Italy’s Beloved Trevi Fountain Hides A Unique Secret That Can Be Explored Underground
Countless Roman structures are fascinating at surface level, but Rome is literally layered on top of each other. Some areas of present-day Rome actually sit on top of other ancient structures without most visitors knowing it. When you travel to a bit of underground Rome, you’ll not only feel like an archaeologist, but you’ll also discover hidden destinations for crowd-hating tourists. Among the underground ancient ruins open to visitors is Vicus Caprarius. This underrated historic site in Rome is located beneath the Trevi Fountain and surrounding area.
The Trevi Fountain is impressively beautiful, but so popular that it may soon require an appointment to enter. The crowds will dissipate as you head underground and discover the well-preserved ancient Roman houses that make up Vicus Caprarius. Besides the archways and brick walls, you can see pottery, coins and other aspects of daily life in ancient Rome. Although the Trevi Fountain wasn’t built until the mid-1700s, its water comes from the Aqua Virgo aqueduct, which engineers built about 1,600 years earlier. Aqua Virgo is another thing you can see when exploring Vicus Caprarius.
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Book a tour with Vicus Caprarius — La Città dell’Acqua
old stone walls, steel steps – Kirk Fisher/Shutterstock
Cities built within the Roman Empire have long intrigued researchers. These builders created a new form of concrete strong enough to last into the 21st century, and the empire was one of the first civilizations to have a large-scale running water system. Rome itself was the first city to reach a million inhabitants. That’s why it’s worth going below street level to see the remains of Rome’s domestic life. Some house remains included in Vicus Caprarius were apartments built after the infamous fire of 64 AD, while others date back to Europe’s medieval times.
To visit these hidden underground structures, book a tour with Vicus Caprarius – La Città dell’Acqua (The Water Town or Water Town). To start the visit, look for the door with the sign Vicus Caprarius – La Città dell’Acqua. It is located behind Harry’s Bar Hotel and Restaurant, just a minute’s walk south of the Trevi Fountain. Tours are available every day except Monday. Self-guided tours cost four euros and guided tours eight euros at the time of writing. Use the contact details on the Vicus Caprarius website to reserve your places.
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