From June 12 to 14, the European Archaeology Days, the event that every year opens to the public construction sites, museums and sites that are normally little accessible, offering a unique opportunity to discover the historical heritage with new eyes. An invitation to travel that, for those who travel the A24 and A25 highways, translates into a privileged itinerary between Lazio and Abruzzo, where the highways pass through histories and sites linked to the ancient Italic peoples, from the Equi to the Marsi, from the Sabini to the Marrucini, and to the history of the first expansion of Rome’s power.
Tivoli: the greatness of the empire just a few kilometers from Rome
Some of the most iconic destinations, easily accessible from the A24, include Hadrian’s Villa and the Shrine of Hercules the Victor in Tivoli.
The former, an imperial residence commissioned by Emperor Hadrian, represents one of the largest and most fascinating archaeological complexes in the Roman world, a true architectural laboratory where suggestions from all over the Empire coexist.
The Shrine of Hercules the Victor, on the other hand, tells the story of the public and commercial dimensions of ancient Tibur: a monumental complex overlooking the Aniene River, a meeting point of worship, traffic and viability already in Roman times. The initiatives planned during the Days offer tours and insights that allow visitors to grasp the complexity of these places, just minutes from the Tivoli highway exit.
From the Aniene Valley to Sabina: itineraries between excavations and territories
Still in Lazio, continuing on the A24 highway, in Mentana the MuCaM – Museo Civico Archeologico di Mentana e dell’Agro Nomentano (Archaeological Museum of Mentana and the Nomentano Agro ) offers itineraries and activities dedicated to the discovery of the ancient communities that inhabited this territory, in dialogue with the network of settlements along the consular roads.
Continuing along the A24 towards L’Aquila, we reach the province of Rieti with the Baths of Vespasian in Cittaducale, where the Archaeology Days coincide with moments of site openings and “live” accounts of the work of archaeologists. A valuable opportunity to enter the heart of research and understand how the past is reconstructed.
Abruzzo: a widespread system of sites and communities
The journey continues in Abruzzo, where the Days program spreads widely among villages, archaeological sites and research centers.
In the province of L’Aquila, appointments in Scurcola Marsicana, Castel di Ieri, Forcona and Sulmona tell the story of a stratified territory, where Italic, Roman and medieval traces coexist in a landscape that is still rich in suggestion. Here archaeology is not only memory, but an integral part of the contemporary identity of local communities.
Further east, along the A25, there is the extraordinary opening of the archaeological site of Ponte Rosso and the Catignano (PE) deposit: a rare opportunity to explore normally inaccessible contexts and to learn about the processes of preservation and study of artifacts.
Chieti: urban laboratory between research and dissemination
Particularly rich is the program in the city of Chieti, the ancient Teate Marrucinorum, easily reached from the A25 exit, which for the occasion is transformed into a real widespread laboratory.
Between guided tours, educational activities, and initiatives such as “Archaeoquiz – Stranger Finds,” the public is actively involved, with contemporary language that brings even the youngest members of the public closer to the discipline.
Among the most significant appointments, the route “From the Forum to the Eastern Neighborhoods of Teate” allows visitors to read the urban evolution of the ancient city, while a guided tour of the Roman cisterns entitled: “Water Paths. From the forum to the eastern districts of Teate.” These are complemented by the project “Work in progress – Archaeology in progress” leads to the discovery of excavations in the provinces of Chieti and Pescara, highlighting the daily work of scholars.
Rome: a heritage without borders
It is impossible to list all the initiatives planned in the capital, but during European Archaeology Days Rome proves to be an extraordinary stage.
From special openings at the Pantheon to thematic visits to iconic sites such as the Spada Gallery or the Baths of Diocletian to more original itineraries – such as the symbolic journey into the afterlife of the ancient Romans or the initiatives at Casa Pasolini and Casa Praz – the city offers a very wide-ranging calendar, capable of satisfying all kinds of interests. At the Monumental Complex of San Michele a Ripa Grande, initiatives aimed at the public are planned, aimed at telling the story of archaeology in its making: construction sites, laboratories, archives, libraries, data, research and knowledge processes, with a special focus on specialized publishing.
A journey through infrastructure and memory
Taken together, the European Archaeology Days represent an invitation to rediscover the area in a conscious way.
The A24 and A25 highways, linking Rome with the Apennine hinterland and the Adriatic Sea, become the common thread of this journey: a modern infrastructural network that makes museums and priceless sites accessible, connecting past and present.
A chance to set off, stop, explore and be surprised: because along the highways of Central Italy, every exit becomes a plunge into a great History.
