European Archaeology Days (GEA)
Three days to step inside the world of archaeological research, from the Pantheon to Castel Sant'Angelo and the Baths of Caracalla.
About GEA Rome
A European weekend dedicated to archaeology
The European Archaeology Days (GEA) are a continental event promoted by the French Inrap under the aegis of the Council of Europe and coordinated in Italy by the Ministry of Culture. In the city of Rome, the capital of the Lazio region, the initiative takes on a unique dimension: the city boasts the highest concentration of archaeological sites in Europe, and for one weekend, it opens up parts of its heritage that are usually inaccessible, free of charge.
This is far more than a simple open-house event. The common thread is the behind-the-scenes experience: how excavations are conducted, how artifacts are dated, how mosaics are restored, and how archives are documented. Visitors are guided not just by tour guides, but by the very archaeologists, restorers, and researchers who study this heritage year-round.
The 2026 theme: «Archaeology in the making»
The 2026 edition was dedicated to the theme «Archaeology in the making», which focuses on the research process rather than just the finished result. For the first time, 38 active archaeological excavation sites across Italy were opened to the public, allowing visitors to observe the work as it happens, with all its ongoing questions and hypotheses.
The Roman venues
The Roman program is spread across dozens of locations, including state museums, archaeological parks, and research institutes:
- Pantheon — thematic tours on architecture, sacred furnishings, and the context of the Campus Martius, some available in English;
- Castel Sant'Angelo — conferences on Roman and Italic weaponry, tours of Hadrianic architecture, and workshops for children;
- Baths of Caracalla and Arch of Malborghetto — activities dedicated to families and children;
- San Michele Monumental Complex — host to the «Archaeology in the making: Democracy and Dialogue» meeting, featuring round tables, access to restoration and cataloging labs, and demonstrations of the National Geoportal for Archaeology;
- National Roman Museum (Palazzo Altemps and related sites), National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia, Appian Way Archaeological Park, the archaeological area of Gabii, and Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli.
Special openings
The true value of the GEA lies in the sites that are only visible on this occasion. In 2026, the Roman Villa at the Flaminio Cemetery was reopened after being closed for over fifteen years, featuring a newly restored visitor route, alongside the Horti of Domitia Lucilla. Previous years have featured the Underground Basilica of Porta Maggiore, the Villa of Sette Bassi, the Villa of Livia, and the Temple of Minerva Medica: places that remain in the public imagination precisely because they are so rarely opened.
Who is it for?
The GEA audience is intentionally broad: enthusiasts and scholars, of course, but also families with children, school groups, and curious individuals who have never set foot on an excavation site. Many activities are designed for children aged 6-10, with hands-on workshops on simulated excavation, pottery, and artifact identification. Evening conferences and round tables are tailored to a more expert audience.
How to participate
Participation is free, but almost all guided tours and workshops require mandatory booking, often with very limited capacity (in some cases, fifteen people per slot). Schedules are generally released two or three weeks before the event on the Ministry of Culture portal and individual museum websites: it is best to keep an eye on them, as the most popular slots fill up within hours.
GEA Rome — edition 2026
«Archaeology in the making»
The theme chosen for 2026, «Archaeology in the making», shifted the focus from the finished artifact to the work that precedes it. The most significant highlight was the opening of 38 active archaeological sites across the country, accompanied by the archaeologists working on them.
Exceptional openings in Rome
In the capital, the edition marked the return to the Roman Villa at the Flaminio Cemetery, closed for over fifteen years and reopened on June 12 with a renewed visitor route, as well as the Horti of Domitia Lucilla. At the Baths of Caracalla and the Arch of Malborghetto, space was dedicated to families, with workshops designed for children.
The San Michele hub
The San Michele Monumental Complex hosted the «Archaeology in the making: Democracy and Dialogue» meeting on June 12 and 13, promoted by the ICA: public round tables, access to the restoration and cataloging labs of the Central Institutes, demonstrations of the National Geoportal for Archaeology, presentations of the main 2025-2026 discoveries, screenings of excerpts from the Rai Cultura documentary on San Michele, and a convivial closing in the Orange Courtyard.
Programme GEA Rome 2026
Friday, June 12
- Pantheon — guided tours on sacred furnishings and architecture (11:00 AM and 5:00 PM)
- Castel Sant'Angelo — conference on Roman and Italic weaponry (3:00 PM)
- Roman Villa at the Flaminio Cemetery — reopening to the public after over fifteen years
- San Michele Monumental Complex — «Archaeology in the making: Democracy and Dialogue»: round tables and access to restoration and cataloging labs
Saturday, June 13
- Castel Sant'Angelo — tours of Hadrianic architecture, focus on relations between Cyprus and Italy, children's workshop (10:00 AM to 4:00 PM)
- Pantheon — tours on structural wisdom and decorative apparatus (10:00 AM and 3:00 PM)
- San Michele Complex — demonstration of the National Geoportal for Archaeology and presentation of 2025-2026 discoveries
Sunday, June 14
- Castel Sant'Angelo — tours led by staff in Italian and English, astronomy conference, «light» themed tour (9:30 AM to 5:00 PM)
- Pantheon — English-language tour dedicated to the Campus Martius and children's presentation (11:30 AM and 5:00 PM)
- Mario Praz House Museum — «Archaeology in the collection» (3:00 PM-7:00 PM)
- Hendrik Christian Andersen House Museum — exhibition tour on the theme of the body
- Casa Pasolini — tours of the archaeological heritage of Rebibbia
The National Roman Museum, the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia, the Appian Way Archaeological Park, the archaeological area of Gabii, and Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli also participated, for a total of over two hundred events in Italy.
Highlights GEA Rome 2026
- Reopening of the Roman Villa at the Flaminio Cemetery after more than fifteen years of closure
- Opening of the Horti of Domitia Lucilla
- 38 active archaeological sites visitable for the first time in Italy
- Workshops for families and children at the Baths of Caracalla
- Access to restoration and cataloging labs at the San Michele Complex
- English-language tours at the Pantheon and Castel Sant'Angelo
Prices GEA Rome 2026
Practical information — GEA Rome
Getting there
The venues are distributed throughout the historic center and the archaeological outskirts of Rome. Metro A (Barberini, Spagna, Flaminio) and Metro B (Colosseo, Circo Massimo for the Baths of Caracalla) cover most locations. The Pantheon and the San Michele Complex can be reached on foot or by city buses. For Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli: take a regional train from Roma Tiburtina to Tivoli, then a local bus.
Admission and booking
Free admission to all initiatives. Mandatory booking is required for most guided tours and workshops, with limited spots; registration usually opens two to three weeks in advance. Information: [email protected], tel. +39 06 6819111.
Tips
Comfortable shoes and water are essential: many routes are outdoors and Roman temperatures in June are already high. Allow plenty of time for travel between venues: the program is enticing, but the distances are significant.
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Where does it take place — GEA Rome
Sedi diffuse (Pantheon, Castel Sant'Angelo, Terme di Caracalla, Complesso monumentale del San Michele, Museo Nazionale Romano)