The restoration and enhancement of the large exedra and the underground gallery of the Baths of Trajan on Oppio Hill, carried out as part of the PNRR – Caput Mundi program, has been completed. The restoration work focused on the upper spaces of the exedra and the underground gallery, with the aim of improving the conservation, accessibility, and enjoyment of one of the most important archaeological complexes on Oppio Hill.
The southwestern exedra of the Baths of Trajan, approximately thirty meters in diameter, still retains the memory of its cultural function: the two rows of niches were likely intended for book and document storage, while the steps were intended to accommodate those attending readings and public meetings. In front of the exedra ran the portico supported by the underground gallery housing the Painted City and the Great Mosaic. This unique stratification represents, in the same place, the different phases of the monumental history of the Oppio Hill, from the Neronian-Flavian era to the great Trajan bath complex (1st-2nd century AD).
Among the most important aspects of the project is the recovery of the fresco of the Painted City and the Great Mosaic: two exceptional surviving relics from the ancient world that, due to their stylistic quality and preserved surfaces, represent a unique achievement in Roman archaeology. The restoration improved their readability and conservation thanks to a preventive biocide treatment, the removal of surface deposits, consolidation, and the necessary filling.
The Painted City is a fresco measuring approximately ten square meters that depicts, in a striking bird's-eye view, a city surrounded by walls and towers, with buildings depicted in perspective. The decoration belongs to a building that predates the construction of the Baths of Trajan and dates back to the 1st century AD. The Great Mosaic is an imposing wall decoration in a large room overlooking a nymphaeum. On the walls, exposed for approximately five meters, the mosaic depicts a refined architectural structure identified as a theatrical scaenae frons, divided into two tiers featuring statues and royal figures.
The archaeological investigations and in-depth excavation, conducted as part of the PNRR project, have brought to light a further section decorated with mosaics, featuring a view of a port city consisting of a series of buildings probably overlooking the sea and attributable to the motif of the so-called "maritime villas".
The space adjacent to the gallery entrance houses a reception area and a bookshop. A walkway connecting the two sections of the gallery has also been built above the room containing the Great Mosaic, while a large triangular space houses the lead pipes from the ancient water supply network of the Baths.
New pedestrian paths and scenic rest areas have been created, green spaces have been redesigned, and a new lighting system has been installed, both for public spaces and to enhance the archaeological structures.
The area's enhancement also includes a new seating system, designed to host concerts, conferences, and events, a mechanical vertical connection between the upper and lower levels, and new educational installations to enhance the visitor experience.
The Baths of Trajan were built by order of Emperor Trajan, designed by Apollodorus of Damascus, the most famous architect of the time, and inaugurated on June 22, 109 AD. Covering approximately 60,000 square meters, the complex arose on a large terrace on the Oppio Hill, incorporating older structures, including rooms from the Domus Aurea. A vast porticoed green area opened around the baths, intended not only for body treatments but also for sports, recreation, and culture.
Starting October 2nd, the underground gallery and exedra will be open to the public from Friday to Sunday with free guided tours, in Italian and by reservation. There are six tours each day, at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00, with a maximum of 15 participants per time slot. Reservations are recommended at 060608.
Photo: Rome Capital official page
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