Rieti's Underground

About

Strolling along via Roma, the city’s main street full of beautiful shops and historic palazzos, it is hard to imagine that below the street level there is an extraordinary world waiting to be discovered , consisting of the sturdy arches of the Roman viaduct. This work, built in the third century B.C., was created to bring the street up to a level high enough to avoid flooding and Via Salaria becoming a swamp. This was the ancient salt route entering town and leading to the forum in todays piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. The structure consists of grandiose roman vaults, incorporated into a few noble residences, reminiscent of the city of Rieti’s past. Guided tours are often organized in loco upon request, even for small groups.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 1 hour 30 minutes