Domus Romana of Lucca

Domus Romana of Lucca

Beneath the streets of the historic centre of Lucca in Tuscany lies a well-preserved Roman residential complex dating from the first and second centuries AD. Discovered during urban excavations in the 1960s, the Domus Romana offers one of the most complete archaeological sequences visible under a Tuscan city.

History

Lucca — ancient Luca — was founded as a Roman colony in 180 BC and laid out on a regular grid that still determines the city’s street plan today. The residential domus uncovered beneath the current urban fabric dates to the Imperial period, with construction phases spanning the first and second centuries AD. Excavations conducted in the 1960s revealed mosaic floors, painted wall plaster, and the structural remains of several rooms. The site remained largely unknown to the general public for decades before being opened as an accessible underground museum, allowing visitors to descend below street level into the Roman strata.

What to See

The complex preserves a sequence of floor surfaces including black-and-white geometric mosaics typical of the early Imperial period, sections of opus signinum (waterproofed mortar floors), and portions of original wall decoration. Display cases on site contain ceramics, coins, and household objects recovered during excavation. The juxtaposition of Roman foundations against the medieval and Renaissance structures visible above ground illustrates more than a thousand years of continuous urban occupation on the same plot.

Getting There

The Domus Romana sits in the historic centre of Lucca, a short walk from Piazza San Michele. Lucca is served by regular trains from Florence (approximately 1 hour 20 minutes) and Pisa (20 minutes). Within the walled city the site is best reached on foot. Check opening hours in advance, as access is managed by the local civic museum system.

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Historical events at this place (3)

• 2017 Primo TRIUMVIRATO 56 A.C.
• 2018 Primo Triumvirato a Lucca nel 56 A.C.
• 2019 I Profumi dell'Antica Roma