Castrum Novum Revivit

An ancient Roman colony brought back to life on the Lazio coast

On the northern coast of the Metropolitan City of Rome, at km 64.400 of the Via Aurelia in the Torre Chiaruccia area, lie the remains of Castrum Novum, a maritime colony and military fortress founded by the Romans in 264 BC, on the eve of the First Punic War. For years, the site has been the subject of international excavation campaigns that have unearthed defensive walls, ancient city buildings, and the most recent and spectacular discovery: the Roman theatre. It is here that the Municipality of Santa Marinella launched Castrum Novum Revivit, a historical and archaeological re-enactment that transforms the excavation area into an open-air time machine.

The origins of the event

The first edition took place in October 2021, followed by editions in April 2022 and April 2023, organized by the GATC – Archaeological Group of the Cerite Territory in collaboration with the Civic Museum Hub of Santa Marinella. In August 2025, the event changed its format and season, moving to the night of San Lorenzo: on August 10th, under the Perseid meteor shower, over a thousand people witnessed the Ludi Scaenici, with the ancient colony's theatre returning to the spotlight after nearly 1,800 years.

Re-enactments, workshops, and ancient daily life

The heart of the event is the faithful and educational reconstruction of daily life in a Republican-era Roman colony. Thanks to the re-enactors from the S.P.Q.R. APS association, visitors can explore themed areas dedicated to ancient medicine, cosmetics, weaving, games, and Roman cuisine, with free tastings inspired by period recipes. There are also military demonstrations featuring soldiers in armour and siege engines like the scorpio, a curious section dedicated to defixiones (curse tablets), and practical workshops for crafting oil lamps and textiles just as they were two thousand years ago.

The Roman theatre and the Ludi Scaenici

The evening edition on the night of San Lorenzo added an emotional dimension: recitals and musical performances among the ruins featuring the group Le Voci and the Phonomachoi ensemble, which brings the instruments and sounds of the ancient world back to life. Guided tours led by archaeologists and GATC volunteers take the public on a journey to discover the theatre and the newly excavated defensive walls, combining scientific rigour with spectacle.

The role of the Municipality and the GATC

Castrum Novum Revivit is part of the cultural programme of the Civic Museum Hub of the Municipality of Santa Marinella, in collaboration with the Metropolitan City of Rome and with the support of the Lazio Region for the enhancement of the Etruscan-Roman coast. In July 2026, the three-year protocol entrusting the GATC with the protection and promotion of the archaeological area was renewed: a concrete sign of the commitment to turning ancient heritage into a driver for cultural tourism, as demonstrated by the free Archeobus service connecting the area's archaeological sites.

Why attend

• An archaeological site usually under excavation, opened and brought to life for the occasion
• Historically accurate costumed re-enactors and workshops for all ages
• The unique charm of the rediscovered Roman theatre, featuring ancient music and shooting stars
• Free admission and a welcoming atmosphere on the Lazio coast