 20th century; until April 5.

- Museo Fondazione Roma: Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858), lyrical Japanese landscape artist who influenced Van Gogh and Monet; 200 woodblock prints on show for first time in Italy; until June 7.

- Museo Carlo Bilotti: 100 Giorgio de Chirico metaphysical drawings; until April 19.

For more about the arts in Italy and arts by Italian-Americans visit WebVisionItaly.com's Arts Channel.

Restaurant in Rome: A Plate Full of Coins

At a restaurant in Rome when ready to pay the bill we were told no credit cards. Probably not true but we didn't press the issue.

We gave 50 euros and expected 13 euros in change.

What we received was a plate full of coins.

Of course we were cheated by more that 3 euros.

When called to task immediately two 5 euro biils and correct change appeared.

Be ever alert. Never accept a plate full of coins.

Rome Travel: A Walk Around the Block Rome

Our block is Rome.

We walked from our apartment in Piazza Farnese through the open-air market at Campo de' Fiori, past Via del Governo Vecchio, with the young fashion designers, and past Piazza Navona and the Panthenon, down the Corso to Piazza del Popolo, where we had an appointment, naturally at a caffé in Rome.

Done with our business we zig zagged back to our apartment.

For more walking maps for Rome visit:

Rome Centro Storico: Rome Walking Tour Map: The Heart of Rome

First to Via dei Condotti, with stops at the stores with the most beautiful handbags, shoes, expensive silk ties, etc..

Then to Campo Marzio, passing bakeries, and the luscious caffés at the Piazza Lucina.

Then to the right past the Church of the Portuese, on Via dei Coronari, neighborhood of the antique dealers, then to Via dei Bianchi Vecchi, a crossover to Via Giuia, celebrating its 500th anniversary, and we arrived at our apartment a neighbor of the Michelangelo arch.

Tell us about your favorite block.