New Archaeological Park Behind Rome's Iconic Colosseum

Rome has recently inaugurated a new museum and archaeological park, the Parco Archeologico del Celio and the Museo della Forma Urbis, located near the iconic Colosseum and on the Caelian Hill, one of the capital's famed seven hills. This addition offers visitors an immersive experience to explore the streetscapes, architecture, and ruins of Ancient Rome.

The museum opened to the public on the 12th of January 2024. After visiting the Colosseum and the historic ruins of the Roman Forum, the Archaeological Park of the Celio and the Museum of the Forma Urbis present an excellent next destination for those interested in delving deeper into Rome's fascinating history.

Forma Urbis Museum

The Museo della Forma Urbis in Rome features a key attraction: the display of the remaining fragments of the Forma Urbis Romae. This giant marble map of ancient Rome was originally created between 203 and 211 AD. Measuring approximately 18 by 13 meters, it was first displayed vertically on an interior wall of the Temple of Peace in the Roman Forum.

Unfortunately, the map was destroyed during the Middle Ages, as its marble was repurposed for building materials or lime production. Despite its destruction, the preserved fragments offer a unique opportunity for visitors to understand the layout and architecture of ancient Rome, presenting an invaluable perspective on the city's past.

Rediscovered in 1562, only about 10% of the map survives today, including sections depicting the Colosseum, Circus Maximus, baths, temples, and private houses. The map, comprising 150 marble slabs, intricately illustrates temples, baths, basilicas, and neighborhoods of ancient Rome. It was more symbolic than practical, serving as a tribute to the city's architectural splendor and a showpiece for the empire, rather than a conventional navigational tool.

The last public exhibition of these fragments took place nearly a century ago, in the garden of the Palazzo dei Conservatori on the Capitoline Hill. Today, the remaining fragments are meticulously preserved horizontally, with Giovanni Battista Nolli's 1748 Pianta Grande map of Rome superimposed on top. Transparent glass floors enable visitors to walk atop the detailed ancient cobblestones and locate landmarks and other points of interest, like the Colosseum, Ludus Magnus, and the Sacred Area of Largo Argentina.

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Celio Archaeological Park

Between the Colosseum and the Circus Maximus lies the Celio Archaeological Park, providing a multi-faceted perspective into Rome's archaeological legacy. The park is situated beside the Case Romane underground complex, with entry from Clivo di Scauro, the small arched road between the churches of S. Gregorio and SS. Giovanni e Paolo.

At the heart of the park are the foundational remains of the Divo Claudio, also known as the Temple of Claudius, which dates back to the 1st century AD. This site brims with epigraphic and architectural treasures that were unearthed during excavations around the city at the end of the 19th century. These finds have been carefully curated, transforming the park into an immersive open-air museum.

Stepping outside the museum, visitors will encounter walkways lined with ancient Roman grave markers and marble columns discovered in recent decades, which decorate the open-air park on the side of the Caelian Hill.

The park also features the Casina del Salvi, which, as reported by Wanted in Rome, is set to return to its original function as a coffee house for visitors and become part of Rome's network of museum buildings offering study rooms to students.

Claudio Parisi Presicce, who oversees Rome's cultural heritage, highlighted the importance of the Caelian Hill, one of the seven hills of ancient Rome. “The hill has a special importance because it is what unites the monumental area of the Imperial Forums, the Roman forum, the Colosseum, and the area of the Appia Antica” he noted. The unveiling of the Celio Archaeological Park marks a key development in making this area, steeped in history and previously inaccessible, available to the public.

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Visitor information

Rome's new Parco Archeologico del Celio and Museo della Forma Urbis play a significant role in the city's effort to enhance its historic hills and make them more accessible to visitors. These attractions are part of the New Archaeological Walk, connecting important ancient Roman landmarks such as the Roman Forum, Colosseum, Terme di Caracalla, and Circo Massimo.

The archaeological park, which is free to enter, is located at Viale del Parco del Celio 20, Viale del Parco del Celio 22, and Clivo di Scauro 4. It's open every day, except for December 25th and May 1st. The park's winter hours are from 7 AM to 5:30 PM, and during the summer, it's open from 7 AM to 8 PM.

The Museo della Forma Urbis is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM (with the last entry an hour before closing) and closed on December 25th May 1st, and Mondays. Tickets are required for the museum, which are priced at €9 for non-residents of the city and €6.50 for city residents and visitors entitled to discounted entry. Holders of Rome's MIC museum pass gain free admission to the museum. Tickets for the Museo della Forma Urbis can be purchased on-site or online at the official ticketing website of the Sovrintendenza Capitolina ai Beni Culturali.