An important Roman villa dating to the Imperial period has come to light at Castel di Guido, after authorities intervened following a report of illegal excavations at the site.

“In just a few days, officials from the Ministry of Culture, working in collaboration with the Carabinieri, stopped an illegal operation,” stated Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli. “They secured an archaeological site and uncovered the remains of a magnificent Imperial-era villa in the Roman countryside, an area that once hosted the imperial residences of the Antonine dynasty. This is an exemplary intervention in heritage protection and research […]. It will conclude with an open day, allowing citizens to visit the excavation and reconnect with the history of their city.”

The excavation site will in fact be open to the public on Saturday, June 20, with guided tours beginning at 5:00 p.m., organized by the Soprintendenza Speciale di Roma. The discoveries have revealed part of a large suburban villa, probably connected to the ancient Via Aurelia and situated within the territory of Lorium, where an imperial estate associated with Emperor Antoninus Pius is known to have existed.

“The discovery of the Roman villa at Castel di Guido demonstrates not only the extraordinary archaeological wealth of our city beyond the historic center,” emphasized Daniela Porro, Special Superintendent of Rome, “but also the effectiveness of heritage protection based on cooperation and rapid intervention. We are especially pleased to organize an open day to return a piece of this heritage to the public.”

The investigations, directed scientifically by the Soprintendenza archaeologist Alessia Contino, uncovered exceptionally well-preserved rooms, walls standing up to 1.5 meters high, mosaics, and painted plaster. Archaeologists identified the villa’s atrium, featuring a central impluvium and refined geometric and floral decorations. Around it are rooms with mosaic floors and structures associated with the villa’s productive activities.

Among the high-quality artifacts discovered and currently under study is a fragmented statue depicting a bearded figure carrying a small domestic animal (either a calf or a piglet), probably representing Silvanus, the rural deity associated with the countryside. The quality of the finds, together with the mosaic and the painted decorations, indicates the high social status of the villa’s owners. The villa may have belonged to members of the Roman aristocracy connected to the imperial estate of Lorium, which was frequented first by Hadrian and later by Antoninus Pius, who built a residence there, as well as by Marcus Aurelius.

To share the results of the excavation with the public, the Soprintendenza Speciale di Roma invites citizens and visitors to take part in a free archaeological tour to discover the Roman villa on June 20, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.

The tour, lasting approximately 1.5–2 hours, includes a route of about 1 kilometer leading to the archaeological excavation, where participants can explore the villa’s remains and admire mosaics currently undergoing restoration.

Participants are advised to wear appropriate clothing and footwear and to bring water.

Advance booking is required:
www.eventbrite.it/e/biglietti-archeo-trekking-a-castel-di-guido-1991861510397

Meeting point:
Via di Castel di Guido, at the intersection with Via Quarto delle Colonne.