Under the Colosseum in Rome, the city’s newest metro station, Colosseo-Fori Imperiali, has opened to the public. The station, situated at a depth of 32 meters and spanning four levels, showcases over 350 ancient artifacts unearthed during a ten-year construction endeavor.
For a mere 1.5-euro fare, visitors can explore the underground museum within the station, housing a diverse array of items such as ceramic vessels, lamps, bronze figurines, and a wooden sword. Notably, remnants of a bathhouse from a prosperous Roman household are also on display nearby.
The stratified nature of ancient Rome’s construction is evident, with successive layers revealing a rich historical tapestry. An intriguing feature is a triangular aperture at ground level that provides a unique vantage point of the Colosseum.
Archaeologist Elisa Cella expressed the significance of the exhibition in offering a glimpse into daily life during ancient times. Rome’s Mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, hailed the station’s inauguration as a momentous occasion, despite the challenges posed by the extensive and expensive construction work that disrupted the lives of residents and tourists in the vicinity.