On a recent afternoon, crowds packed the area around the Colosseum. But just steps away, beneath the surface, a quieter and equally extraordinary experience was unfolding.
Inside the newly opened Colosseo-Fori Imperiali station, escalators plunged deep underground, where the noise of the city faded into an almost surreal calm. Sleek metal walkways and intersecting escalators created a maze-like descent — yet instead of leaving history behind, visitors found themselves immersed in it.
Ancient pottery, unearthed just metres away, sat behind glass. Nearby, the remains of a Roman bath stood preserved in place. This was not a museum requiring tickets or reservations, but a functioning metro stop — one that cost little more than a standard fare to enter.
Building a metro system in Rome has never been straightforward. Unlike most cities, where engineers tunnel through rock, Rome forces them to navigate nearly 3,000 years of buried history.
Each excavation risks uncovering ruins — from wells and homes to military barracks — slowing construction and driving up costs. For decades, this challenge left the Italian capital with just two main metro lines serving a vast urban area.
Work on Metro C, however, has changed that. As construction pushed from the suburbs toward the historic centre, it revealed layer upon layer of the ancient city. Archaeologists uncovered drinking wells, farms, a 16-room residence and hundreds of thousands of artefacts dating from the 7th century BCE to the 5th century CE.
The scale of discovery led to a new concept: “archaeo-stations,” hybrid spaces that function as both transport hubs and self-guided museums.
The first, San Giovanni station, opened in 2018. The second, at the Colosseum, followed in late 2025. Together, they have transformed the daily commute into a journey through time.
Descending into San Giovanni station is like moving through a living timeline. As passengers travel deeper, wall displays trace Rome’s history from the present day down through medieval, imperial and even prehistoric layers.
Each level showcases artefacts found at that exact depth — coins, pipes, tools and fragments of marble — allowing visitors to connect objects with the eras they came from.
At one level, once ground level during the Roman Empire, ancient irrigation systems and water pipes reveal how the area once functioned as farmland. Elsewhere, coins and decorative stonework hint at everyday life in a thriving ancient city.
“It reminds people that Rome isn’t just what you see on the surface,” said historian Anthony Majanlahti. “There’s another Rome underneath.”
For many locals, the experience has reshaped their understanding of the city. What was once abstract history has become tangible — something they can walk through, rather than simply read about.
Just two stops away, the Colosseo-Fori Imperiali station offers another striking encounter with history. There, ancient drinking wells — some dating back to the 6th century BCE — have been reconstructed in their original positions, with artefacts displayed inside transparent coverings.
Elsewhere in the station, fragments of mosaics, statues and household items are arranged alongside multimedia displays that recreate how the site once looked.
The centrepiece is a remarkably preserved Roman bath complex, complete with a cold plunge pool and sweat room. Once part of a residential structure, it now sits within the station itself, where visitors circle it in quiet fascination.
For teachers like Annalisa Labriola, the impact is immediate. Students who might lose interest in textbooks instead engage directly with history, seeing how layers of the ancient city lie beneath their feet.
Tourists are equally surprised. Many arrive expecting a quick stop, only to linger far longer than planned, drawn in by the unexpected depth of what lies below.
“It’s almost like travelling back in time,” said archaeologist Livia Galante.
The project has not been without challenges. At Porta Metronia station, excavations uncovered a vast 2nd-century Roman military barracks, complete with richly decorated living quarters. The discovery forced engineers to redesign the station to preserve and eventually display the remains.
Such efforts come at a cost. Constructing Metro C through Rome’s historic centre is among the most expensive infrastructure projects in Europe. Yet for many, the value goes beyond transport.
What began as a practical solution to urban congestion has evolved into something far more unique — a way to experience Rome not just as a city of monuments, but as a living, layered history.
Back above ground, the Colosseum still dominates the skyline, just as it has for nearly two millennia. But below, another city continues to emerge — one excavation at a time.
Source: BBC
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
