Free Extraordinary Openings of Nine Archaeological Sites Restored with PNRR - Caput Mundi

A Heritage Revealed

The free extraordinary openings of the nine archaeological sites restored under the PNRR - Caput Mundi program offer a unique opportunity in 2026, provided by the Capitoline Superintendency for Cultural Heritage, to discover an archaeological side of Rome that is usually closed or accessible only by request. The initiative follows a long season of restoration projects funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) dedicated to the Capital, returning to the city monuments that, in many cases, had never been open to the public before.

The Nine Sites

The selection of locations is intentionally broad, spanning the entire city from the monumental heart to the historic outskirts. These include:

• Circus Maximus, with an expanded visitor route covering a portion of the hemicycle on the Aventine side, offering a more complete understanding of the largest entertainment venue of antiquity;
• Archaeological Area of Via delle Botteghe Oscure, visitable for the first time, featuring the remains of a porticoed square and the massive column bases of a temple;
• Church of Sant'Urbano alla Caffarella, located in the Appia Antica Park: originally a small 2nd-century AD temple later converted into a Christian building, featuring 11th and 17th-century frescoes;
• Torrione Prenestino, in the Pigneto district, one of the largest Augustan-age mausoleums in Rome with a 41-meter diameter, recently restored and equipped with new artistic lighting;
• Mausoleum of Monte del Grano, a mid-2nd-century AD monument in Piazza dei Tribuni, in the Centocelle area;
• Sepulcher of Largo Talamo, Roman Villa of Tor de' Cenci, Rupe di San Paolo, and the Cistern of Via Cristoforo Colombo, lesser-known but precious testimonies of suburban Rome.

How the Visits Work

Openings are concentrated on weekends, with morning and afternoon shifts depending on the site. Admission is free until all available spots are filled, subject to the maximum capacity defined for each location. Arriving early increases your chances of entry, especially for smaller sites like the Sepulcher of Largo Talamo or the Cistern of Via Cristoforo Colombo. Visitors are accompanied by specialized guides from the Superintendency, who share both the ancient history of the monument and the details of the recently completed restoration—a dual narrative that makes these visits distinct from a standard museum tour.

The Caput Mundi Program

Caput Mundi is the PNRR initiative designed to enhance Rome's cultural heritage in preparation for and following the Jubilee. In the Municipality of Rome, the capital of the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital and the Lazio Region, it has funded dozens of interventions on archaeological areas, churches, parks, and monumental complexes, many of which are located outside traditional tourist circuits. These extraordinary openings are the moment when this work, often invisible to citizens, becomes a tangible experience.

Why It Is Worth It

For those living in Rome, it is a chance to enter monuments just steps from home that have never been seen from the inside; for visitors, it is a way to step off the standard Colosseum-Forum-Pantheon route and explore the widespread archaeological fabric that characterizes Lazio and the Roman countryside. At the end of the cycle of extraordinary openings, the sites will join the circuit of archaeological areas visitable by request or during special events: another reason to take advantage of these open days.

An Initiative Linked to Construction Sites

As this calendar is linked to the completion of restoration works, dates may be subject to changes or postponements for technical reasons, as has already occurred for some sites. It is always advisable to check the updated calendar on the channels of the Capitoline Superintendency and Roma Capitale before setting out.