“Beneath Palazzo Valentini we found a treasure and have given it new life”

The archaeological remains of ancient Roman houses discovered beneath Palazzo Valentini are now open to the public, adding a remarkable chapter to Rome’s rich historical and archaeological heritage.

A team of art historians, archaeologists and architects working for the former Provincial Administration of Rome carried out an extensive project of research, excavation, restoration and musealization. The results are of exceptional importance, revealing an area that played a significant role in ancient Rome and providing valuable evidence for reconstructing the city’s ancient and medieval topography.

“The multimedia museum: where antiquity meets innovation”

The fascinating remains of the patrician domus of Imperial Rome, probably belonging to wealthy and influential families, include mosaics, decorated walls, polychrome floors, paving stones and other archaeological remains. The experience is enhanced by a multimedia project created under the direction of Piero Angela, together with a team of specialists including Paco Lanciano and Gaetano Capasso. Through virtual reconstructions, computer graphics and videos, the ancient structures are brought back to life.

Visitors can see walls, rooms, peristyles, baths, kitchens, furnishings and decorations virtually reconstructed, allowing them to experience what a great Roman domus may have looked like.

The archaeological complex also offers a dedicated itinerary focusing on the area around Trajan’s Column. Visitors can see the remains of monumental structures, including a large concrete platform, walls built with large blocks of travertine and tuff, and fragments of colossal columns made from single blocks of grey Egyptian granite. The archaeological remains also include brick-built rooms with vaulted ceilings dating to the early years of the Emperor Hadrian, according to the stamps found on the bricks.

The multimedia exhibition helps visitors understand how the area surrounding Trajan’s Column appeared in antiquity. A large reconstruction model illustrates the monumental complex, including the enormous Basilica Ulpia, which stood beside the column, as well as the two adjacent buildings traditionally identified as libraries.

A virtual reconstruction of Trajan’s Column also allows visitors to examine its famous reliefs and follow the story they depict: Emperor Trajan’s military campaigns and the conquest of Dacia, corresponding largely to present-day Romania. The reliefs culminate in the defeat of King Decebalus and Trajan’s triumph.

The Domus Romane offer an unusual combination of archaeological remains and multimedia interpretation, using modern technology to make the ancient urban landscape of Rome easier to understand

Palazzo Valentini, today the seat of the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, was built from 1585 on the initiative of Cardinal Michele Bonelli, nephew of Pope Pius V. The building was designed by the Dominican friar Domenico Paganelli, who established its characteristic trapezoidal layout.