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Ancient Roman villa beneath high school gym reveals stunning secret from the past
New York Post • • world
Key Points:
- Ancient Roman villa remains were uncovered beneath the gymnasium of Cavour High School near Rome’s Colosseum, discovered thanks to students drawing attention to the rumored site.
- Archaeologists began excavation in January 2026 after school staff reported accidental findings to Rome’s Special Superintendency, revealing vaulted rooms with frescoes and plasterwork alongside modern graffiti.
- History teacher Claudia Marino initially dismissed the rumors but later confirmed the ruins’ existence after students insisted, leading to the discovery of ancient Roman walls and the villa’s interior.
- Graffiti from the 1940s and 1950s indicates the site had been accessed previously, and officials plan to open the villa to the public with students acting as guides.
- This villa adds to recent significant Roman archaeological finds, including a first-century B.C. multi-story apartment building uncovered during Rome’s Metro Line C construction.
