Upside Down – New Testaccio Market Museum
An archaeological excavation beneath Rome’s Testaccio market reveals two millennia of urban life, from Imperial warehouses built with recycled amphorae to contemporary layers.
At a glance
The Nuovo Mercato Testaccio excavation spans roughly one hectare and descends from street level (15 metres above sea level) to approximately 9 metres, exposing continuous settlement from the early Imperial period to the present day. The site documents the commercial and industrial character of the Testaccio district across nearly two thousand years.
History
The earliest phase dates to the Augustan-Flavian age (1st century AD). Archaeologists uncovered a system of covered and open areas connected by service roads in the north-eastern and western sectors, constructed from stacked, emptied amphorae—an ingenious reuse of transport vessels.
The Middle Imperial period (late 1st to mid-2nd century AD) saw the construction of a large warehouse, or horreum, identified in the western portion. This trapezoidal building featured rectangular storage rooms arranged around a central porticoed courtyard. Ancient looters stripped the structure down to ground-floor thresholds in the late 3rd or early 4th century.
What you see
The early Imperial construction method is striking: walls composed entirely of stacked amphorae, some reused and some emptied. In the north-eastern sector, a landfill area preserves amphoric and brick debris. The western sector contains clay-floored rooms, likely storage spaces.
Of the Middle Imperial horreum, only building levels survive; the structure extends beneath modern via B. Franklin and via A. Manuzio. The central porticoed courtyard layout reflects the standardized design of Roman commercial buildings.
Cultural significance
This site demonstrates Roman pragmatism: amphorae, once they delivered their cargo, were recycled as building material rather than discarded. The stratigraphy documents the shift from Imperial commercial activity to medieval and modern urban occupation, making Testaccio a microcosm of Rome’s continuous inhabitation.
Key facts
- Address: Via Lorenzo Ghiberti 19, 00153 Roma RM
- Coordinates: 41.877791, 12.474295
- Official website: http://www.mercatoditestaccio.it/area-archeologica/
- Site area: Approximately one hectare
- Depth: From 15 metres to 9 metres above sea level
Practical information
Opening hours and admission details are not listed; check the official website for current access information and guided tour availability.
Getting there
The site is located in the Testaccio neighbourhood of Rome. Use the coordinates provided or consult public transport maps for metro and bus routes to the Testaccio district.
Sources & resources
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